Living a Life of Love

Written by Rocio Munguia

I can't remember taking a single breath in my life not knowing Jesus. As a child I grew up learning about Him through going to church or hearing my Nana pray aloud to Him. If it's one thing I learned quick in life, it was knowing that Jesus loved me, that He'd never leave me, and that He'd always be my Father.

Growing up as daddy's little girl, I was a joyful little princess. In time, as sin would have its way, my father left and chose the follow the temptations of the devil when I was eight. This lead to a series of a few traumatic and life changing experiences. At this young age, I learned what letting go meant. I learned that sin affects not just the sinner, but those around him.

In absence of my father, I was abused. But my Abba Father showed me what a true meaning of Father meant and later in life taught me the meaning of forgiveness. As far my mother's role in my life, God gave me a mother with the strength of a warrior. During this time, God was also teaching her about forgiveness, as she had to forgive the person who hurt me. Ultimately, the power of love overcame her and she gives me so much of it every day.

Now ten years old, my sister was diagnosed with kidney failure and fought a battle for her life. It was then that I learned the meaning of miracles. I saw things happen in which doctors said could never happen. I didn't know the seriousness of her illness at this time, but through this trial and through my sister, I learned what it meant to love in the midst of pain.

Then ten years later, I was twenty years old and I was three months short from graduating college. My sister passed away. A woman who was a huge source of inspiration in my life was now gone.

Immediately after her passing, I learned that for the past decade, I had been upset at God for putting my sister through so much pain. After ten years of struggle with doctors, medications, operations, I about had it with my Father. I loved Him, yet I was angry at Him for allowing her to struggle for so long, only to take her away in the end.

I stood there in the presence of God ready to scream and yell so much hate and resentment that had been locked up inside for years, but all my heart could reveal to him aloud was "I love you. Thank you. I love you. Thank you that she has no more scars. Thank you that she's home. Thank you that she's now perfect! Thank you!"

There was a battle inside of me. Hate and love. But love won. I loved Him for taking her home to rest and for being so faithful in His promise to be there through eternity. It was then that I realized that it's okay to be upset, and to not understand everything in life. But it's necessary to trust that He has the bigger plan in mind and that He'll always provide the answer if you seek Him.

After graduating college, I moved back home to be with my family. There was still pain and a bit of emptiness in my heart. I was embraced by family and friends, but I still I didn't feel whole. Before my sister passed, I had been trying to find a church and even expressed to my roommate that I felt like God wanted me to be at church. It was as if He was preparing me for what was to come.

When I moved back to San Diego, an old friend invited me to church. It was there when I learned what it felt like to be held in the palm of His hand. The only thing God wanted from me was to call upon Him, to trust in Him to heal all my pain. Despite the tragedies in my life, I don't consider myself a victim, but a survivor in the armor of God.

Life isn't about relying on self, but relying on Him. Every single day God reveals His love, but it's up to us to see it. Just as He taught me at a young age, daily He shows me how much He loves me, that He'll never leave me, and that He'll always be my Father.

Although God has called us to serve Him daily, through our actions, in speech and in our quiet time, we all have a specific duty in which He has created us for. Years ago I prayed about the desires of my heart and how I could serve Him. Though His timing, He revealed that His will for me was to serve through loving on His precious children. A large portion of my service to Him is encouraging teens and young women that true peace, joy and love come from Christ alone. Having the opportunity to serve through youth groups, camps, mission trips, speaking at a local junior high and high schools, is such a blessing and honor.

My true life calling is to "Live a life of love." Ephesians 5:2.