--- title: Finding Hope in a Bookstore description: An overheard conversation in a church bookstore led Elizabeth Estrada to find hope for her son's faith life. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ablaze-f.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/05/20/finding-hope-in-a-bookstore/#) # Finding Hope in a Bookstore May 20, 2019 11:00:48 AM  |  by [Elizabeth Estrada](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/elizabeth-estrada) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ablaze-f.png) [!["Finding hope in a bookstore" by Elizabeth Estrada (CatholicMom.com)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ablaze.jpg)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ablaze.jpg) Image credit: [Pixabay.com](https://pixabay.com/images/id-1783918/) (2016), CC0/PD[/caption] My twelve-year-old son is depressed and suffers from anxiety. Sadly, we were in an abusive situation and now he is a child of divorce and has been for four years now. I tried my very best, with Our Lord’s help, to create a domestic church even if his father wasn’t a practicing Catholic. Due to the pain we both caused my son, for the last year I could tell he was becoming detached from Our Lord. He had questions about God, suffering and many others. I answered the best I could or found the answer. A couple of months ago he told me he was an atheist. The Holy Spirit took over because my response was calm. Basically, I said that I would respect his decision and I would expect the same respect from him as well. He goes to Mass and participates. He’s gone to Adoration with me twice, voluntarily, so I know God is working. However, I am human and am grieving this reality. So last Friday I took the day off and ended up at my new parish’s bookstore. I had not yet been able to visit there and was curious, so I stopped by and was immersed in the calm and beauty. It is a small bookstore, so you can hear conversations that are taking place. My ears perked up when I heard a lady sharing about a life-changing event for teens. She was on fire explaining all the fruits of this ministry. I couldn’t help myself and crept next to her as she was sharing with the store clerk. Once she finished, I began asking questions and had a nice hopeful conversation. I shared what was going on with my son and she encouraged me to go and eventually gave me her contact information so that maybe I could help in some way, she was one of the coordinators. I left the store with a leap in my step and with much peace and hope. I made the decision that my son and I would go, God willing. It is in November so much can happen between now and then. This encounter was not a coincidence; God is not one for coincidences. I believe this was a beautiful gift from God, who knows that I needed to know there is hope for my son. He is begging me not to give up, and I won’t, because He wants me to persevere. I know that this event, ABLAZE, is not a magical solution and may not change a thing. However, I believe God has a plan and I must trust. And for now, that’s enough for me. Have you heard of ABLAZE? --- *Copyright 2019 Elizabeth Estrada* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F05%2F20%2Ffinding-hope-in-a-bookstore%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F05%2F20%2Ffinding-hope-in-a-bookstore%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F05%2F20%2Ffinding-hope-in-a-bookstore%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Finding%20Hope%20in%20a%20Bookstore) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F05%2F20%2Ffinding-hope-in-a-bookstore%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F05%2F20%2Ffinding-hope-in-a-bookstore%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Elizabeth Estrada](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Elizabeth%20Estrada%201.jpeg) ### [Elizabeth Estrada](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/elizabeth-estrada) Elizabeth Estrada, a public-school teacher, is an avid reader and enjoys crafting. She is in formation to become a Third Order Carmelite soon with her son Agustin. ## Related Blog Articles [ Being the Mom After Our Children Grow Up Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/being-the-mom-after-our-children-grow-up) [ Lessons in Kindness Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/09/24/lessons-in-kindness/) [ Christmas Mass and the Prodigal Son's Brother Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/12/08/christmas-mass-and-the-prodigal-sons-brother) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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