A huge privilege I had growing up, was the ability to choose my own religion.

My parents, specifically my father, raised us by teaching us about all faiths, giving us the freedom to choose which one resonated with us the most. We celebrated Christmas every year at home, celebrated hanukkah with our neighbors, celebrated Ramadan with my mom’s side.

When my brother came to my father in his 20s, telling him that he was working to become baptized, my dad supported him through and through. We went to his baptism, and I went to church with him and youth group in my teen years.

What a beautiful thing to give your children the freedom to choose their religion.