| Sandy Russman Fohs, who received great comfort from the Lord after some devastating losses, is a parishioner of Saint Brendan the Navigator Church in Cumming.
Sandy was born in a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was one of seven children. Attending parochial school for eight years, along with Sunday Mass and daily rosary with the family, formed the basis of her faith. Tragically, when she was nine years old, her mother passed away – a devastating loss. A few days after the funeral, she received a sympathy card with a Bible quote in it. Verse 4 of Psalm 23 gave her hope: "Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage." Sandy finished high school and graduated from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, with a Bachelor of Science degree, then began a sales career in Atlanta while attending night law school. She passed the bar exam, but remained in sales. She later fell in love and married. Her husband, while not Catholic, attended Sunday Mass with her. Life was good.
When her husband left her for his high school sweetheart, Sandy was, once again, devastated. She found solace in Psalm 34:19: "The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves."
Sandy trusted that the Lord would bring her spouse back to her. But the Lord had other plans. As she later described it, “He tricked me into going to daily Mass.” Today, she is a parishioner of Saint Brendan the Navigator Church in Cumming, Georgia, and joyfully participates in a half-dozen Church ministries, attends daily Mass and prays the rosary.
Sandy will share how becoming friends with Jesus has resulted in candid inspirations and amusing anecdotes. |
