What I Hope For
As a recent high-school graduate, I’ve been presented with a lot of questions from friends, family members and fellow parishioners: “Where are you going to school?” “What’s your major?” “Are you living on campus?” and so on and so on. I’ve answered so many of these that I actually try to cover all the bases with my very first answer. Recently, however, I’ve been asked a very simple, thought-provoking question: “What do you hope for?” After thinking about it for a few days, I’ve finally come up with my answer. As a Catholic youth today, I hope for understanding and love.
In the 17 1/2 years that I’ve been on this earth, I’ve experienced disappointments, achievements, tragedies and celebrations. When I was younger, I could never imagine why God would allow certain things to happen in my life and the lives of those who are closest to me. I couldn’t understand. Since I’ve become involved in the church and have spent plenty of one-on-one time with my God, I’ve learned to accept why some things (both good and bad) have occurred. There are things I have yet to understand, and it takes a lot of trust to look up the heavens and say, “Thy will be done!” but I pray that I have the strength to do it every day and learn from every experience that God throws my way.
Even if I never gain all the understanding I pray for, I know that I will always have love. But having love in your heart is no good unless you share it! God’s love for everyone is unconditional; this means all the time, no matter what, 24/7. He never stops. I hope to love like this. No matter how busy I get, how horrible my week is going, how sick, angry, or embarrassed I feel, I hope to always share my love, and God’s love, with everyone and anyone that I come to know. Mother Teresa once said, “Do not let anyone come to you without feeling better and happier.” My primary hope for my future is that, through unconditional love, I can live this way every day of my life.
Being a young Catholic in today’s world (or a young person in general, for that matter) can be demanding, but God gives us plenty of help through even the toughest of times. As I begin college, I hope for the understanding and love that I need to be the best disciple for Christ that I can be.
--Natalie Cicero is a member of St. Mark Parish in Wilmington, and a former member of the Diocesan Youth Board for the Cape Fear Deanery.