Teen Says Pray Often, But Listen Even More.
The People of Faith feature is compiled by Steve Halbig, who asks a series of questions of people of the diocese – some who have reached the “age of wisdom” and some who are younger. All will share stories of faith.
This month’s People of Faith is the second in a series that features teenagers. In this case, the focus is on Jenae Gries, a freshman at the University of Southern Indiana and a 2013 graduate of Mater Dei High School. She has a lot to say about being a teenager and about living a spiritual life.
Plans for future? I would love to become a labor and delivery nurse at a hospital in Evansville as well as do mission work around the world. I would also like to get married and have a family.
Who has been the biggest influence so far in your life? My mom, Jennifer Gries, has definitely been the biggest influence in my life. She is the one who taught me all of the morals and values I believe in. Ever since I was little, my mom has reminded me to always treat others with respect, have a positive attitude, and be kind to others even if they are not kind to me. Her kindness inspires me to be a better person and Christian every day.
What’s the best thing about being a teenager? The best thing about being a teenager is not having as much responsibility as adults do. When you're a teenager, your parents are still there by your side to guide you and help you along the way. Now that I am eighteen, I have learned that age brings on more responsibility and you have to learn to become independent and do things on your own.
What’s the toughest thing about being a teenager? The toughest thing about being a teenager is deciding who you are as a person and what you want to do with your life. When you're a teenager, there is so much peer pressure in your life. A lot of people try and tell you what to do and how to do it. You have to decide whether those people are the ones to listen to or if you should take the responsibility of deciding for yourself. Balancing fun and responsibility is very important.
How often do you attend Mass? If I said I attend Mass every Sunday, that would be a lie. I try to go to Mass every Sunday or Saturday night and an occasional weekday Mass. There are those rare moments where I feel too sick or am out of town. At times like that, I like to read my Bible or go to confession. Confession is one of my favorite sacraments because you feel so much better afterward. All of the weight that I carried on my heart gets released in a healthy and forgiving way.
Of those things that are possible to change in the Catholic Church, what would you change? If I could change something, it would be to have more Catholic Masses focused towards the younger crowd. A lot of teenagers and young adults don't attend Mass because they find it "too boring." I think that more upbeat and up-to-date music and relative homilies would attract the younger generation.
If you could make one change in your community, what would it be? If I could make a change in my community, it would be to get more people to volunteer. There are so many events to get involved in that only take a little bit of your time. Volunteering is a win-win situation; you help others and it is very rewarding.
Any regrets yet in life? No, I do not have any regrets. I have definitely done some things I am not proud of and I have made many mistakes, but I take those opportunities to learn. I have learned that if you focus too much on what you did wrong, you do not grow as a person or strive to be better.
Tell us a few more things about yourself. I have an amazing family and group of friends. Without them, I would not be the person I am today. They are a great support system and always give the best advice. Also, I would not have had the chance to attend World Youth Day in Brazil without the help of my family and friends.
This summer I had the amazing opportunity to travel on a spiritual pilgrimage to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with eleven other members of the diocese. The entire journey I was surrounded by more grace and kindness than I could imagine possible. It was life-changing!
My goals and morals for my life truly became clear and I want to be the best person I can. I want to be an inspiration for those younger than me to grow and love one another to become disciples of Christ.
What do you do in your spiritual life that you would recommend to others? Pray often, but listen even more. For a long time, I thought that I was doing a lot of good by praying to God throughout the day. Praying is fantastic and very important! God loves to hear our prayers, but if we don't listen, it causes frustration. God knows what is best for us at the time, so if we pray and our prayers seem to go unanswered, we must not become discouraged. I would like to recommend trust in God because He knows what He is doing. Everything happens for a reason.
What is your best wisdom on life? Do not be afraid of the future. We need our future to be uncertain. There is no point in praying to know the future. Wanting to know the unknown is like telling God that you don't trust in Him; you don't have faith in His plan. An unknown future is what brings excitement and adventure to one's life.
Whenever I start to worry, I like to refer back to Bible verses that I find to be helpful. Proverbs and Psalms are great places to look for encouraging words. One of my favorite verses for when I am worried is Proverbs 31:25: " She is clothed in strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future."
