Dr Kelly Fleming

When a child or adult is baptized and chrismated in the Orthodox Church, they receive a cross that they wear everyday. It is never taken off.

Five years ago, I had a mental breakdown. The first thing I did was remove my cross. For me, it wasn’t suicidal thoughts that I was experiencing, but a separation from God, from my faith.

I went into a mental health program and when I explained the importance of my cross, one of the people who worked with me suggested I keep it in my hand until I was ready to put it back on.

I did this for two days and put it back on. Maybe I was just tired of holding it. But that first step of putting it on began my journey back to embracing and living my faith. Using my faith to build on the skills I was learning in the program.

The only way I will part with my cross is if someone was to remove it against my will.

It is a constant reminder of who I am and what I believe. I fall just as much as everyone else. I go through periods of spiritual dryness and find it difficult to pray or read my Bible. But my cross stays on and constantly reminds me that God is with me and He’s just waiting for me to lean on Him and let Him guide me through the rough times.

❤️🙏🏼🤟🏼