WELCOME HEART: Living a Legacy Life
Religion & Spirituality:Christianity
Jillian Benfield got the news that her second child, Anderson, was Down Syndrome. This news was not her life-plan. Then just four months after his birth, he underwent open-heart surgery. Then their third child, Preston suffered medical procedures for the first two years of his life. Jillian wrote her book, The Gift of the Unexpected: Discovering Who You Were Meant to Be When Life Goes Off Plan, not as a how-to book on how to get through life's difficulties; rather she wrote her own story--the good, bad and the ugly--to offer hope. Wise beyond her years, Jillian's story has much to teach us about theology, Western thought, ableism and how if we are willing to put in the work, that God will transform us from the inside out, for our good and for His glory.
Get this book, for yourself and for a friend. She's giving one away this week. Leave on comment on blog or on social media or email me at sue@welcomeheart.com.
In her own words:
My life fell apart with a 20-second phone call. We call these moments in life, before-and-after moments. Mine came when I was 27 years old and pregnant with my second child. My life would never be the same, I would never be the same. If you would have told me years ago that my before-and-after moment would end up being one of the greatest gifts of my life, I wouldn’t have believed you. But it was. It is. The unexpected gave me my son. The unexpected ended up giving me, me. That’s what my book, The Gift of the Unexpected, and this space are about. Our unexpected moments, our unexpected lives, can end up helping us live into our God-dreamed entireties.
Some gems from Jillian:
Follow Jillian here:
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When asked, “What’s the greatest commandment?” Jesus replied simply: “Love God, love your neighbor.” I imagine He was thinking, “It’s not rocket science” or “What’s not to like?” or “It’s not complicated.”
He was right, it’s not complicated. But people are people and we make it complicated.
I need to pray daily to uncomplicate what He says is best for me and best for others. So I wrote “31 Days of Uncomplicated Prayers,” and once I pray them through, I start over again.
You can too. One short, simple prayer to help uncomplicate love sent to your inbox for 31 days. Don't worry. They are short. God doesn't mind short prayers.
Sign up HERE
Ep 144 A Legacy of Loneliness vs Solitude: One is Negative, One is Necessary
Ep 143 A Legacy of Choices and Do-Overs with Tonya Kubo
Ep 142 A Legacy of Transformation Using the Enneagram with Lisa Lewis
Ep 141 A Legacy of Becoming a Woman of Excellence with Cynthia Heald
Ep 140 A Legacy of Unlocking Your God-given Potential with Ruthie Kim
Ep 139 A Legacy of God’s Idea of Your Dream Home
Ep 138 A Legacy of Deep and Practical Friendship with Annie Perdue-Olson
Ep 137 A Legacy of Trust vs Fear with Amy Debrucque
Ep 136 A Legacy of 70 Years: What I’ve Learned So Far
Ep 135 A Legacy of Meaningful Work with Michaela O‘Donnell
Ep 134 A Legacy to Seek, Go, and Create with Tim Winders
Ep 133 A Legacy of Leaning Into God in the Midst of Pediatric Cancer with Lindsey Noland
Ep 132 A Legacy of One Good Word with The Ruth Experience
Ep 131 A Legacy of Truth Instead of the Lies We Tell Ourselves with Susan Vandenheuvel
Ep 130 A Legacy of A Place of Abundance with Cheri Gregory and Kathi Lipp
Ep 129 A Legacy of Seeing God in Our Dailies with Diana Stuhr
Ep 128 A Legacy of Right Thinking with Sheree Shannon
Ep 127 A Legacy of Living Your Purpose with Tiffany Jo Baker
Ep 126 A Legacy of Making Your Life Count for Eternity
Ep 125 A Legacy of Loving Kids in the Projects with Nancy Thomason
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