← WHOA That's Good Podcast
WHOA That's Good Podcast
How I Learned to Trust God Without All the Answers | Sadie Robertson Huff | Jenny Marrs | Korie Robertson
00:59:39
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- [00:09]
A
What is up? Everybody happy? Well, that's good. Wednesday. I hope you're having a great week. But, y', all, it is about to get so much better. We have such a fun guest on the podcast today, and I have a little co host. My mom is here, and we get to interview Jenny Mars. They have a new season of their show Fixer to Fabulous. I want to make sure I said that right. I was, like, about to say it wrong. They have a new season of their show, Season seven, which is crazy. And she has a new book out. Mom, hold it up. Shout it out.
- [00:36]
B
Here we go. Trust God. Love people. And I'm so excited that I just read this, because I've known you for a long time, but reading your book now, I know all the details, and it's so, so sweet, and it was so good, and I'm so inspired. So we're gonna talk a lot about this book today.
- [00:50]
A
Yes. Mom sent over. So I did my prep, and she did her prep, and I went the podcast route. Listening to podcasts. You've been on it. She went the book route, reading the book, and I was like, oh, that's good. I need to read this whole book.
- [01:02]
B
So I was thinking this morning, I was thinking, like, it's like the book. I feel like what's so good about it is it's like a great dinner conversation with you. It's like, I got to sit down, and then I left. So inspired. And I was like, it's not like a coffee conversation, because that's, like, light. It's like long dinner and my best favorite kind. That's right. And just getting to know you and just leaving. So inspired by your story and all the things God taught you in it. So I'm excited for the one that's good listeners to get to hear all that.
- [01:30]
A
Yes.
- [01:31]
C
I love that.
- [01:32]
A
I have to say, before I ask you the question, we ask everybody to kick off the podcast. One of my favorite things is when we have guests coming, and, like, people start to hear who we have coming, and they're like, oh, I have to be there that day. And when we were like, oh, Jenny Mars is coming. Bella was like, jenny's coming. I have to make sure I'm there. And then I get here today, and Bella's here and my grandma's here, and everyone's, like, waiting to see you. And that's just the best. And so we're grateful that you're here today.
- [01:55]
B
Bella and I watched a lot of Picture to Fabulous when she was a teenager. That was one of our shows that we got to just, like, sit down and watch together and love so much.
- [02:02]
C
Yes, I love that.
- [02:03]
A
So we're.
- [02:04]
B
I'll never forget you calling me about your new show whenever it first. Because we knew each other before that.
- [02:10]
C
I know.
- [02:10]
B
And even the title, you being like, this is the title. And the same thing for us for Duck Dynasty. I remember, like, we had all these name ideas for our show, and then they were like, we're thinking Duck Dynasty. And we're like, what? And then it became perfect. But same for y'.
- [02:23]
C
All. Same fixer.
- [02:24]
B
Fabulous was not your at all.
- [02:26]
C
No, I was like, fabulous. I never say fabulous. And now. But now I catch myself saying fabulous a lot. But, yes, I remember that conversation. Oh, my gosh. Yeah. Okay.
- [02:35]
A
That's so cute. We'll dive into all of it. But first, Ginny, I'm putting you on the spot.
- [02:40]
C
I've got to pull up my note.
- [02:41]
A
I love it. She came ready and prepared for the best piece of advice she has ever been given. So hit it.
- [02:47]
C
Okay, now that is a lot ever been given. So I apologize to my mom and my grandmas, because I was like, surely I had some good advice.
- [02:55]
A
When the allergic mom has given this to me.
- [02:58]
B
You don't remember anything that I told y'? All.
- [03:01]
C
I'm like, they're just so ingrained, I couldn't remember the exact words.
- [03:03]
B
That's right.
- [03:04]
C
No, but because of today. So actually, Corey reminded me of this question, and I was praying about it this morning. I was like, lord, oh, my gosh. I really don't know what is my best advice. And so he brought to mind. And it's funny you say this, because. And I talk about it here. A conversation you and I had that I'm thankful we had on text, because I can read it now. Okay, so it was when we were. It was in 2019. So we had. The show had just started airing, and I'm, like, gonna get emotional about it. Cause it was. We got this letter in the mail. It was typ, which was kind of creepy, like in a typewriter. And it was really awful and evil and, like, terrified me. And it was about our family and what our family looks like and about one of our kiddos. And I was. I mean, I'm, like, shaking thinking about it, because it was horrible. And I opened this letter, and I'm like, oh, my gosh. I've never seen something so evil. So I texted you, Corey, because I knew that you had raised your kids in this weird world of being in front of a Camera. And I at that point was still so unsure if we were doing the right thing. And I had prayed about it so much, and I was like, lord, I don't know. Do we include the kids? Do we protect the kids? Because everybody makes that decision differently. And you guys had walked through this, and so I had texted you because I really don't know what to do. And you texted back, bella and I actually watched one of your episodes last night. I pray that you won't let this stop you. I firmly believe that positive, hopeful family entertainment, particularly that shows a husband and a wife that love each other and respect one another, and a family that stays together is so important. We need more families like yours. Saying yes to being a light that is so often the darkness in the entertainment world. Keep going.
- [04:50]
A
Aw.
- [04:53]
B
Oh, my gosh. I do remember that. I remember that conversation right then because I was like, no, don't let this stop you. Because we had seen how important it is for people to see it, and we'd also seen the dark side and know that it can be. And I know Sadie has wrestled with that, you know, with putting her kids on television and everything now again. But, you know, we just always come back to that. It's like we are called to something greater and we have the spirit of God living in us. We're not called to live in fear. And I'll say thank you for that.
- [05:27]
A
It's really cool because I hear moms say this all the time. They're like, I always listen to my podcast with my daughter because she hears it from you different than she hears it from me. Like, I've said the same thing so many times. But it's actually really cool to hear that from my mom because when I was wrestling with, like, should we share our kids on social media and TV and all that, I was really praying through it. And of course, my mom has done that and says those types of things. But I remember it was, Remember Alexa that I reached out to because she shares her family and she said very similar to what my mom said to you. To me, she was like, the, you know, if Hollywood's not gonna show faith based families a husband and wife who love each other and their kids who respect and all that different stuff, then like, we. We need to do that on social media. Like, we had the platform to be able to do it, so I encourage you to do it. And she was like, don't let fear hold you back. And I always think about that conversation. And so it's cool that God used her to speak that to me, even though I know that, but it was like another peer saying it. And so that is really, really cool.
- [06:28]
B
Well, and I always tell this story about. Cause I had this moment of fear as well. We had a show happening and then Sadie got asked to do Dance with the Stars. And that was my moment of like, oh, am I really gonna send my. She was 16 at the time, 16 year old to Hollywood. And just that fear of like, is this the right decision? Because we had this protection of family in a sense, you know. But then this was like her really going off on her own. And I had a friend speak the same thing. Basically, she just said.
- [06:55]
C
She said that.
- [06:55]
B
She said she has the spirit of God in her. Like, she does not need to be afraid. You do not need to be afraid. And it was just the perfect voice at the right time to speak. Trut. You know, we all need that to go to somebody in that moment.
- [07:08]
C
And I think now, looking back, now that we're in season seven. Cause it was like, our kids have grown up with this, their life. And the same. We have this sort of protection there in Bentonville. Like, it's just our life. People are like, oh, how do you stay grounded? And it's. We just are doing our life. And then there's cameras there. We're not in Hollywood. It's nothing. It's not glamorous. But once it started airing, everything felt different. And it felt like this. Oh, we just opened ourselves up and it felt more real. And now it doesn't feel that way now. It's just that at the beginning, I also am like, you know what? I prayed so much over whether we should do this. I prayed so much over whether to include our kids. I prayed so much about Dave and I and us to be strong and to us to be a light and that. And it's funny that you said the word light and I mention it in the book. Cause that was. God kept speaking that over me, like, be a light, be a light. And he knew this is the path for my kids all along. So I don't have to control and be protective of. Obviously, as a mom, we want to protect our kids. And that was always my concern going into whether or not to say yes to the show was about the kids. And so. But it's amazing because I look at you right now and I'm like, you grew up in this weird world and look at how God's using you. And so I think that about my kids, I think that he knew what their path was. He knew this is their childhood. And yes, it wasn't what I would have planned, but it's better and he's gonna use it.
- [08:28]
A
I had to tell myself that with praying for our kids, I was like, I was the kid.
- [08:32]
C
I was the guest.
- [08:34]
A
And yes, there were a lot of hard things. And yes, I saw the dark side and had letters I wish I never read. But at the same time, God has been so faithful, and I did have the spirit of God in me. We were right before this. I don't want you to forget what you're about to say. Right before this, we were talking about the David movie. And last night, honey, we were watching it, and she said, how is that little bitty boy David gonna kill that really big man, Goliath? Like, how she kept asking me because, you know, honey asked a million questions. Oh, yeah, honey, up until that question, I had been like, watch the movie. Just watch the movie. Wait. And you were gonna see. But that time I stopped and I actually answered her question.
- [09:09]
B
I.
- [09:10]
A
Because he has the spirit of God in him. Like, you're gonna see. He has spirit of God because that's what David says. He's like, I'm anointed. I've actually already killed lions and bears my own hands. So who are you to come against my God? And it makes me think of that with the kids. It's like they have the spirit of God in them. How is that little bitty kid gonna go on national tv? Because they have the spirit of God in them. You know, that same message.
- [09:29]
B
So true.
- [09:30]
A
So good.
- [09:31]
B
Well, yeah, I was just thinking about that. It really doesn't serve our kids or ourselves well to not do hard things. Like, we are meant to do hard things. And whenever I think it is important to. I think in this day and age, there is that, like, everyone wants to protect their kids so much. And there is a lot of things that we need to protect our kids from, no doubt. But also we need to empower our kids to know that, like, with God in them, like, you can do hard things, and your life is a model of that. Like, you didn't always choose the easy route in your life. And we're going to talk about that. So I was thinking, like, as I was reading, and I love your title of your book, but I was also, like, you could have titled this, like, Doing Things Scared. Because, you know, I feel like that's so much the story of your life. And all of our lives is like, people kind of look at our story sometimes and are like, whoa, you're so brave. And you're like, actually, I was scared the whole time. Yes.
- [10:22]
C
Oh, absolutely.
- [10:23]
A
I want to talk about so many aspects of your story, but I want to start with. Because we've talked about Fixer Fabulous. People might recognize you from that. But the story of even just like Yalls home and it not being exactly what you thought your life was going to be. Can you first just tell us, like, what. When you and your husband met, like, what did you think your life was gonna look like? And then how it pivoted?
- [10:46]
C
Well, when I was younger, I always wanted to live in a big city. I imagine going to New York and being in. I don't know. Do you remember the show Melrose Place? You don't.
- [10:57]
B
You don't look right.
- [10:58]
C
Do you remember? So one of the. I don't even know somebody on the show was an advertising executive. And so I was like, I'm gonna be an advertising executive. I have no idea why. I didn't even know what that meant.
- [11:08]
A
Power of influence.
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C
Yeah.
- [11:09]
A
It was just.
- [11:09]
C
Yes. And I was just like, I'm gonna we. Which. I know what.
- [11:12]
B
I don't know.
- [11:13]
C
And so then when Dave and I met, we both were living in separate cities. We were working in corporate America at the time. Dave wanted to quit, move to Arkansas, where his family was now at that point, and start building. And I was like, yeah, sure, we'll go to Arkansas. I actually didn't know. This is terrible. But I didn't know where Arkansas was on a map. It's somewhere over there. I don't know. We had driven through one time and stopped at his parents one time. And so I'd sort of seen it and we just moved there. So it was one of those, like, okay, sure. But I was young, we didn't have kids. And so you can do those things. But no, I never expected to stay there long term. We were going to live there for two years and then move back to Florida, where I'm from. That was the plan. That's what we told my mom. She still talks about that. But we got there and we just started building this life. And it just. I don't know. Now it is home, of course. And then we were living in our cute little downtown. We moved out to the farm, which again, was not something we actually planned.
- [12:14]
A
You gotta tell us some of that story. It's actually really cool.
- [12:17]
C
It's really crazy. Yeah. We had bought. So Dave had gone to. He goes to the land auction every year, the tax auction. And this was a long time ago. Got this piece of property Very inexpensively. And we, you know, he was building. So we knew at some point we would probably develop that land. It was way outside of town at the time. Now it's not. But at the time, we're like, okay, we'll keep. Hold onto that. We held onto it for years. And then he was hired to demolish this old house downtown by our church. At the time, they were expanding the parking lot and building, and so there was this old house on the property, and they wanted to get rid of it. So he took me over there, and he was like, I'm supposed to tear this house down. And he had the key, and we walked through it, and we're like, this house is. You know, you can just walk into a house, and you can feel it. I'm like, this house is so special. We cannot. How can you tear this down? This is terrible. And we love old homes. And at the time, we were renovating and old homes together, and I was like, what are we going to do? And he's like, well, I talked them into giving us this house, and I can move it, and then I'll clean up the lot for them. So it actually saves them money. I'm like, wait, how can you move a house? I didn't know at the time you could do that, but you can. We had a lot downtown. We planned to move it, renovate it, and sell it. Well, there is a law saying you can't move a house within city limits at the time. And that's just so random. Like, how did this happen?
- [13:41]
B
I wonder why.
- [13:43]
A
Somebody was on the interstate with a house, and they said, no, we're making a law.
- [13:47]
C
No more. So we were like, okay, what do we do? And we knew we had this land outside of town. So Dave's like, why don't we just move it out there? And again, we had just. I didn't mention this, but we had just built our dream home at this point, and we were living. And we just had been living there for a year. The boys were little. Um, so we moved the house, though, and we didn't know what we'd do with it. And we started renovating it. And over the course of the year of renovating it, that's when we started our adoption process. We had gone at that point to Congo and back, and we were like, you know, what. What are we doing? Like, this house we have out here, it's. It was small. It was half the size of our current house that we had just built. It was out in the. You know, the country at the time. And we're like, let's just go. Let's move there and let's downsize. And we had the two boys. The boys were two or. No, they were 18 months, almost two. And it was just like this new life of simplifying, letting them run around outside. And it was so perfect. And then Sylvie came home, Charlotte was born, and it was just like mass chaos. So, I mean, it was wonderful, like, all these answered prayers, but we doubled the size of our family and half the size of our living. But it was so good. And it was like, exactly what. Like, why do we need all this stuff? And the space. We had space outside. And I don't know that that choice really kind of changed the, I think, a lot of our life and the way we live our life that we're living.
- [15:10]
B
I think I was surprised to know that you weren't like, a farm girl growing up, because you're such a farm. Like, you love your animals so much, you, like, spend the night with them when they're sick. I love following you on Instagram. If you don't follow Jenny on Instagram, go follow her. Because you just have all of life, you know, in your Instagram. But, yeah, you have such a love for animals. But you didn't grow up that way.
- [15:30]
C
No, I mean, I grew up loving animals, but we didn't. My mom. My parents were not animal people, so I'd always ask if we could bring animals home, and they'd always say no. But we did have a dog. We had a beagle bowser. He was awesome. But, yeah, no, I didn't. I grew up in Orlando, like, in a suburb, and I just. We just moved out there. We started bringing home animals and then bringing home more. And a neighbor had a sheep that needed to be bottle fed, and I was like, yeah, absolutely.
- [15:56]
B
Give.
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C
Give that to me. We had a calf that needed to be. So anybody who had, like, extra animals that didn't have a home, they just came to us.
- [16:03]
A
Wow, that is so cool. Do you. I know that wasn't, like, what you expected in your life. Like, you thought you were going to be in a suit in the city and living that kind of life, and now you're on a farm. But when you look back at your younger self, like, do you see God preparing you for that?
- [16:18]
C
Yes, absolutely, I do. Yeah, I can. I can see. Like, I love. We would go as kids, we went to North Carolina. That was where my grandparents had a little cabin. And that was, like, some of my happiest times and memories. Not That I wasn't happy at home, but it was just like this beautiful. Like we just would explore and go hiking and just being out in nature. And Arkansas, where we. The northwest corner reminds me of North Carolina. And so it's funny. Cause I'm like, oh, this is like the best of, you know, the place that I loved. And then we have the community there. And yeah, I can.
- [16:51]
A
Isn't that cool? I think about that, like, even with a husband, I remember, like, thinking what I want. Like, make a list, all this stuff. Yeah. And then I met Christian and I'm like, oh, you're actually who I want. Like, that was based off of just, like, things I had seen. But when I think about, like, who I am as a person, you're the perfect fit for me. You know, it's like you kind of had these dreams. Like, this is what I think I would like to be. Based off things you've seen or looked at or inspired by. But then whenever it happens and it's different than what you thought you pictured, you look back and you're like, oh, but this makes so much more sense. Like, this is so who I am, you know? Yeah, absolutely.
- [17:25]
B
But I think looking back, you can say that. But then if you really think about it, I love. Like whenever you write, you write, you remember, like, oh, actually it wasn't that easy. Like, in the moment, it was a stretch in the moment, it was hard. You talked about a lot about, like, those first years in Arkansas and how hard it was. And I think a lot of people listening are kind of in that phase of like, a lot of people.
- [17:47]
A
We have a lot of 20 year olds, a lot of 20 year olds.
- [17:50]
B
From college and what does that look like? And how does it work? Like, what did God kind of teach you in that moment? Can you, like, go back to that yourself at that age?
- [17:58]
C
And yes, I had grown up. I love how you guys. Your whole family's here. Like, you guys are all so close and there's cousins and it's just. It's so sweet. Cause that's how I grew up in Orlando. Everyone was there. I mean, my grandma watched us during the day. We had family dinners all the time. Like, we traveled together, we did everything together. And so moving. I was the first person to move away and. And I moved to Arkansas, which no one knew where. It was somewhere over there. And it was. That lack of familiarity was so hard at first. I remember driving down the street one day and I called my mom and I was just crying hysterically. And she's like, what's wrong? What's wrong? And I'm like, there's no palm trees here. I love palm trees. And just those things that, like, didn't feel like home. It didn't feel like home for a long time. When people would ask where I'm from, I would always say Florida, but I live in Arkansas. And that just took time. It took time finding places that, like, I talk about in the book. Like, I figured out, like, oh, this is a way to get to my office, like a back road way. And this is familiar. And I love this taco shop, and I love this coffee shop. And Dave and I being there together, it was for me, we had dated long distance for about almost two years at that point. And. And being there together without, like, his family was there. But for me, I was still getting to know them. They would embrace me. But it still wasn't my family. It wasn't my familiarity and my friends. Like, we were able to sort of start our life in a way that was sort of just us. Like, we had to rely on one another and on God. And he taught me, like, it's okay. It's just unfamiliar. And that's kind of why. I think that's part of why he moved me there is like, to get me away from everything that I'd known, just to figure out who he really was. Because. And I think in that season I really learned so much about him and he was preparing me. You know, I can look back and see the preparation that was taking place. And I think that a lot of times, and I talk about a lot and these waiting seasons, like, those seasons are when God's preparing us for what's next. Even though they're really hard in the moment and you don't see it, you're like, I don't know. I don't think he's preparing me. I think this just is hard.
- [20:11]
B
Yeah.
- [20:12]
C
But when afterwards you can look back and see. And I do think it's really important to look back too, because if you don't, then you miss it, you know, if you don't take the time. Because usually we're just. And I do this all the time. I think the book was really helpful for me to stop and look back because I'm so busy going to the next thing, always doing the next thing, and we're so busy. So I don't have a lot of time to say, huh, what happened 10 years ago? You know, so doing the book and.
- [20:38]
B
What did God teach me in that moment? Yeah.
- [20:41]
C
And I saw all these little connection points through writing the book of how God was working that I truly didn't know at the time. And, you know, I'd pray before I sat down to write, and sometimes I would write something, I'm like, oh my.
- [20:53]
B
Gosh, I forgot about that.
- [20:55]
C
Yes. I completely forgot that that happened. Yeah.
- [20:58]
B
So that's awesome.
- [21:00]
A
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- [24:02]
C
Yeah, that was a. That was. The lesson is it's out of my control. And it was, I think, for Dave and I both, we're very much like, type A. Work hard, do, like, people pleaser. Like, all growing up, I was always, you know, getting good grades and doing all the right things and doing all the. And anything that I said, oh, I wanna do that, I just did it. Like, I figured out how to make it, you know? So when we decided to start a family, we were like, okay, now. I mean, we had traveled, we'd done all this stuff. Like, okay, now we're ready. All right, let's do that. And it was the first time that we're like, oh, wait, we actually can't just say, we're ready and let's do this. You know, it actually was the first time that we realized we don't control everything. Like, we actually had to learn to really rely on God. And it was. We had been a Christian my whole life, and I never had had that where that level of, okay, this is really not in my control. Lord, this is really you. And I really had to release it. And I had to say, even if I don't understand this, and even if I still trust that you're good. And I had to get to that point. It took a long time to get there, years to get there. And, oh, it was just every. I also feel like. I feel like every month, you know, when you're going through infertility, every month, you're like. You feel hopeful, and then you're defeated, and you kind. It's just this rollercoaster of exhausting emotions. And then you're going to the doctor and you're the patient, and you're just exhausted. And. And in that season, I just was really, really. I mean, I got to, like, the lowest low of, like, why?
- [25:43]
B
Why?
- [25:44]
C
I don't understand this, but I also knew God had planted this desire in my heart. It wasn't something that I came up with on my own. And actually, as a kid, I wasn't like this. I was never like. I kind of like. I didn't know I would want to live on a farm. I knew I wanted to be a mom, but it wasn't like, I want to be a wife and a mom. That's my. My calling in life as a kid. And so when it hit, when I decided I wanted to be a mom, like, I know this. This is a good thing, and this is coming from you. This is a desire of my heart that you place there so I know I can trust you, that if this is here, there's a reason for it. And even still, like, it was just. I mean, it was so hard. But we start. I started to get. I would say, super frantic. Like, we started, okay. We knew. We had actually talked about adoption before. Well, before we started building, deciding to build a family. And we knew it was something we thought would possibly be for us. And so then we're like, okay, maybe we're just. Maybe this is God's way of saying we're supposed to adopt. Okay, let's adopt. And we started just frantically. Like, I mean, we met with local. A local lawyer. We were looking at international adoption. We had our home study. We had the children's shelter nearby. They called us, and we're like, okay, this is it. This is it. You know, it was just always like, oh, my gosh, this is it.
- [26:58]
B
Okay.
- [26:59]
C
Yes, and then the door would close and, like, that would fall through. Like, wait, I thought this was it. I don't understand. Or we'd go in and they'd say, okay, this is a new. This is the procedure. You had this. I don't even remember. I had, like, a cyst. Like, okay, we're gonna get rid of the cyst. And that's gonna be. It's gonna make it. You're gonna be fine. Cause they could never figure out what the cause of the infertility was. And so you have this hope, like, this is it. Okay. And then it wasn't. And so really getting to the end of myself, it took a while. And that was really when I feel like, again, that preparation season, I didn't know it then. Cause it was awful and hard, but it was a preparation for everything to come. It was God really kind of tearing and stripping everything away. All of the pride, all of the. I can do this. I can do it on my own. I can work harder. I can try harder. No, you can't do any of those things. It's only through him alone. And so that. That season was that. That's what. I know. That's what God was doing. Even though at the time, I couldn't quite see that.
- [27:53]
A
Yeah. Yeah.
- [27:54]
B
That's so powerful. Yeah, that is. That is a tough lesson to learn in life, but it is one we all have to learn in some way. In some way.
- [28:03]
A
Yes.
- [28:04]
B
And I think, you know, then as a parent, you start realizing you're like, oh, I actually wasn't in control either. Like, God loves them more than I even do. Which seems impossible, but it's just kind of a constant lesson.
- [28:18]
A
You're so real.
- [28:19]
B
You're learning.
- [28:20]
A
Like, when you're pregnant, you're. I remember always being scared, you know, like something was gonna happen. And then you think, oh, I can't wait to have the baby so that I'm not scared anymore. Something's gonna happen to the baby. Yes. And then you realize that actually never go. Actually intensifies.
- [28:36]
C
And then they become teenagers, and they're on the brink of getting their driver's license.
- [28:40]
A
Like, watching the Life360, which is beautiful because you're always dependent on God. Like, you're always dependent on God. You're always surrendering your child to the Lord and saying that they're yours first. You love them more. Like, it's a beautiful dependency.
- [28:55]
B
But, okay, you have to tell the story of Sylvie, because that was the moment in the book that I was like, oh, my goodness, I'M like bawling.
- [29:02]
A
But before Sylvie, you had the twins.
- [29:05]
C
You had the twins.
- [29:07]
A
Tell a little bit about that. Because you didn't want to do ivf. But how that kind of.
- [29:10]
C
Yeah, I didn't. I. We sat up. We had been going through, I don't know, it'd been a couple years. At that point, I really felt like we were supposed to adopt. And I. I really did. I was like, this is what. We had started the process. We actually were at that point had been. I mean, we'd had. We'd gone down every route trying to figure out what that looked like. It was so frantic. But we were like, okay. I actually had a dream I talk about in the book. And it was in the house that we were living in at the time. And we were standing. It was one of those dreams. You wake up, you're like. That was familiar.
- [29:40]
B
Yeah.
- [29:41]
C
We were standing at the island and there were just kids running around us and like that chaos of young kids laughing and just chaos. And it just was this. And I remember feeling this like, contentment that I hadn't felt in years. And I remember specifically there was this little boy who had really blonde hair. I saw him. And then a very dark skinned girl would do poofs, like little, little hair poofs. And I remember the two of them. And then everybody, it was just a blur. And I woke up and like, it just was so significant. I knew it. And I woke Dave up and I was like, our daughter, we have a daughter in Africa. And he was like, what? Like, what in the world? And I'm like, we do. And he's like, okay. And you went back to sleep. And I went back to sleep. And months later, we were with the agency that we were with at the time, they just, they opened their Ethiopia program. And I was like, this is it. This is it, Dave. This is it. And so we filled out all the paperwork, we got on the wait list, and then the day we got on the wait list, my doctor called and said, hey, I've been looking at your file again. And we had stopped doing any sort of treatment for about six months at this point. And she's like, I just want you to know. And I don't go into all this detail in the book, but she said, I just want you to know that I was looking at Your insurance and IVF is covered at 100% through your insurance, so if you want to try it. And I was like, I. I really don't. I'm like, we're good, we're on our path, like, this is it. So then I just happened to mention it to Dave and he's like, what? Like, let's try it. Let's try it. You know, And I didn't want to. We went. So I was like, let's go to the meeting. And we went and sat down and they were telling us, you know, going through the list of all the things and all the shots and all the medicines, and we had this calendar. And he was just holding my hand, and I was just sitting at the table just bawling like. I mean, I couldn't even hold back my tears as they were talking. And I just. After that, I just. We prayed for a long time. And my prayer became, lord, guide Dave, because I can't make this decision. I don't know what you want. I'm so confused right now. I need to just follow him, and you need to give him the discernment. And I'm gonna follow whatever Dave says at this moment. That's all I can do.
- [31:45]
A
That's cool.
- [31:46]
C
And he said, let's try it. Let's do this. Let's try it one time. And then we're done. That's it. And I'm like, okay, we'll try it. And then we got pregnant with the boys, so we put our adoption on hold. And then of course, went into preterm. And everything was going great with my pregnancy, but the same. I was scared the entire time, you know? And then I went into preterm labor. I got airlifted to Little Rock. I was in the hospital for a month. But in those first hours, they basically, you know, the neonatologist came in and gave us all the worst case scenarios. They didn't think. I mean, they thought they'd be born for sure within 24 hours. And they waited a whole month and. And they were perfectly healthy. We were in the NICU for a month. But they just didn't. They didn't have the suck, breathe, swallow developed yet. So they just had to learn to eat. That was it. So they were like miracles. Yeah, absolutely.
- [32:40]
A
So cool. So now we gotta get to.
- [32:42]
C
Yes. So they were a year and a half. And I felt very strongly that we were supposed to start our adoption process again, but they were a year and a half. It was chaos, which was crazy.
- [32:52]
B
Boy twins.
- [32:53]
C
Yes, boy twins. Destroying the entire. Every time I'd turn around, the house was in chaos.
- [32:59]
A
Can I just ask you, Because I get this question literally all the time. Anytime we open up a question box, everyone's like, how did you know you Were ready to have kids. This is interesting because like how did you know you were ready to adopt when you have 18 month old boy twins?
- [33:11]
C
Like, I don't know.
- [33:12]
A
Yeah, like I, I always say I don't know that because you don't feel ready in the sense of it's still crazy. And it's not gonna feel like peaceful for you to feel ready, but you will have like an internal. Yes, that it's time. Maybe that's a way to say it.
- [33:26]
C
It was. I don't know. I. Exactly. I have no idea. I honestly just was like, I just had this sort of stirring. Yeah, I don't even know how to like, I think that's like you're never.
- [33:35]
B
Going to be ready and that everything's going to be perfect. Like you're going to have enough money, you're going to have the right situation. You're going to have like all the time, all those things. You're never going to be ready in that sense. But like you said that stirring, that internal, like. Okay.
- [33:52]
A
Okay, ladies. Why is shopping for guys somehow just so hard? You want to get them something thoughtful and not just another nice try gift, but it seems to just disappear in the drawer in the back of their closet. Well, not anymore. Okay? That's why Poncho outdoors has become my go to gift. Their shirts are the kind that he reaches for over and over again. They look great on Christian. And you know what, they even look good on my dad too. So it's not just a gift for them. It is a staple in our household for all the men in our family. Poncho really is amazing. Like I said, because my husband loves it, Christian and my dad does too. And they could not be more different when it comes to style. Uh, they have it all. Their flannels are so comfortable. Soft with the perfect amount of stretch, but still polished enough to wear out. They're seriously so perfect for this time of the year. And I love that Poncho has thought through every detail of these shirts. Like the hidden pocket and built in lens cloth. It's super functional without feeling too bulky. And Christian loves those kind of details. That's what he geeks out about. They have it for everything. Like work, where you can wear it to the office, you could wear hunting, you can wear it fishing, you can wear this stuff to church. Like they literally have everything. And Poncho stands behind their shirts with free shipping, free returns and even exchanges anytime. They really want this to be your favorite shirt. And I mean that. Give him something that he'll wear every day, not just on date nights. Go to poncho outdoors.com. whoo. And enter your email for $10 off your first order. That's Poncho P O-N C H O outdoors.com. whoo. For $10 off and free shipping. And when they ask how you heard about them, please let them know that. Well, that's good. Saint you didn't.
- [35:26]
C
There. So it's funny because I thought, this is crazy, because they. We're. We're not ready. I'm not ready. What am I doing? So I didn't say any. I said, I'm not going to say anything to Dave because I don't want him to start this process because he thinks I want to. Like, I just. I can't say anything. This is too crazy. If I even say this out loud, he's going to think I'm nuts because we're barely surviving with these two. And I knew how intense the process was. And the next day, or it was either that day or the next day, like, very quickly, he had come home from work. He's like, hey, let's go for. I was about to leave for a walk. He's like, let me join y'. All. And we were walking to the park. I remember exactly where we were. And he looked at me and he's like, I think I'm ready to start the adoption process again. And I mean, it was so out of the blue, like, there was no way that wasn't God. And I looked at him, I'm like, oh, my gosh. I've been feeling the same way. I just thought you'd think I'm crazy.
- [36:19]
A
Wow.
- [36:19]
C
And so, yeah, we. We started the process, and then at that point we knew. We learned how long it would take. Even just the Ethiopia program that we thought we were starting again, we didn't even know what we were really embarking on at that point, which was the adoption of Sylvie. But. Yeah.
- [36:37]
B
So how long between that moment and whenever you actually brought Sylvie home and you actually had Charlotte.
- [36:43]
C
Yes.
- [36:43]
B
In that time period, too. So.
- [36:45]
C
So it was a little over three years between. Yeah. That moment. Yeah.
- [36:49]
B
That moment.
- [36:50]
C
Yeah.
- [36:50]
A
Yeah.
- [36:51]
B
So there's a lot of stories awaiting a lot and all of that. But the moment that I remember in the book where you talk about how you and Sylvie had that conversation after she was home, where you were so concerned about her time away from you and what she said. So I would love for you to share about that.
- [37:09]
C
I mean, she was in when, like, when Dave and I would. We visited Together once. And then I was pregnant with Charlotte, and total surprise. She was our other miracle. We're like, what? And at the time, I thought, this is crazy, Lord. What. We're trying to bring Sylvie home. You know, the timing's terrible. Of course he knew what he was doing. It was perfect. But we had seen how she was living. Dave was visiting her more often. We were FaceTiming her, and we knew. I mean, honestly, we were fearing for her life every day because she was sick. She wasn't. And, you know, she was. I mean, you guys have seen, you know, the circumstances she was living in. So it wasn't like we were just trying to get her home because we were missing her, and she was missing out on life with us, which was a huge part of it. Like, we went through two birthdays that we celebrated. You know, we had a cake, and the boys blew out the cake for their sister, and she wasn't home for those. But it was more that we were also terrified that she was never going to come home. She wasn't even going to be able to ever come home. And so when she finally did, and she was. It was a year later, so she was about three and a half, almost four. We were going to bed and, you know, saying prayers. And she loved to sing Jesus Loves Me at night before bed. So we sang that. And she had the cutest little raspy voice and her little accent, and she looked at me and said, God carried me home, Mama. And I'm like, wow. Yeah, baby. He did. You're right. And the fact, like, she. I had no context for that. She just said it, and I was like, like. And I will never forget. It was one of those things that I wrote. I went down and wrote it in my journal. I'm like, oh, my goodness. It was the physical, like, I. Because I had prayed so much for God to just, like, Jesus, be with her, wrap her in your arms, comfort her. I can't hold her tonight. She's sick. I want to be there rocking her, hold her. And then the fact that, like, he physically, he did show up to her in ways that I didn't. I couldn't be there, but he was there.
- [39:08]
A
Well, that's so cool.
- [39:10]
B
So beautiful. I love that. So.
- [39:13]
A
So how many kids do you have now?
- [39:15]
B
Five. Like, five.
- [39:18]
A
Five kids on a farm. Plot twist. That is the coolest thing ever, though. It's amazing. So y' all are still filming the show? Season seven?
- [39:28]
C
Yes.
- [39:28]
A
Talk a little bit about just the journey of sharing. Since you talked about at the beginning, like, the fear of it. What has it been like sharing your family on tv?
- [39:35]
C
Yeah, it has been. One of the things I love is that we actually have, like. Like, and you guys will know this, too. You have this record of my kids growing up 7. It's actually been 8 years of filming because we had a year gap in between at the beginning. Like, I. My boys were seven when we started. They're 15 now. Like, I can look. And I have this, like, record of our family on. It's really sweet. So sweet. And it's also shocking how fast it goes. Oh, my gosh. They were babies. But I think. Think again. I look back and I'm like, God was just preparing us. He really put us where we needed to be. They had just moved schools right before we started filming, before we even knew the show. The show was even a thing. So they're in this sweet. A really sweet school that has really kind of insulated them in a way and helped to protect them from. They don't. I mean, they just live a normal lives. Yeah, it's totally normal. Sometimes. Yes. They're with me and, like. Like, we'll get stopped at the grocery store or dinner, and they're like, but.
- [40:36]
B
And they were like, you. You shop for groceries? Yeah, we have to buy groceries, too. You know, sometimes they're like, you're at the grocery store? Like, yeah, yeah, we. We need to buy groceries, too.
- [40:48]
A
That is a funny thing, because people come up to us a lot and ask a pic for a picture, and honey will be looking, and honey will be like, do you listen to my mommy's podcast? Like, it's just funny and very sweet. And then one time someone came up and said that they watch me on TikTok. And I. Honey said, what's that? And I'm like, you don't worry. You don't need to know. But that is a funny thing because the other day she asked me why, Because I was telling her, oh, don't touch strangers. And then it was, like, kind of confusing. And I was like. I was like, well. And so I was trying to teach her, like, how to discern. I'm like, sometimes girls come up to Mommy because they listen to my podcast. And then sometimes, like, we don't know that person. They don't know Mommy. They don't know us, you know, because, yeah, there are, like, lessons you have to teach in that. But that was just a funny thing that Honey is like, what's TikTok? I'm like, none of your business. None of. We'll talk about that.
- [41:35]
C
True. It is weird because you're like, don't talk to strangers. And also, don't take a photo with strangers. But here. But my kids have learned, like, they don't. Like, a lot of people are like, oh, everybody get in the photo. And they just are like, no, we're good. They just step out. So that is one thing. That is one boundary that we have created and taught them. Like, just don't get in. I don't know. I mean, even though there's photos of them everywhere, it's just. They don't feel comfortable with that. I don't know this person. I don't want to be in their photo.
- [41:56]
A
And it's funny is Honey always asks to be in the photo.
- [41:59]
C
She'll be so little.
- [42:00]
A
And when we have teenage girls, I'm like, yeah, come on. And then, hey, like, I don't want to be in the photo. And I'm like, don't be in the photo. Like, just kind of letting them. Whatever their kind of preference is in that. And it is funny. Like, I'm sure you see this. So, you know, Mom. Mom says all the time about her six kids. I'm sure you see this so much with your five kids. Like, everyone is so different.
- [42:19]
C
So different.
- [42:20]
A
I love how you always say, like, you gotta know your kid and have, like, that relationship with your individual kids, because it's all gonna be different and.
- [42:27]
B
Let them come at it in different ways. And you have to, like, treat them differently, too, you know, because they are so different.
- [42:34]
C
They are.
- [42:34]
B
And I just feel like, God, I'll always look back at our kids and be like, God, you created them. Each so uniquely. It's so beautiful as they get older, to look back and see all those things he put in them so young, you know? And you're like, oh, that's who you.
- [42:51]
C
Yes. Who you were.
- [42:52]
B
Who God created you to be. I love it.
- [42:53]
C
I love that.
- [42:54]
B
Yeah.
- [42:55]
C
And I think that with the show.
- [42:56]
B
You had Luke after you were. You got pregnant with Luke after you were already filming, right?
- [43:00]
C
Yes, after we filmed the first season. So I had him after the first season was filmed, but before it aired and then before we started filming season two. So then season two aired, and everybody's like, where did this one come from? So, yeah. But it was so sweet because we stopped filming. I got pregnant, had him. I didn't have to worry about filming. I just got to enjoy pregnancy in the first few months, and then we started filming again. But. So he's never known anything different. I mean, that's just only thing he's ever known. He calls him the Filmers. He's like, the Filmers are here today. I'm like, yeah, the Filmers are here. But it is interesting because the bigs, like, they.
- [43:36]
A
They.
- [43:36]
C
They don't. Like, if they're like, hey, do you want. Like, we never make our kids be on the show. Like, if you want to. If they're filming at the house, if you guys want to be a part of it, you can. If not, obviously, you don't have to. And they'll be like, you know, who wants a microphone grant? We'll say, who wants a mic? And of course, Luke's like, I do. Like, the Bigs are like, no, I'm good. I'm going up to my room. I don't want any part of this. But they're teenagers now, and so it's just. It has changed, and each one is so different. Where Ben will still. He'll be a part of things. Where Nate and Sylvia are like, absolutely not. I don't want anything to do with this. So it's really interesting. Yeah. And they're just all different, and they all.
- [44:11]
A
Yeah, I love that. It's so cool.
- [44:13]
B
Okay, we got to give Charlotte a little shout out, because her comment in the book about at least we don't have elephants.
- [44:20]
C
Oh, yes.
- [44:20]
B
I love that so much. And it felt like something that, like, out of our family, like, we really try to be positive about everything in life, so I'd love for you to tell that story. I thought that was so cute.
- [44:30]
C
Oh, Char's my little. She's my mini me. She's so. She just. She's. And she's also, like, the. She's very wise in a way. That is amazing. But she loves animals. She wants to be a vet. Like, she loves. Loves animals. And so we're out cleaning up the pasture from her horse, Cleaning poo and putting it in the wheelbarrow and taking it to the garden. And she loves. Like, she thinks this is so fun. Like, this is, like, what she enjoys. It's hilarious. But we're cleaning it, and I'm like, oh, my gosh, Charlotte, this is. This. We're never gonna finish. Cause we did an area, and then we look, and we're like, oh, my goodness. Like, this is. I mean, it's like 10 acres of just where the horses lived. And then we'd clean an area, and we'd turn around, and Sadie's there, and I'm like, she's Charlotte. She's pupping again. It's never gonna end. And I think sometimes in life, like, you can feel so overwhelmed by, like, I'm never gonna make a difference. I have been out here all day, and you can't even tell, like, there's nothing that is. You know. And so Charlotte looks at me, and I was like, charlotte, this is. We're not even making a difference. I don't remember what I said, but I was exhausted. And she looked at me and she goes, goes, mom, at least we don't have an elephant. She's like, elephant poop. Elephant poop must be huge. She's like, it wouldn't even fit in the wheelbarrow. And I'm like, you're right, Char. You are so right. And so I think that's such a good perspective. It could be worse. Like, you are making a difference.
- [45:50]
A
That is so sometimes we don't start.
- [45:52]
C
Something because we're scared and we think it's too big, and we think, what can I do? I'm just me. I'm little me living in Arkansas. What in the world? Like, I can't. We can't make a difference. And so we don't do anything.
- [46:02]
A
Yeah. So true. I've been thinking.
- [46:05]
B
I thought about that. Well, I thought about that advice this morning because. So yesterday we had a travel day that was like. It started at 7am we had delays and then flight changes and all this stuff. We finally made it at 2am and we were coming from San Diego. And then this morning, as I was kind of thinking about what we were going to talk about, I thought about Charlotte saying that, and I told Willie, I was like, you know, a hundred years ago, to get from San Diego would have taken us six months on a wagon train.
- [46:30]
C
And so true.
- [46:31]
B
You know, we had to, you know, but, like, it took us. Yeah. It took us a little longer than we expected today. It was a long day, but, hey, we made it home at 2am from San Diego. What? That's a miracle. At least we didn't. We don't live in the time of wagon trains.
- [46:46]
C
That's so good. I love that we don't have to take a wagon.
- [46:49]
B
That's right.
- [46:50]
C
I always say, if I lived back then, oh, man, I know I would not make it.
- [46:53]
B
I would not make it. Dave says not meant for it.
- [46:55]
C
No, Dave says that all the time. He's like, I would have ditched you. Sorry. I'm like, I know. 100%. I would. I would expect you to, because birthing.
- [47:01]
B
A baby on a trail. Wagon trail.
- [47:04]
C
Oh, no.
- [47:06]
A
I'm very thankful for the days that we live in. And I want to have all my little extra things for, like, motherhood. I'm like, yeah, I have my tuna, my outlet, and my this and my that. And two mama's like, are you kidding me?
- [47:17]
B
Four sleep pillows or it's a good.
- [47:19]
A
Time to be alive. It's a good time to have a baby. I know. I think about that when you said, like, who am I? Like, who am I, Ginny, from Arkansas or from Florida, but also Arkansas. But I was thinking about this the other day because everybody feels that way. Like, every single person feels that way. Like, who am I? How can I that make a difference? Is my life really going to have impact? And when you read the Bible, it's like, where did we get this from? That you have to be of some kind of influence to make a difference. None of them were like, I mean, really, there's not many stories where it's like, and the king did everything, you know, it's like, okay, like, Daniel, like, influenced the king, you know, or like Nehemiah was the cup bearer to the king. Like, they were beside people of influence, but they were using, like, their influence and their spirit to make a difference because they really, like, had faith in God. Like, Moses was like, now we think of him as like the guy that parted the Red Sea. Like, I mean, the guy that part of the sea. But it's like, no. Like, he was the adoptive boy that, like, ran away because he made a huge mistake.
- [48:18]
C
And he said, no, God.
- [48:20]
A
And he was like, are you kidding me? And. And of all things that he could have been insecure about, he's like, I have a speech impediment. Like, well, you also killed somebody. But speech impediment felt worthy of bringing.
- [48:30]
B
Being brought up when I was a kid. So I know how that feels.
- [48:34]
C
Yeah, you're self conscious.
- [48:35]
A
We're self conscious. Like, we're insecure. Like, it's. Everybody feels that way. But, like, when you have faith to believe that I am who I am, that's what God says. Like, you tell them when you go back, Moses, that I am who I am and I'm the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, which I love. Because he's like saying, I'm the God of generations, I'm faithful to my people. And it's like, that's a message for every single person that it's really not about who you are, where you're from. It's about where God placed you, who he made you to be. And it's incredible what he can do with your life. And it's cool because that's on a big scale. But even on a small scale, I'm making a difference. Like, yesterday I was. I'm starting to write a book and it is challenging. Like, way to go. When you finish a book, everyone should be high five. Like, majorly high five. Because I'm sitting here in like, chapter two of what needs to be 15 by a certain deadline.
- [49:25]
C
And I'm very overwhelmed by the deadline. And I'm thinking is blank. And you're like, I got nothing.
- [49:29]
A
I'm like, I got nothing. And I was. I had been working for hours, and I'm still on chapter two. And I'm like. And so yesterday I just felt like, like writer'. Like, I kept going into write and it just not happened. And it just didn't feel like I was making sense. And Kit was up here, which I love, but I was distracted and I just felt like it wasn't making sense all day and it wasn't coming together. And then I asked a friend if she would come over so I could just read it out loud and just see where I'm at and see if I could kind of get past this block. And as I was reading it, there was one sentence. I was like, oh, I just need to take out that sentence. And then it makes everything else make sense. And it was so small. And I took out the. The sentence and literally it opened up the whole chapter to make sense. And I actually started to tear up. And my friend sitting there, and she's like, no, like, I'm crying with you. That's so sweet. It was like a really sweet moment. And I think what got me was that I had been like, it had been such a big deal, but it was really just one small thing that I needed to change in order to, like, keep going. And I think that's the case a lot of times. You know, it's like, there's one thing in front of you. Like, you just have to, like, get through it. And it might take time and it might be hard, but it. It's like, I don't know, it gave me, like, a different perspective. I don't really have the words for it in a message or even encouragement other than that's what happened. And it made me think of that when you talked about the elephant poo. So I love that so much.
- [50:50]
C
Even with the book, though, sometimes you're like. You almost create the writers block cause you get overwhelmed. You're like, I'm on chapter two. This is due on this day. And you're thinking of the whole thing.
- [51:01]
A
Yes.
- [51:02]
C
And instead you just need to focus on that one sentence.
- [51:04]
A
Yeah, sometimes. One sentence in our chapter.
- [51:07]
C
Yeah, yeah, one, whatever chapter.
- [51:10]
A
I was getting ahead of myself. That was what was happening. I was writing a sentence that needed to be in a different chapter and it was taking me down a whole different path. And I was like, that's not the path I'm actually going down right now. I need to stick with this. And it's interesting because in your story I realized when you were talking about trying to make things happen, you used to be frantic a lot. And I do feel like a lot of times when I'm trying to rush something or I'm not really wanting to fully listen to what God's plan is or his time timing, I do feel frantic. I'm like, oh, like it all feels crazy. But when you're like in the flow with God, it does not feel frantic. And it, it should feel frantic. So you're looking around, you're like, I should feel stressed, but I'm not, you know, like I have a inner deep peace. Kind of. We were talking about, it's like I did a conference with a four week old and I'm like, I should feel stressed, but I'm not because I'm. I'm in the center of his will, you know, it's frantic when you try to get outside of it.
- [52:03]
B
Like looking back at times, I'm like, it kind of feels, feels like God just kind of picked us up and carried us, you know? Cause I'm like, that should have been crazy. But at the time it didn't feel that it wasn't how.
- [52:12]
C
And I think that about like trying to build a family like that we were trying all these things, but that wasn't what God's plan was for us. God's plan for adoption was Sylvie. And Sylvie wasn't even born yet. She wasn't even a thought. So I felt frantic. I love that when you're outside of God's will, it feels frantic.
- [52:27]
B
And that's back to the title, the title, Trust God. Yes, Trust God, love people. And I think that that is, it's really is about that trust. And sometimes we start trusting in our to figure it all out. But like, if we can just trust in God and say like, he's got it, it's not up to me. I know like open handedness, faith of just like, I'm gonna trust him. There's this quote by Mother Teresa that I always tell because I love it so much. There's a couple of them. But this is one about it was somebody asked her to pray for him, and he said, we pray that I have clarity. And she said, no, I won't pray that you have clarity. I mean, I'm like, wow, that's bold.
- [53:02]
A
I've never said no.
- [53:03]
B
She said, no, I won't. She's like, I've never had clarity, what I have had. And it was. I thought that was so powerful because, like, yeah, we all want clarity in life. We want to see the whole picture. We want to be like, okay, God, show me everything that's going to happen so I can, like, be prepared for it. But she was like, no, you don't need clarity. You just need trust. That's all you need.
- [53:22]
C
I love that. And it's so easy to say, like, trust God, let's trust. But I talk about this a lot. And then we talked about it earlier. It's the remembering. That's the only way. We have to remember what he's done for us before. Remember his faithfulness. And he tells us to do that so much. He tells us, remember, remember. And in order to trust him right now, I have to remember what he's done for me in the past, because I can look around and think, but this went wrong. And this person had this happen to them. And I do that sometimes. I mean, we all do it where you're like, but what about this person? Like, they did this, and look what happened to them. And that's not my story. And I can't put my trust in what other people are doing. I have to remember what God's done for me in the past, and I can stand firm in his faithfulness even when it doesn't make sense.
- [54:08]
A
And, yeah, so that is so good. I know we're. We're wrapping up, but on that note of the. How we compare our stories to other people, what that happened to them. Me and my friend were talking about this the other day how, like, God is near to the broken heart, and he comforts those, like, in. When they're walking through that in ways that you don't know. It's like when David said, like, I've killed lion, and barely. He's remembering the past. No one knew that. Like, he knew that. So everyone's like, how is he gonna fight your life? And it was like, he's like, oh, I got this because God's been faithful. But we were watching through a friend go through something really, really hard and tragic. And immediately, whenever I found out what happened to her, I was just like, God, why would you do that? Like, that's horrible. And like, in my mind, I was just like, knowing her story and knowing what she had walked through and then what happened? I just felt like it was like, cruel. I was like, God, I can't. Like, what in the world. How do you make sense of that? What do I even say to encourage her? You know, I don't even know, but I'm just gonna go sit with her. So I go to her house and I'm like, bring her food. I'm just sitting and. And everything that I thought that was like, so horrible that God did. She had the most opposite perspective. And she was like, think about you remember when this happened? And then God did this and he spoke that to me. It was like he was preparing me for this moment. And I was just like, I was sitting there and it gave me such good perspective. Like, whoa. You never know what God's doing in someone's life. Like, even when tragic things happen, you can't put yourself in their shoes because you're not the one hearing what God's saying in those moments, you know? And so it just gave me, like, good perspective that, that you can't get too far in your head of, like the what ifs in life or the what will happen or what am I going to do when I get there? What it's like, just. Just get there and God will meet you there. Just God's on. God's in your. He's. They're coming and you're going. You know, he's in every stage of your life. This has been a beautiful podcast. Sometimes we, we chitchat, we have fun. I want to say you're welcome for your hour long devotional today because this has been like the most I told you so long.
- [56:02]
B
Dinner conversation, coffee talk.
- [56:04]
A
Like, this has been so good and I'm so thankful. You are everything and more from watching the show and reading the books and people who follow you online. Like, you're even more incredible and fabulous in, in person. So thank you for coming and being on the podcast.
- [56:20]
C
Thank you so much. Thanks for having. Sam.