A gift I found in Croatia: My mom’s modeling of Jesus

Gina Sternfels
NOLA Catholic Parenting

For a long time, I have wanted to go back to visit the country my family is from, and I did not know if or when it would happen.

However, with my husband’s encouragement, I was blessed recently to return to Croatia, with two of my kids and brother, for the first time in 25 years!

Croatia is a beautiful country filled with the natural beauty of mountains, islands, beaches, lush vegetation and much history.

After returning to the family property in the mountains, we explored much of the countryside. There was an abundance of statues, memorials and old churches.

The towns we visited overflowed with rich culture. While exploring, I sensed this memory of being there with my mom exploring the churches with me. Oddly, we had never traveled there together, but the memory felt so real.

Her presence in my memories was a sweet affirmation of God’s grace.

One night at dinner, I shared with my brother how strong those memories felt. Earlier that day, I told him he was lucky he had traveled with her because he had pictures and memories of my mom that I didn’t and would not have, since she had passed years ago.

He referenced a line from a letter my mom wrote in the ’90s when my brother, sister and I traveled to Croatia together. We found the letter a few months back. In her letter, she asked us to bring flowers to my grandparents’ grave. She also wrote, “Say a prayer; I will be with you in spirit.”

My brother said it was true for me. It was a special moment to realize what God can supernaturally do in our simple moments here on earth. She was with me in spirit, even in my memories!

God is omnipresent. He helped me grow deeper in faith and helped me have the time and memories with my mom that I didn’t have before.

We hear God can use everything, including the hard stuff in life, for good. This experience is a small example of a significant healing of my grief and teaching me how much more I can lean on him.

It was the best gift for me in Croatia that stayed in my heart the entire time and, now, even back home, it has remained.

I can continue to grow closer to Jesus and closer to my mom. All the love and goodness I received from my mom in my life was her showing me Jesus in her.

Thank you, Jesus, for a way to grow closer to you.

Gina Kurtich Sternfels grew up in Plaquemines Parish and graduated from Immaculata High and Louisiana State University where she studied fine arts and psychology. She now resides on the northshore with her husband, Roland, and three boys. She is passionate about disabilities as she has a son with autism. Dealing with boys and autism in the house has kept her on her toes, and she embraces life as “never boring!” She participates on the Archdiocese Commission on Persons with Disabilities. With Roland, she has been part of Catholic Engaged Encounter for many years. The Sternfels are parishioners at Most Holy Trinity Church in Covington. She has joined the Encounter School of Ministry to dig deep and learn more about her faith. She is working on being still, to hear the father’s voice and use her gifts of creativity amidst the business of day-to-day life as a momma … on path with purpose!