CAUGHT

I often wonder just how much God works each set of circumstances into our lives. As a young girl, I remember attending religious after school classes to learn more about God and His commandments. The teacher was explaining to all of our eager and bright little minds that God is everywhere.

Well, this was somehow very difficult for me to absorb at such a young age. How can someone be everywhere? Impossible! I loved knowing that He was everywhere but I needed more proof. I was nine or ten and felt that I was capable enough of conducting such an experiment all on my own. I will do something to prove that He isn’t everywhere. I was smart enough and I was certain that I would be successful.

The plan was made. I will go into a store and take something and then He won’t know it. Yes, I will take something and nobody will know it. This was my great plan.

I walked into a religious store and stole rosary beads. Why a religious store? Certainly God would have been in a religious store was my clever thinking. He would see me. He would stop me. He wouldn’t allow me to do such a thing in a religious store. I will hear His voice. I will maybe even see Him. He’ll relay a message in my brain to say, “Julie, I see you. Put the beads back.” My brain registered no such message. I left the store feeling success! I did it. I was right. He didn’t see me ...or did He?

Seconds later I realized I was being followed by a sweet older woman who owned the store. I felt my face turn beet red before even being able to look at her. She saw me .She caught and I denied it. She knew it and I blew it. I felt such a crush that I will never forget.

God did speak to me that day. God did make me realize that He is everywhere and what it is like to test Him and disobey His commandments. I failed Him, I failed the woman and I failed myself. Never again will I test my loving, merciful Lord. The emotions I experienced that day were meant to be experienced. I felt my smallness and His greatness at the same time. There was nothing to stop that woman from opening up my hand, except God. There was nothing to stop that woman from calling my parents, except God. He gave me the perfect answer in His perfect way. He sent the message in His way that He saw me and that I hurt Him. He understood and in His holy way offered the answer that I desperately sought.


He is always there and not to ever test Him. He forgave me and continues to work in me this day, even though I feel I am not worthy. He has blessed me and guides me. Yes, look around in your life for Him. We are blessed that He is always there and we should be eternally thankful for His love and mercies.


Julie Pisacane © 2004

Hi Julie,

I'll bet you've always felt horribly guilty about this, Julie, and haven't shared this experience very often. God knew you were searching for Him, I'm sure, and to a child's mind this was a fairly logical way to go about it.

It's quite obvious you found your deep faith in God along the way, and do doubt this incident, firmly etched in your memory, helped to develop that faith. I can almost picture God smiling down indulgently at little Julie, understanding perfectly what you were trying to find out.

Thanks, Julie! I'm willing to bet you never ever stole anything ever again!

Love and Blessings,

Alice

I fell victim to peer pressure during the teen years.

One of my friends got the munchies and begged me to
get him twinkies from a shopping store--- I had no money ,and
fell victim to a stupid moment. Caught again --- not arrested but dealt with in a much stronger fashion .

TWINKIES!!!!

After this -- All bets can be placed!!


Teenage years ------BLLLAAAAAGHHHHHHHHHH

Hi Julie,

Oh, the teenage years! I wouldn't be a teenager again for all the tea in China!! Maybe God just looks the other way when we're teenagers?

I was a very odd teenager, didn't interact very much at all with my peers, so I luckily avoided all the negative peer pressure from them, thank God!

Do you still eat Twinkies?

Love and Hugs,

Alice