This Easter, I get to celebrate my 17th birthday as a Catholic. Seventeen years ago, I officially began my Catholic faith journey with the blessing of Cardinal Mahoney and my faith community at Holy Family Catholic Church in South Pasadena, Calif. So every year at this time, I find myself reflecting on what I've learned so far. This year, I've been thinking a lot about the mercy and grace of God.

Sarah was a little over 2 years old when we took her to the baptism of her cousin, whose family is Lutheran. We had arrived late, and managed to find two seats in the back by crawling over the laps of two pinch-lipped elderly matrons, who clearly disapproved of our being there at all.

The sermon that day went a little long, and Sarah grew bored. We passed her back and forth, feeding her Cheerios and turning the pages of board books. One of them contained a large picture of Jesus, and when we reached that page, Sarah found her voice.

"Ama-sing gwace, ah ee ah ah," she began.

I shushed her. She sang louder.

As I hastily gathered our things to make a speedy retreat, Sarah let out a few more garbles, followed by a big finish. "Wah spine, ha how I-MEEEEEEEEE!"

The old ladies' eyes looked as though they were going to pop out of their sockets. I was just glad to get my daily dose of humiliation out of the way so early in the day. (Ha.)

Sometimes Catholics grumble when songs like "Amazing Grace" are sung at Mass. The theory is that songs penned by Protestants don't belong in Catholic churches. To me, that seems just a tad short-sighted.

In baptism, all Christians are part of the Body of Christ. Consequently, all believers have something to teach the rest of us about the spiritual life. The relevant question, then, isn't "was he Catholic?" but "is it true?"

Because of their love for Scripture, Protestant Christians have composed many hymns that are saturated with themes and metaphors from the Bible. For that reason alone, these songs can be sacramentals of grace.

Even the simplest song — "Jesus Loves Me" — has a message people need to hear again and again, just as the Hail Mary reminds us of all the family we have in heaven, praying for us throughout are lives and at death. We all need that, not just children. All of us.

Now, it can be difficult to hear the message if we become too "grown up" for our own good. Intellectual pride often parades around as superior intellect. In reality, an unwillingness to accept truth from anyone who isn't just like us isn't intelligence but pride. And the only way to correct pride is a generous dose of humility.

And so, because he loves us, God sometimes puts us in situations to show us just how little we really know. Don't get me wrong, he doesn't cause the illness, the tragedy, or any other hardship. But when they come — and they come to everyone, sooner or later — God uses them to pull the weeds in our gardens of faith.

One way or another, we learn there is no way to enter God's Kingdom with a head held high. The gate is so low, we must enter on our knees.

"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found, twas blind but now I see."

This Easter, my prayer is that you, too, will rediscover God's "Amazing Grace"!

To write this article, Heidi took a break from thesis writing, after which she will have a Master of Theology degree at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. Her blog is the Extraordinary Moms Network.