Faith, Hope & Love: Shirts With A Purpose

Faith.  It is not easy to write about.  Not for me anyway. I have started writing this blog post about three times now…deleting versions as I go.  I thought about just scrapping the idea of actually talking about my faith and simply highlighting these beautiful Avi & Luz shirts.  But, how can I truly promote them if I can’t even talk about the reasons why?

My faith journey is something that began after the most horrible thing that ever happened to me.  So, yeah…it’s kind of hard to write about. I know tragedies or “low points” are often what brings people to know Jesus, but for obvious reasons I don’t want to claim that as my testimony.  

Faith, Hope & Love

I didn’t grow up with a formal religious background.  My mother would always tell me how she and my father grew up in church and that it was sort of forced on them and not enjoyable.  My brother and I were both very active in sports that kept us traveling every weekend during our teen years, so there just really wasn’t time for church.  I probably attended a church once or twice with an elementary school friend, but that was it.

Looking back and knowing what I know now about the bible (I still consider myself a beginner on my journey btw), I know my mother raised us with Jesus in her heart…she just didn’t proclaim the teachings were from the bible or quote verses.  She told me that “any Christian can baptize another and I did it in the bathtub when you were little.” She taught me to be honest, hard working, and to love others above all else.

I remember getting mad at my parents in college when I realized I knew nothing about the bible and sitting in class as an English Literature major, it made discussions about some of the classics very difficult.  There was so much overlap between literature and religion and I was lost! I expressed my frustration to my mother and she soon gifted me a children’s bible! We had a laugh and she apologized for never exposing me to church or the teachings of Jesus…she said she wanted me to be able to make the choice on my own.  Over the years when this topic would come up, something else that always stuck with me was the fact that she said she became angry at God when her dad passed away (she was in college) and she stopped going to church. She couldn’t understand why He would take such an amazing man away from his family.

Photography by: Miguel Emmanuelli

College, law school, and relationships passed and I could never shake the feeling that I was curious to know more…but I had never taken the next step.  I was in a long term relationship during the time I was starting my career, and I remember begging that person to go to church with me…help me understand…but it fell on deaf ears.  He grew up in church and said that he knew all he needed to know…and it wasn’t for him. I married that person after dating for 7 years, and we divorced just three years later.

Fast forward a few years into my newly single life.  I was pouring all of my time and energy into my career and that was pretty much all I had going on in my life.  A condo, a cat, and work. Work, work, work. I primarily see the “bad” part of society in my line of work and what was keeping me from pursuing Him at that time was the fact that I didn’t understand how God would allow such evil to exist.  I saw “religion” being used in a way that looked like an excuse for bad behavior…or at least an attempt to get someone out of trouble. So, needless to say I was walking around with little to no knowledge of Him and my impression of “religion” or “religious” people was not a positive one.  

The Worst Day Ever

Then the worst thing happened.  In November of 2011, my mom died suddenly.  She had a heart attack at work and just like you see on TV, a law enforcement officer showed up at my office to notify me.  The memories in the immediate days to follow are sort of a blur now and really not important in explaining how I came to know Him.  Just know that I was more confused than ever.  He literally took the best thing in my life away from me with no notice. No warning.  She was gone.

In the months to follow I was pretty much just angry.  I wondered if I would ever care about work again…if I would get back to feeling like me.  Nothing made sense to me at the time. The overwhelming question that racked my brain was, “How is evil allowed to exist and good people are taken from this earth so easily?”    

Faith Journey

I asked a co-worker, who I knew was a Christian, about some of my questions one day over lunch.  He explained things and answered my questions in a way that sort of made sense…all the while admitting that not everything in this world makes sense.  At the end of the lunch he mentioned a church that I should try and oh by the way, the lead pastor was his brother! How could I turn down that invite? I grabbed my best friend and we went.  

I remember liking it.  I also remember feeling really stupid…not because of anything the pastor or anyone else did, but because I had no clue about the stories and the people that were being discussed every week.  But, I kept going back. Not every week at first…but whenever it worked out that my best friend and I could make it.

I bought a bible. Not a King James version, but not the children’s hardcover one with colorful illustrations either!  I bought tabs (the lawyer in me couldn’t help it) and bible safe highlighters…I was ready to learn! During this time which I call the beginning of my faith journey, I met the most amazing human ever.  I am now lucky enough to call him my husband. He grew up Catholic (in New Jersey), so he was a little taken aback by the Christian rock band, smoke and lights that came from the stage at my large non-denominational church!  But, he has been by my side every step of the way. I love going to lunch after church, talking about the sermon, and picking his brain about what he learned in Sunday school growing up.

Shirt: Avi & Luz // Jeans: Old Navy // Wedges: DSW // Sunnies: Diff Eyewear // Earrings: Goldfinch Boutique

I still consider myself a “baby Christian” but I have taken further steps on my journey as the years have passed.  I joined a women’s Disciple group (bible study) and was baptized about a year ago. I love the Women Living Well bible study books that I can complete on my own and at my own pace.  The first one I ever completed on Ecclesiastes and can be purchased here. I still have more questions than answers, but now I know that He is my Lord and Savior and I do not have to have all of the answers.  Our pastor always says, “if you have questions, then you will make a great disciple.”

I know that I am blessed and His beloved and nobody can tell me who I am other than Jesus.  I believe in Faith, Hope & Love. Without those three things, we would be lost. I am not lost anymore.  I am found.

Shirts With A Purpose: Avi & Luz

I can’t end this post without mentioning the inspiration behind it…the whole reason I wrote it!  These amazing shirts by Avi & Luz! Thank you for reaching out to me and asking me to feature them.  I hesitated at first…not because of the product, but because I wasn’t sure how they fit with the HerBestAlways brand.  I’m never really BOLD in my faith and this was literally asking me to wear my faith on my sleeve!

I thought about it and decided I had to give them a try because my faith is a part of me and what is BEST about me.  It may not be for everyone, and that is ok. The Avi & Luz brand is certainly something HerBestAlways wants to promote and their dedication to giving part of their profits to victims of human trafficking is 100% something I support.  He teaches us to love our neighbor and to help those in need, and Avi & Luz is doing just that.  You can shop all of their products here and receive 10% off using the code: HerBest10. The shirts are so soft and fit slightly larger than TTS…I am wearing a medium and had room to tie them.

“Do your BEST to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15

Shirt: Avi & Luz // Skirt: Target // Wedges: Target // Earrings (similar): Sugarfix // Sunnies: Diff Eyewear // Bag: Express