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 64 Transform Your Mind, For Heaven's Sake and Yours with Sarah Geringer
Ep 63 A Legacy of Fortified Faith, with Author, Speaker Nylse Esahc
Ep 62 Living Like a Straw--”Choose Jesus,” with Marnie Swedberg
Ep 61 Does "Peace on Earth" Apply To Me This Year? God's Gift is My Gift to Others
Ep 60 Is Experiencing Joy Out of the Question? Keeping Joy with Suzie Eller
Ep 59 What Does God Say is Most Important About the Holidays?
Ep 58 A Legacy to Live By Faith (When We Cannot See), with Bonnie Masten
Ep 57 Legacy of Gratitude: Why Aren't We Thankful (When We're Not?)
Ep 56 Your Legacy: Thriving At Home, with Jed Jurchenko
Ep 55 "Growing is a Privilege"- Growing Something Besides Old, Part III
Ep 54 A Call to Unity, with Tim Theule
Ep 53 "Growing is a Partnership" —Growing Something Besides Old, Part II
Ep 52 Living Brave, Encouraging Others with GuiltyChocoholicMama, Elizabeth Spencer
Ep 51 "Growing is a Process"- Growing Something Besides Old, Part I
Ep 50 Bob Goff, A Man of the Cloth Without the Cloth--The Love Does Legacy: ”The Only Thing That Counts!”
Ep 49 What's Your Mission Statement? Living With God's Intention, Part II
Ep 48 How Kindness Changes Lives, Starting With Your Own, with Nicole Phillips of The Kindness Podcast
Ep 47 What's Your Mission Statement? (And Do You Need One?) - Part I
Ep 46 Building a "No-Regrets" Life with Rhonda Stoppe
Ep 45 Everyone Has a Story with Katie Collins
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