I do remember that Maria quickly explained to me that she would help me get to “the root” of my struggles and help me to examine and explore what was causing me to feel downcast and “stuck” in a discouraging situation. When I met with Maria, she did not rush me, she let me talk, she gave me time to try to express what I was thinking and feeling, and she listened. Maria listens, she is compassionate, and she strives to understand me.
She always reminds me of God’s promises for me. She gently quotes to me what God has said to me through His word. She prays for me and she blesses me! Maria consistently encourages me to call her whenever I need to talk things through and/or bring things before our Lord. She has invited me to grow deeper in my understanding of God and she points out His good works in my life.
She encourages me to look deeper, to ask God for revelation, all while she waits patiently for me to express and explain more. She challenges me to “think about” what and why I am feeling the way that I do. Yes, she gives me “homework!” Work for the “home of my heart.” She urges me to write out my thoughts and feelings, to share with others, to ask God to reveal what it is he would have me know and do. She guides me in asking, understanding what God wants me to know about myself, and what to do with the knowledge God provides that will bring about the life I desire.
Because of Maria, I have learned that I am not the only one in my family who was hurt, or is hurting. Because of her guidance, I have come to
understand myself better and I have grown in my confidence in expressing what I am feeling. She has helped me to identify what I need from the relationships I am experiencing.
Her guidance has helped me to recognize love and identify those who love me and want for me what I want for myself. She has called me to a higher standard of participation in my relationships. Maria helps me to learn how to see how God has always been and continues to work in my life. Maria invites me to listen to others teach God’s word, she invites me to classes, seminars, workshops, and group counseling and encouragement forums. I have learned a great deal from many of these gatherings. I have learned that Maria knows where to go for help and how to get the help needed for a life increasing in peace.
Recently I expressed my gratitude to Maria, because she is more than a counselor. She is a friend and a confidant. She always empathizes with my feeling, but she never fails to help and gently guide me in doing the work need to understand what I am feeling. She helps me…to find “prospective,” and God’s presence in what I am experiencing. Maria has been “God sent” in to my life and for that, I am truly grateful. She believes my life can be a life filled with joy and a knowing of God’s presence, protection and peace.
thankful to Him for her!
Maria patiently listened to my painful stories of my failed marriage, my toxic work environment, and my misguided spiritual walk. I learned how to heal my family tree with prescribed deliverance prayers, scripture study, and Christian counseling. I came to understand the root of my depression and PTSD was my weak personal relationship with my savior, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Maria’s charism became apparent to me when our sessions included calling upon the Holy Spirit to heal me; I was immediately led to break my prescription medication bondage. Friends and family began to notice a difference in my disposition and when they asked me what type of “help” I got. I gave true credit to God. Recently, one of my sisters has asked how she could meet Maria and get the type of treatment I received. Today, I praise God that my sister is helping me to heal our family tree by praying deliverance prayers during her sessions with Maria.
Immediately on the first conversation she got right to the heart of my troubles and my life began to turn around. She came up with spiritual insights that seemed to come from nowhere, but were always right on target. I went through several months of searing pain as the changes took effect. Events and patterns in my life began to change. My relationships did not follow the old patterns.
Today I have been in a good marriage for ten years. I have relied on Maria to offer corrections along the way. My wife had a little trouble in the beginning and a few sessions with Maria cleared that right up. We are both happier than we have ever been in our lives.
If you counsel with Maria, don’t hold anything back and trust her judgement, even if they may seem to come from far afield. Working with her has let me see how God’s regeneration power is meant to apply. I owe her my life!