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By Jeanne Sanchez

FAITH IS A PROFOUND belief and trust in someone greater, and in my case, that is God—our Creator.

My journey of faith began early in life, shaped and nurtured since childhood. As a young child, I sang songs of worship and offered prayers as soon as I learned to speak.

My mother, who worked in a church, instilled in me and my sibling the importance of seeking God in all we do. Whether before meals, at bedtime, or during life’s big events, we turned to Him in prayer.

My very first prayer was a simple, heartfelt song that we sang together before every meal. And here is the song, I share:

God is good, and God is great,

And we thank Him for our food.

By His hand, we must be fed,

Give us, Lord, our daily bread. Amen.

I now teach this song to my children, and it fills me with joy to hear them sing it before meals, just as I did.

The church has always been central to my life. Its yard was my playground, and Sundays were sacred, spent worshiping the Lord with songs and prayers.

This Sunday tradition grew with me and remains a part of my life today. It’s hard to imagine a Sunday without attending church unless truly unavoidable. I strive to pass this reverence on to my children, teaching them the significance of worship and the comfort and peace that come from singing praises to the Lord.

These practices are the nourishment of my faith: praying to God, praising Him through song, and focusing on the bright side of life.

Through faith, I find my daily strength, happiness, and purpose—morals I hope to pass on for generations to come.

Jeanne Sanchez is a member of Filipino Worshiping Community at All Saints' Anglican Church, Waterloo