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    She Was Asked to Leave Her Church, What Do I Say? - Connie A Baker #6

    enSeptember 26, 2019

    About this Episode

    When the church says what she's done is so bad she can no longer attend services, what do you do? What is the right thing to do? What is the loving thing to do?
    Join us for this episode with Connie A Baker, speaker, author, licensed therapist and Trauma Recovery Specialist as she tell us what she wishes we knew about what it was like to be asked to leave her church.
     
    10:43 Why she became a therapist
    12:40 Connie's childhood and how that was a sign she was meant to become a Therapist one day
    15:18 How the church was Connie's LIfe Blood - the church became her everything, her whole social circle
    18:45 Her story - what caused the leadership of the church to ask her to leave the church
    27:13 "I do not believe pastors have affairs. If it is with someone in their own church, it is not an affair."
    28:00 Even though she confessed to an emotional affair, that is not what happened. She wasn't being deceitful, at the time she didn't understand what happened
    29:00 Why does she confess to something untrue?
    33:06 What happens to the pastor who abuses her?
    33:56 What does life look immediately after this busts open? 
    37:05 Losing your identity. How does this affect her spiritually at this point in her story?
    40:45 Loss of reputation
    41:45 Rebuilding her faith
    47:25 What she did to help her through the depression, PTSD, and anxiety that resulted 
     
    49:42 What wasn't helpful
    -"Explain exactly what happen." - looking for who is to blame
    -"I don't even know who you are anymore." - how about asking them how they are doing, "This is so not like you Connie, I'm just so confused. Talk to me."
     
    How to be a supportive friend:
    -Check up on her well being without asking too many questions (prying) or say, "You are really on my heart."
    -Those that can ask and listen to her answer, make sure to give lots of permission if they don't want to talk
    -Listen & love her
    -"See" her
    -Recognize that she is the same person - reflect back to her who she really is
     
    61:10 Where you can find Connie:
    Websiteconnieabaker.com 
    Facebook Group: Overcoming Religious Abuse: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ORACommunity/
    Facebook page: Connie A Baker MA LPC https://www.facebook.com/ReligiousAbuseRecovery/
    Book: Traumatized by Religious Abuse: https://www.amazon.com/Traumatized-Religious-Abuse-Courage-Survivors/dp/1643881213/ref=sr_1_1?crid=289DQ3UQYHNQY&keywords=traumatized+by+religious+abuse&qid=1569472865&s=gateway&sprefix=traumatized%2Caps%2C258&sr=8-1
    Instagram: @connie_a_baker
     
    64:00 Big Reveal
     
    Want to hear the why behind Connie's Big Reveal? Become a Patreon Member of this podcast and get access to the "Interview After the Interview" episode.  https://www.patreon.com/whatshewishesyouknew
     
    Have more questions for Connie? Become a $5/month Patreon Member and get access to a Live Q&A with Connie inside our Patreon Exclusive Access Facebook Group. https://www.patreon.com/whatshewishesyouknew
     

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    00:33:52 What happened in Guatemala that caused her and Luke to ask this question
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    • "Can I give you a gift card for _____?"
    • "Would you like to go to coffee with me?"
    • "Can I come take a walk with you?"
     
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    • "God gives special kids to special people."
    • "God will not give you more than you can handle."
    01:31:12  How you can get involved in Embrace Oregon
    1:32:42 The Big Reveal Segment
     
    01:35:39 Kathleen's Wrap Up
    If you see someone and they seem to be doing just fine, the kids they are fostering are doing great in Sunday School, or playing with your kids, or just in general being around you, it doesn't mean that at home it's not a WHOLE NOTHER BALL GAME.
     
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    • Take her to coffee
    • Offer to do practical things for her: laundry, meals, grocery shop, clean a bathroom
    • Offer respite care
    • Offer to transport her other kids to their practices
    • Offer to be a nonjudgmental listening ear
     
     
    Ways to Help in Oregon
     
    Welcome Boxes
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    Launch Boxes
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    Emergency Needs
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    Boxes of Love
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    Office Buddies
    Foster Parent Night Out
    Transportation
    Service Projects
    DHS Staff Appreciation
     
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    Jillana's Book:
     
    Kathleen's Workbook -Embrace You: A Guide to Uncovering the Real You
     
    Bonus Episode (Interview After the Interview) : Become a $2/month patreon member and get access to all the bonus episodes where my guests shares the WHY to her Big Reveals. Patreon Information
     
    Wanna Become a Patreon Member? Click here => Patreon Information
     
    Where to find Kathleen
    Instagram: @speakerkathleenmpeters
     
    Newsletter & Free Empathy Cards
    To download your own digital Empathy Cards, go to whatshewishesyouknew.com , scroll to the bottom of page, and sign up for my newsletter. And no I promise to not flood your inbox. Yes, I do intend to send at least one email a month FILLED to the BRIM with all sorts of goodies that will help you to listen and love well.

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    What is it like to plan your living son's funeral? What is it like to grieve a loved one who hasn't died?
    In Part 2 of my interview with Jessica McCurdy, we talk about about how culture sees addiction: moral failure vs disease. Jessica gives us an incredible word picture of this disease - how it is a miracle when a person is staying out of active addiction, and how we can change our language to better honor those coping with this disease and its effects. She also explains that active addiction is about grief; you are not only losing the person but also experiences they will never have with their loved one.
     
    Show Notes
    00:08:00
    *00:59:00 me: this is a disease – how are we seeing this as a culture: moral failure, a choice, deficit in character :
    00:09:00 Cancer, MS, Lupus – “they are a survivor or a warrior”, Cancer – we feel bad with no moral failure, addiction moral failure because they have to put something in our body – the addiction starts before anything is put into the body – Addiction is in the disease model
    The first choice was an actual “choice”
    00:13:00 admitting they are powerless against that drug – affects the survival part of the brain –
    00:15:00  She calls Camron a survivor – it’s a miracle that someone stays clean – breathing underwater
    00:16:00  Active Addiction – Changing our language – if there is not a cure then he will always be an addict – she will not support him during this time
    00:18:00  Symptoms of addiction lying, manipulating, cheating, stealing, commiting crimes – symptoms of cancer treatment nausea, lethargy, taste of copper
    00:19:00  Her fears to tell us what she wishes we knew – She felt very alone – not many parents speak up about what’s going on because of the shame
    00:22:22  in AL-Anon she could pray he would die – mourning a living person
    00:23:17  grief groups in church turned her away – she didn’t want to grieve alone
    00:24:20 you don’t know where you belong in the church – she wanted hope from the church –
    00:25:00  She started to miss church all the time because she would cry – her current church are comfortable with tears – the old church system didn’t have a culture that made it safe to be in pain
    00:29:20 Kathleen: the culture of church needs to be changed – we watch what happens to others in pain and decide whether church is safe in our pain
    00:30:35 What she wishes we knew about the grief – "what would feel good to you?"
    00:33:00  we’re grieving like we lost someone – she lost graduation, proms, football,
    The loss is repeated over & over – they are in fear all the time (PTSD) – they are warriors/fighters
    00:35:00 what could we practically do and what should we not do:
     
    Hurtful Words to Stay Away From
    • “What drugs is he using?” – the path & consequence could be the same –
    • “Is it just alcohol?”
    • “Addiction is such a stronghold. Just trust God.”
    • “He’ll be okay. He’ll find his way. He has a good mama.” – this feeds into her codependency – addiction is not either good or bad, it’s a disease
    • “Is he doing good now?”
    • “Oh really, Camron doesn’t seem like that type of kid?"
    • “You’re so strong; you’ll get through this.”
    • “Camron is a good kid; he’ll come out the other side."
     
    00:44:40 “My son is going to die before I do.” – this is a real possibility – she’s already planned his funeral
     
     Helpful Words to Say
    • "I’m so sorry. My heart hurts for your mama’s heart."
    • "I wish I could take away all this pain for you."
    • "I’m crying with you. How can I be here for you?"
    • "This must be so devastating."
    • "How can I love you through this?" - Jessica's favorite
    •  
    00:49:00 How is Camron doing now?
    00:52:55 Big Reveal
     
    PLEASE REMEMBER:
    Supporting a Friend who has a Loved One battling Active Addiction and/or Recovery
    • Your friend is going to be going through a lot of loss and it will repeat itself over and over.
    • To recognize they may be in fear all the time. They may actually have PTSD.
     
    Advice from other moms:
    • stand by her, don't judge her or her son or daughter.
    • I wish they would know that coffee dates and going to the movies and taking her to lunch may be the thing that keeps her going for one more day.
    • Inviting her to get a pedicure she can’t afford because all her money is being spent on a rehab or counselor,
    • going for a walk with her to get her mind off things.
    • Remember no one brings them a casserole when their child is going to rehab.
    • Just be a friend like you would if she had lost a child and is grieving because she is.
    • Know this is a game changer. Her life won’t be the same but it can be better with the Lord. As she finds her identity in Him and not in whether her child is successful and beats their addiction or doesn’t.
    • Laugh with her when she laughs and cry with her when she cries but whatever you do, don’t avoid her.
     
     
    Jessica's Book Recommendation
     
    Jessica's Church
     
    How to Reach Out to Jessica:
     
    Resources for Those Supporting Someone in Recovery
     
    Facebook Support Groups:
     
    Sober Living Oregon Recovery Center: https://www.soberlivingrc.com/
     
    Kathleen's Workbook -Embrace You: A Guide to Uncovering the Real You
     
    Are you a visual learner? Wish you had in written form all the guest's tips about how to be a loving supportive friend? Become a $2/month patreon member and receive an Episode Guide that outlines all her practical tips (as well as some others we didn't discuss). Patreon Information
     
    Wanna Become a Patreon Member? Click here => Patreon Information
     
    Where to find Kathleen
    Instagram: @speakerkathleenmpeters
     
    Newsletter & Free Empathy Cards
    To download your own printable Empathy Cards, go to whatshewishesyouknew.com , scroll to the bottom of page, and sign up for my newsletter. And no I promise to not flood your inbox. Yes, I do intend to send at least one email a month FILLED to the BRIM with all sorts of goodies that will help you to listen and love well. 

    Her Son Has an Addiction, What Do I Say? Part 1 - Jessica McCurdy #11

    Her Son Has an Addiction, What Do I Say? Part 1 - Jessica McCurdy #11
    What is it like to walk alongside your 13 year old son while he battles addiction and recovery?
    This is Part 1 of a two part series where Jessica McCurdy shares her deeply raw and authentic story of loving her now 20 year old son, Camron through some incredibly dark times.
     
    My Guest: Jessica McCurdy
    Jessica is a growth seeking, passionate, highly motivated, people person, unmarried, faith-filled, encourager, and mostly single mom. She spends her days working as an office manager at a physical therapy clinic, and just recently returned to community college part time to study Alcohol & Drug Counseling. She is active in her church, attends all the women’s faith events she can, volunteers with sober girls in recovery, exercises regularly, runs, hikes with her rescue pitbull, and enjoys quality time with her best girlfriends.
     
    SHOW NOTES
    The Weed Scare & How It All Began
    • 23:20 His first attempt to buy it
    • 26:20 Their move to different area of town Freshman year – Revealed he had tried weed in his best friend’s parents’ garage (the dad’s medical marijuana)
    • 33:08 Sophomore year his grades went down and he started skipping school and lying about it
    • 34:00 He runs away to use with a bunch of friends
     
    11 Days of Using
    • 36:00 How she discovers he has run away
    • 37:30 She makes the police report – had to remember what he was wearing
    • 38:40 Camron calls and tells her he’s not coming home – the feeling of anger, terror, and powerlessness - the was the beginning of getting used to this feeling of powerlessness
    • 41:00 Everyday he would call to check in
    • 41:48 Her daily routine for the next 11 days to find him
    • 41:27 Always check your kids phones & be in touch with your kid's friends' parents
    • 43:48 This is when shame settled in – questioning her own parenting- “What kind of a home do you have that your kid is running away?"
    • 45:55 Kathleen: Isn't this a part of parenting? Don't we all tend to see our kids’ behavior as a reflection of our parenting? Any yet we don’t know what’s going on the inside of each other’s homes. It may not have anything to do with our parenting.
    • 49:00 More of her shame – this is why parents don’t get help – they go through it alone
    • 50:00 Codependency/enabling settles in here – “We are one.” - what he does is a direct reflection of me.
    • 51:15 Her healing with Camron to become intra-dependent – Your actions do not change how I am feeling. -You can feel empathy for them but it's not like your whole day will be ruined by their actions
    • 52:55 How she figures out he’s using while gone – her Private Investigating work
    • 54:50  She was only 6 hours behind him at one point
    • 56:04 When you accept the addiction, you get power back – there is a solution for addiction, not a cure
    • 57:20 Camron's drug of choice : “more” - what an addict ends with is often not what he started with; it doesn't matter what it is.
    The Next Step - Treatment
    • 59:13: She researches treatment centers
    • 1:00:50 She calls all the treatment centers – there is not a lot of help in Oregon (Oregon is the 4th worst in access to treatment)
    • 1:02:31 He is finally found by the police
    • 1:04:08 She picks him up and he seems sad – she starts to grieve because he is gone, his eyes are vacant- she went into action mode
    • 1:05:10 Her plan – ultimatum “go on your own, or someone will take you to the rehab clinic”
    • 1:06:10 the “transporters” come into the backyard – he says, “You’re not my mom anymore” Called his dad by his first name. – Another defining moment of shame again, “I can’t believe I'm doing this to my son.”
    • 1:08:05 Kathleen: "My mama’s heart is breaking because he’s angry with you." – she has had to do this continually – this is not a one-time thing
    • 1:09:12 He was in and out of rehab from age 15-18
    • 1:10:20 it’s not The Place that brings recovery
     
    Kathleen's Wrap Up
    Let's talk about Shame:
    Here's what stood out to me:
    Jessica's immediate thoughts of "I'm not one of those moms"
    "What kind of a home do you have that you would have a kid running away?"
    I ask you, What kind of image/pic do you have related to someone else's child being addicted? Do you see addiction as a result of bad parenting... do you look to see who is to blame?
    If you do, you are not alone or abnormal. Our culture is built on science, fact. We are all constantly trying to make sense of our world whether it's good things or bad thing, by figuring out who is at fault...who's bad decision got us here.
     
    In her book, It's Ok That You're Not Ok - Meeting Grief & Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand, author Megan Devine says, "There's a pervasive weirdness in our culture around grief and death. We judge, and we blame, dissect, and minimize. People look for the flaws in what someone did to get to this place. She didn't exercise enough. Didn't take enough vitamins. Too too many. He shouldn't have been walking on that side of the road....I bet they had unresolved childhood issues - see what unhealed issues do to you?"
     
    I believe this pervasive weirdness surrounds all things we don't want to happen to us and our loved ones. It is our fear. We don't want to believe it could happen to us so we look for reasons why it's happening to them and then we promise ourselves we'll never do that. We'll be attentive parents. We won't get divorced. We'll check their phones. We'll won't be like THOSE parents.
     
    We do this out of self-preservation. The truth is that what has happened to Jessica and Camron could happen to any one of us and we know it. The reason we look for blame, and that's what we're doing when we are looking to see who is at fault, is to protect ourselves. And friend, we all do it. You are not alone.
     
    But here is the danger, as I see it.
    1. What happens when it does happen to you?
    -because you've built this structure that everything bad is a result of someone's mistake, you are then left to blame yourself
    -and then you are left to your shame
    -you will be tempted, as many parents like Jessica said have done, to not tell anyone so that you don't have to face other people's blame
    -in the darkest of times, you are alone
     
    SIDE NOTE: Shame lives and grows in 3 things (Brené Brown's Research)
    1. secrecy
    2. silence
      • we say unloving, unkind, hurtful things only adding to their pain & suffering
    3. judgement2. Second Danger: when something horrific happens to our loved ones, out of our own fear, we do not enter into their pain, we run from it
     
    This need to find who is to blame is driving disconnection in our society, in our churches.
    If we want to make a difference, if we want to be like Maddie who left the Apple Podcast Review and we want to continue learning new ways to love like Jesus loves, I believe we have to address our need to find blame. It could be the very thing that is blocking you from having the real connections you desire.
     
    In 2 weeks, join me for Part 2 of Jessica's story where she explains to us what it is like to have this disease, how our culture's view of addicts is skewed and damaging, her experiences in the church (painful and good), how you can love another woman in the midst of supporting someone through active addiction and recovery, and words/questions that are unhelpful and hurtful.
     
    How to Reach Out to Jessica:
     
    Resources for Those Supporting Someone in Recovery
     
    Facebook Support Groups:
     
    Kathleen's Workbook -Embrace You: A Guide to Uncovering the Real You
     
    Are you a visual learner? Wish you had in written form all the guest's tips about how to be a loving supportive friend? Become a $2/month patreon member and receive an Episode Guide that outlines all her practical tips (as well as some others we didn't discuss). Patreon Information
     
    Wanna Become a Patreon Member? Click here => Patreon Information
     
    Where to find Kathleen
    Instagram: @speakerkathleenmpeters
    Email: kathleen@whatshewishesyouknew.com
     

    She's Single, How Do I Love Her Well? - Nicole LeBlond #10

    She's Single, How Do I Love Her Well? - Nicole LeBlond #10
    What's it like to be single in the church? Are we unknowingly sending the message that without a matrimony, they are not a whole person?
     
    If you are married, I think you will be surprised by what my guest Nicole LeBlond bravely shares, and based on the other women's voices recorded in this episode, she is not alone in her experiences. Prepare yourself to be enlightened and better equipped to know how to love and support the single women in your life.
     
    If you are single, my hope is you will feel seen and affirmed. My hope is our christian communities will learn how to see you as whole and valid, as is.
     
    My Guest: Nicole LeBlond
    Nicole was born and raised Portland, Oregon and is a pediatric nurse at Randall Children’s Hospital. Along with working with the greatest team at the best children's hospital in Portland, she participates in medical missions in Haiti – a country and people that has taken hold of her heart. She is a diehard Boston Red Sox fan and speaks fluently in movie quotes. She's a little obsessed with Disneyland – so much so, she had an Annual Pass for 2 years and is thinking it might be time to renew. She is a follower of Jesus – striving to share His grace, mercy, and love to all the peeps in her life.
     
    Show Notes:
    • There tends to be a lumping in of never marrieds with divorced and widowed women even though the experiences are quite different.
    • The church struggles to know what do with single people.
    • Nicole has felt as a single woman there was something wrong with her because she didn't really fit anywhere in the church.
    • She has found Women's Ministry Events to be isolating - events seem to focus on a woman's purpose is to be a wife and a mother.
    • Separating the Singles out (dividing them by age or gender) is injuring & feels like the church is telling her she doesn't have any worth, like she doesn't have anything to offer the rest of the church.
     
    Singles Need Us to Be Their Community
    Nicole enjoys hanging out with married people - being a part of a family is a beautiful picture of community.
    She needs the church to rally around her and tell her, "We'll be your family!"
    Even though she doesn't have kids herself, she does have something to offer us.
    "I don't have to have kids to be able to listen to you talk about your child, 'I'm struggling with X and I don't know what to do,' but you know what I can do? I can pray. I can go to the Father for you maybe in a way that someone else can't because I see it in another way."
    "Everyone is a valid member of our community."
    We have a unique opportunity to do life together.
     
    Paul and the Bible: "Singleness is a gift"
    • This not a gift to the single person, but is a gift to the church
    • Because there may be more freedom in their schedule to serve others in the church, singles are then a gift to the church
    How being single does not feel like a gift
    -the loneliness
    -grieving not having a family with children
    -romance shows can be poke the bruised places
     
    The message she got that you can earn a husband - Marriage is a Reward or You are not Christian enough
    "You're not married yet because your husband isn't ready. Once he's hit whatever benchmark that God has for him, he'll be ready and you can be married. Or "You haven't met that benchmark that God has for you therefore when you meet that, you'll be ready for marriage."
     
    What Not to Say
    You have to just to stop looking, and then he'll show up.
    You just haven't met him yet.
    Some people weren't meant to be married. (can give the message that there is something wrong with her)
     
    The American Culture says getting married and having children is just what you do
     
    What to Say & Do
    "Man, I'm sorry."
    Engage them where they're at, not waiting for them to get married
    -ask them to lead Bible Studies
    -ask them to open up their homes to host small groups
    -not treating her as a tag-along but as a member who has something to offer
    -invite her to events or to hang out with your family
    -If she is a close friend, ask her if she desires/ to be married.
     
    What She Wishes We Knew
    She understands grief. She grieves her singleness.
     
    Kathleen's Parting Thoughts
    If we really stop and think about it, as the woman earlier in the show stated, we are a society that holds coupling on an altar. If you aren't in a couple, then we assume you are looking to find someone, and then we inadvertently are telling singles they aren't okay if they aren't matched up.
     
    Invalid, not whole, not valuable, less than, don't fit, something wrong with me
    • this was the theme I heard over and over again
    • you might feel attacked & not understand why what we are saying and doing is hurtful, and I'm glad you are noticing those feelings. But I also know you are here because you want to love better. So, if you don't understand why single women are feeling this way in the church, now would be a great time to go to them and have an honest discussion.
    • In every Episode Guide I make available to my Patreon Members, I tell them if they've found themselves uncomfortable after the Big Reveal segment of the show, they might want to
      • Seek out others who think like the guest on that particular topic and ask them questions. 
     
    And then I give them words they could say, like:
    “I honestly want to understand why someone thinks the way they do about this topic. I’m not looking to debate you, I really just want to learn more. Would you mind sharing with me what brought you to this conclusion? Because I realize you probably didn’t just wake up one day and say ______. (I feel like the church thinks I am not valuable)
     
    A good friend of mine who used to lead a thriving single moms group me were having a discussion about how we tend to see single men vs single women. Women tend to be seen as broken, and not able to keep a man, or power hungry, career chasing, no time for a family because of her cold cold heart, where as single men are seen as helpless in one way, "poor guy he just hasn't found the right woman yet," but he is not seen as broken or as power hungry.
     
    This discussion really had me examining my own biases. And the result wasn't pretty. I had to hold up things I had been taught (explicitly and implicitly) next to what was true in the lives of my own single friends to see that it was time to let go of some stinkin' thinkin'.
     
    Invite them
    • Keep asking if they turn you down
      • they may not be ready yet (divorced, widowed)
      • they may be exhausted doing all the things themselves (if you are married, most of us have someone to shoulder all the burdens with, even if he doesn't seem to pull his weight all time, many of us have a security of knowing there is another person available in times of emergency)
      • they may have other plans
     
    Things to NOT say:
    • "You just haven't found the right guy yet."
    • "You're going to meet someone, just when you least expect it."
    • "Let God be your husband."
    • Why aren't you married yet?
    • You have to just to stop looking, and then he'll show up.
    • Some people aren't meant to be married.
    • God's still doing a work in you/him, then you'll be ready.
    • Have you found someone yet?
     
    Touch
    If you are married or have a significant other, I want you to notice how much touch you get throughout the day. A brush of the arm, an arm around a shoulder, a hug, a snuggle under a warm blanket, or even just a jab in the arm. Now I want you to think about your single friend and how little she is probably touched. A little warning here, not everyone is going to welcome contact, so you may want to make sure your friend is okay with touch, but please consider linking arms with them or hugging them the next time you are together. We need touch in order to thrive. And maybe this could be a simple way for you to love your single friend.
     
    Kathleen's Workbook -Embrace You: A Guide to Uncovering the Real You
     
    Wanna hear the why behind Nicoles's Big Reveal? Become a Patreon Member of this podcast and get access to the "Interview After the Interview" episode. https://www.patreon.com/whatshewishesyouknew
     
    Are you a visual learner? Wish you had in written form all the guest's tips about how to be a loving supportive friend? Become a $2/month patreon member and receive an Episode Guide that outlines all her practical tips (as well as some others we didn't discuss).
     
    Have more questions for Nicole? Become a $5/month Patreon Member and get access to a Live Q&A with Connie inside our Patreon Exclusive Access Facebook Group. https://www.patreon.com/whatshewishesyouknew
     
     
    Instagram: @speakerkathleenmpeters
     

    Her Mom Died, What Do I Say? Part 2 -Kim Ludeman #9

    Her Mom Died, What Do I Say? Part 2 -Kim Ludeman #9
    After believing God would heal her mom, how does a 19 year old cope with not only the grief of losing her mom at such a young age, but also the fractured trust created between her and God?
     
    This is a real and vulnerable interview with my friend, Kim Ludeman; she bravely dives into the parts of grief that can affect our faith. Grief is messy business.
     
    Show Notes
    02:28 How this is affecting her spiritual life
    14:00 A spiritual crisis of faith begins when prayers for her mom's healing did not work
    16:50 Why she didn't feel she couldn't share this struggle with other believers
    21:35 Where you can find Kim:
    23:10 The Big Reveal 
     
    26:10 Kathleen's parting thoughts
    Fractured trust in a time of loss is a normal reaction
     
    28:55 Get Quiet & Ask Yourself Questions - For $2/month patreon members
    • Did any of KIm’s Big Reveals make me feel uncomfortable?
    • Can I identify what it was that made me feel this way? Is it because I have strong feelings about that topic that are different than hers?
    • Did I notice how that felt in my body? Did I feel my heart race, my muscles tense, or sweat beginning to form on my back?
    • Did I notice my emotions? Were they anger, surprise, disappointment, sadness….?
    • Am I struggling with Kim as a person now? Do I sense I cannot trust her or do I feel I have lost some respect for her? Do I question the status of her salvation?
    -It's important for us to allow others to wrestle and struggle in their faith
    -My experience of asking my own questions
     
    35:54 If you've got a friend struggling in her faith
    -fight your urgency to fix her
    -sit with her
    -let her ask
    -you don't have to have the answers
    -engage in curious conversation
    -see her and let her know how normal it is to question
     
    How to find Kim:
    Facebook Group: The Captivatingly Confident Community
    Podcast: The Captivatingly Confident Podcast
    Instagram: @kim.ludeman
     
    Kathleen's Workbook -Embrace You: A Guide to Uncovering the Real You
     
    Wanna hear the why behind Kim's Big Reveal? Become a Patreon Member of this podcast and get access to the "Interview After the Interview" episode. https://www.patreon.com/whatshewishesyouknew
     
    Are you a visual learner? Wish you had in written form all the guest's tips about how to be a loving supportive friend? Become a $2/month patreon member and receive an Episode Guide that outlines all her practical tips (as well as some others we didn't discuss).
     
    Have more questions for Kim? Become a $5/month Patreon Member and get access to a Live Q&A with Connie inside our Patreon Exclusive Access Facebook Group. https://www.patreon.com/whatshewishesyouknew
     
     
    Instagram: @speakerkathleenmpeters

    Her Mom Died, What Do I Say? Part 1 -Kim Ludeman #8

    Her Mom Died, What Do I Say?  Part 1 -Kim Ludeman #8
    What is it like for a 19 year old to lose her mom to cancer?
     
    How does she process her grief when her whole world changes (her childhood home is sold and her dad remarries right away) and her support system doesn't understand how to help her grieve? Join me as I interview Kim Ludeman and her story of Grief & Loss After Losing Mom.
     
    As a Confidence Coach, Kim Ludeman doesn't just help women feel good.
     
    With more than 10 years of health & fitness experience, she's obsessed with creating lasting change. Kim gets her clients to stop hiding and live the life they WANT rather than one they think they SHOULD (she also created and hosts her own podcast, coordinates a private Facebook group, and offers individual and group coaching under her company Captivatingly Confident).
     
    Kim utilizes a blend of Personal Styling, Nutrition Guidance, Mindset Coaching, and Personal Training to help women reveal their radiance.
     
    Kim found a passion for helping women stop hiding after losing her mom to cancer when Kim was 19. Her message of body and self-acceptance has moved thousands of women into taking a more loving approach to their bodies and hearts.
     
    She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, Tim. Off-hours Kim can usually be found hiking with their 5-year-old Louis and obsessing over all varieties of mustard.
     
     
    Show Notes
    15:30 How she got into her current business
    18:00 Kim tells us her about her mom and how her life influenced who Kim became
    25:00 Her mom is diagnosed with Stage 4 Uterine & Ovarian Cancer at age 43; Kim is 18 yrs old.
    27:00 What was it like to know her mom didn't have long to live and how she coped with no support
    31:33 What it was like to lose her mom at age 19 and to enter right back into life at college
    33:00  How she responds to, "You have to stop crying. You are making everyone else uncomfortable."
    -She's in a better place.
    -God has bigger plans
    -We'll pray for you.
     
    33:57 What would've felt supportive:
    -Hold space for them.
    -Hold their hand.
    -Put your hand on their shoulder.
    -Sit in the ashes with them.
    -Just be with them.
    - To be seen.
     
    35:10 Things to Not Do:
    -Try not to fix it.
    -Compare the death to an animal's death.
    -Compare the death to another person
    -Scripture references
    -Say you would pray for her
     
    42:35 She didn't just lose her mom - she loses her childhood home, her dad which drives her isolation
    45:30 How she is now 15 years later
    -Grief is like a ball in the box with a pain button
    -How a baby shower triggered her grief into anger and sadness 38:00
    51:56 A loving gift to her at her Baby Shower in remembrance of her mom
    53:10 Kim expands on her feelings of anger in regards to her grief
    - how thinking she needed to trust that God has a plan made it so she felt she wasn't allowed to be angry at her situation
    57:34 "Trauma (death of a loved one is a trauma) is stored in the brain"  If you find yourself stuck in anger or continually triggered or reactive, there are therapy techniques designed to help: Brain Spotting (https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/brainspotting-therapy), EFT, EMDR, Neurofeedback
     
    Kathleen's Parting Thoughts
    Grief After Losing Mom
    • Make room for the possibility that her relationship with mom wasn't good -don't assume
    • Do you know someone who has a poor relationship with her mom - ask her about that
    • Stay away from fixing or silver lining statements
    • Remember the significant person in Kim's life in college, Andrea, she didn't say a word, she just held her
     
    Facebook Group: The Captivatingly Confident Community
    Podcast: The Captivatingly Confident Podcast
    Instagram: @kim.ludeman
     
    Kathleen's Workbook -Embrace You: A Guide to Uncovering the Real You
     
    Wanna hear the why behind Kim's Big Reveal? Become a Patreon Member of this podcast and get access to the "Interview After the Interview" episode. https://www.patreon.com/whatshewishesyouknew
     
    Are you a visual learner? Wish you had in written form all the guest's tips about how to be a loving supportive friend? Become a $2/month patreon member and receive an Episode Guide that outlines all her practical tips (as well as some others we didn't discuss).
     
    Have more questions for Kim? Become a $5/month Patreon Member and get access to a Live Q&A with Connie inside our Patreon Exclusive Access Facebook Group. https://www.patreon.com/whatshewishesyouknew
     
     
    Instagram: @speakerkathleenmpeters