The bible is our guide, our truth, our answer on how to truly live a holy life as a Christian.  God gave us the ten commandments and the bible to instruct us properly and protect us from all harm and evil.  Do we listen?  Or do we ignore the greatest  gift's that were ever given to us, from our parents,  at our holy baptism?  Some of us sadly, have chosen to walk away, and the pain that surrounds them is very real.  Other's have remained true to their religious identity given to them from their mother, father, grand mother, grand father, great grand mother, and great grand father.  Faith meant everything to a devout Christian.  Faith meant that we were to follow the rules of God.  We did this by going to church daily, weekly, and during holy days of obligation.  We were brought up by two devout catholic parents.  We followed in their footsteps by going to an all parochial elementary school where nuns in full habits were mentoring the children and preparing their souls for the duration of their journey.  The sisters were much more than teachers, they were devoted completely and utterly to God.  God first and foremost, and church, school, and community, second.  And they in turn gave us the mind set of Jesus and his most holy Mother Mary.  We were brought up a certain way, to think about God, and to think about serving family, friends, neighbors, etc.  It was a beautiful way of living! And I always knew I was different, and that my upbringing was very special.  The nuns/sisters were very educated in Religion, Music, Art, English, Math, Science, and their sole purpose was to guide us into becoming well rounded students, and looking back I can honestly tell you that they did a marvelous service for God and to all  of God's children, and I am a proud byproduct of their daily hard earned efforts.  Even the mothers of the students who decided to work in the kitchen feeding the children every day, baked hot home cooked lunches that were much more like dinners, to bless us and create a home like atmosphere for us to comfortable in, and to be nurtured, as well as fed both spiritually and physically in the goodness that is God.  I never had the chance to thank them personally for the home made babka (Polish Raisin Bread) or chruschiki (Christmas Bow Carnival Cookies),  however I never forgot the aroma that filled all three floors from the kitchen cafeteria all the way up some 100 steps to the top floor.  It was heavenly! I also never forgot the lessons I had learned from entering into Science Fairs, Spelling Bees, Learning beautiful penmanship to enjoying physical activities outside of class and in the gymnasium.  And most of all at the end of each year the eighth grade graduating class given a week long carnival set up right on the church and school grounds honoring our graduates.  And most of all the yearly crowning of our blessed and holy mother Mary.  Always praised and adored for her protection over each and every one of us during the entire school year.  It was difficult to say goodbye come graduation day when all of us hugged each other and cried in one another's arms, knowing this would be our last farewell.  1971 to 1979, I was given a rock solid foundation of faith, prayer, service, and love, and all of it remains inside of me, and I am a living tribute of the nuns and priests, and teachers who made a difference in the way we looked at the life we were given and we went out into the world with that love and with that knowledge hoping to serve our brothers and sisters in the same manner we were given.  I believe in my heart this is why I am so drawn to serve my Lord in this apostolate, I believe I was meant to inspire those thirsting for the love of Christ in the same manner I was shown and given.  Pass this truth forward, honoring God every chance you are given!