Gentlewoman, Monica Gonzalez

Every now and then a person comes along and transforms from an acquaintance to not only a friend, but a sister.  Monica Gonzalez is that person for me.  We went to the same high school, heck even danced alongside each other in Drill Team, but we never got to really know each other until a couple years ago.  We share same interests from music, books, Oprah and spirituality. We hit it off on social media and eventually became such good friends as she not only became my cheerleader but a fellow sister in Christ.

I have to tell you, this blog would not be alive if it wasn’t for a handful of ladies who encouraged me and Monica was one of those angels who kept the fire going in me even after I lost it myself.  She was my little messenger and continues to be.  I will always carry a special place in my heart for her for the continued support that she has for me.

 

 

For those people who don’t know you, can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

My name is Monica Gonzalez; I am a mother of two little girls and have been married to my high school sweetheart of 14 years (together 14 years and married for 12).  My favorite hobby is photography and I love reading anything positive.

 

 

We met in high school, but somehow became closer via Facebook with our similar posts and interests.  You became one of my biggest cheerleaders.  I’ve noticed you are that way with others as well.  Where did you become such a lifter/encourager/messenger?

When I had my oldest daughter, my support system only consisted of my family and my husband’s family at the time with the exception of three close net friends. A majority of the people that I knew were only acquaintances. To have the support system that I do now that has grown over the years is truly a blessing. You want to graciously give to those what you never had. You want to share, inspire, support and encourage others because what you might say or do will forever change someone’s life.  When I look back now, the people that were placed in my life were for reasons that lead me to where I am now. You were placed in someone’s life at the right time, at the exact moment they needed you. Nothing is coincidence.

I invited you to Fellowship Church one day.  You gave it a try and you’ve been attending ever since.  Your girls are going to FC Kids and your husband is attending as well. How has attending church changed the dynamic for your family?

We have seen the changes within our daughters within their spiritual growth and belief in God. One thing that Fellowship church provided in the area that we lacked was truly explaining to our kids, who God and Jesus are. My oldest child, Vida, was baptized by Catholic faith when she was a baby. Vida recently made the decision to get baptized again and to publicly announce her love for God is truly special. As for my youngest, Bella said one day to us, “God made me and God created everything”. It’s just been amazing and music to my ears to hear them speak about God. As for me and my husband, our faith is much stronger and more united in our marriage.    

 

What is your favorite bible verse?   What does this verse mean to you?

I have many but my most favorite is “In Everything, Give Thanks” Thessalonians 5:18.  To know and practice the power of gratitude was life changing for me. When I learned about it and started practicing it by writing in my gratitude journal every day I was able to express it, feel it, and in turn gratitude became embedded within me. I began to see positive changes within myself and in my life. I have that verse mounted on my dining room wall. Whether I had a good day or a bad day, it has become a daily reminder to give thanks to God in all that I have, even of the smallest of things.

 

I was really happy to meet your husband the other day.  I know it means a lot to you to have your family as a whole attending church.  For a while, you were attending alone. Can you share some of the struggles and triumphs that have occurred over the last year?

Attending church as a married couple was a struggle. My husband was highly disappointed and lost his faith in the church. He thought that he didn’t need the church to believe in God. It was a constant clash to get him to join the girls and me. Even though I felt alone in my faith, in the decision of attending a church once again (which was a very long time), I just simply stopped asking my husband and gave my worries to God and started praying about it. That all drastically changed when a major shift occurred at my job. I also found out something about my management that nearly broke my heart and put me in a dark place for a while. My husband saw the negative change and the doubt that I had in God. I was bringing all that negative energy home. It affected both of us. On September 7, 2014, which was his birthday weekend (that’s why I remember and makes it even that much dear to my heart), my husband decided to join me to Fellowship church for the first time. It’s been an amazing 9 months since then. My husband actually takes the initiative to get us going Sunday morning, he tithes, and when we aren’t able to attend church; he’ll grab our laptop and have us sit in our living room couch watching Fellowship Church live online. Just recently, he saw few of his friends at church and to hear him speak to them about what he likes about Fellowship church and the positivity that he expresses just brings a smile to my face. It’s just another testimony that God does listen to your prayers and perfect timing.

 

I’ve invited a lot of people to Fellowship.  I’ve noticed some people go right away, while others take a while to attend and others never come.  Why do you think some people never make it a priority to get up on Sunday to make it in?  Were you ever in that position?

 It’s how much we want to seek God on a Sunday, I believe. Yes, some of us seek him five minutes of our day, through our devotionals, reading our bibles, even through prayer. It took me a while to understand that Sundays are more than that. They are about surrounding yourself with others in the word of God, in refueling our spiritual gas tank that prepares us for the coming week that lies ahead. It’s a haven for those who just need to be reminded that everything is going to be okay in whatever circumstances that we face. I was in that position a while back before attending Fellowship church. I thought the same way my husband did. I didn’t feel the need to go because I believed in God and I didn’t need the church. But again, that changed when I started practicing gratitude and seeing these amazing changes in my life occur. I sought God everyday and it became a spiritual hunger for me. I wanted to seek God more than ever before. That’s when you introduced me to Flavour Sisterhood and that was it for me. I was hooked.

 

What is the best piece of advice you ever received?

To never give up on accomplishing my goals, my dreams, to trust God that with all things are possible with him at your side.

 

Who inspires you and why?

My mother and two older brothers have inspired me. My mother, being a single mother, trying to raise five kids to the best of her ability and wanting to give them the best that she could was hard. But she did it with no excuses. She raised us with moral values and whatever circumstances that she faced, she never showed her weakness to us. My mother faced a lot of challenges but her strength never subsided, never wavered.  My older brothers shadowed me as father figures. They taught me valuable lessons that they learned while they themselves were growing up. They kept me grounded and always encouraged me to stay head strong and focused. Each one was distinct from one another at achieving his goals. But they had the same influence on me which was to always aim high, that knowledge was power and to never listen to anyone when they tell you that you’re not good enough.

 

 

What do you think women in our generation need to hear?

To empower one another with confidence by complimenting one another instead of throwing shade and/or becoming a “hater”.  Before I stopped going to the gym and started studying hard core for my state board exam a few months ago, I would notice a few ladies working hard at the gym. I wasn’t shy to go to them and say “Hey, you have some badass biceps or keep it up the good work.” When you compliment one another, you’re actually motivating them to keep going in what they are trying to accomplish. You’re giving them that boost of confidence.

 

What are you most proud of?  

That we have grown as a family in our love and faith for God together. That through all the turbulences we have been through as a married couple or even individually was a hidden blessing in disguise. When you stop focusing on how to fix your problems on your own and simply give it to God and trust Him, He always comes through. Not on your time, but on his time, because his timing is perfect. I look back at all that we have accomplished, and it just amazes me to see that everything was beautifully synchronized, even the bad. Because the bad either teaches you a lesson that you were suppose to learn or it builds your character before God is able to move you onto the next level. I’m just proud to say that my relationship with God has grown closer because he has shown me his love through his plans. Plans that are bigger than mine. Plans to prosper me and not harm me, plans to give me and my family a better future. That has simply made all the difference.    

 

 

“Thank the Lord! Praise his name! Tell the world about his wondrous love and how mighty he is!” Isaiah 12:4