Welcome to living by Faith with Shirley and Nouveau. I'm your host, Trillia, and I am so glad to be here. I think I say that every Saturday. I am so glad to be here. And that is because it is true. I love getting to, um, open up our Saturday mornings and think about God and His word and and think about what he is doing. And to. This weekend is a special weekend. It is a special weekend because we get to celebrate something. It's a weekend that we don't celebrate nearly as much as we do the sister holiday. And I think you know what I'm talking about. It is Father's Day weekend. And to all the dads out there, Happy Father's Day. Um, now, of course, the topic today goes well beyond just this weekend. Um, it's about fathers and dads. And I had a wonderful dad. He loved me and all of our my sisters. So well. So well. In many ways, he was my best friend. I just love my dad. He was my best friend. I'm using the past tense because my father died from complications of cancer when I was 19 years old. Um, it was a devastating loss, a devastating loss. He really taught me how, to be honest, how to be vulnerable. Um, I was so open with him. I just remember sharing all sorts, everything. I just was so open and honest and. And his relationship, my relationship with my dad informs a lot of my relationship now with my kids, and how I want them to be able to come to me with anything and to be honest and and open. Now, a few years after my father died, I gave my life to the Lord and became a Christian. When I became a Christian, one of the sweetest doctrines was the doctrine of adoption. It was. Amazing to me. I was in awe of the thought that God is our father. God is my father and not just my Lord, and that I could. Now, all that practicing with my wonderful earthly father was, um, going to him and being vulnerable and honest and sharing. I can now go to my Heavenly Father and be open and honest and vulnerable. And what was also just remarkable to me was the idea that this, this dad that I walked with on this earth for 19 years, he just loved me so much. And the thought that God loves me infinitely more. Infinitely more than my dad. It it just it blew my mind and brought me so much comfort. And I'm I share that to say for a number of reasons. One, it's true. Um, it's remarkable truth that God loves so infinitely more than any earthly father could. I hope that brings the dads listening some comfort to know that that we have a God who loves. Especially if you feel like you've just messed up. Well, you can repent if we confess our sin. He is faithful and just to forgive us and to purify us so we can repent and we can ask God for help, but also for the person who is fatherless. I, I do pray that that will, um, encourage and and bless you if you have given your life to to the Lord, to Jesus. Um, you have a father who. Care so deeply covers you. He. He draws near to you, and and he loves you. And so I just want to to encourage the hearts of you. You listening? Um, with a little bit of my story. God has a lot to say in his word about being our father. But you also see fatherhood in general displayed throughout the scriptures. We are going to talk about one of those stories. It's actually a parable with my guest, Sarah Walton. Sarah Walton is an author, speaker, and elementary special education teacher. She is the co-author of the best selling book, Hope When It Hurts. And that's actually how I got to know Sarah is through Hope when it Hurts. Um, also author of He Gives More Grace and together Through the Storms. She's. Also, um, authored a couple of children's books, Tears and Tossings and The Long Road Home. Sarah, her and her husband and their four children live in Colorado Springs. Sarah, welcome to living by Faith.

Welcome to living by Faith with Shirley and Nouveau. I'm your host, Trillia, and I am so glad to be here. I think I say that every Saturday. I am so glad to be here. And that is because it is true. I love getting to, um, open up our Saturday mornings and think about God and His word and and think about what he is doing. And to. This weekend is a special weekend. It is a special weekend because we get to celebrate something. It's a weekend that we don't celebrate nearly as much as we do the sister holiday. And I think you know what I'm talking about. It is Father's Day weekend. And to all the dads out there, Happy Father's Day. Um, now, of course, the topic today goes well beyond just this weekend. Um, it's about fathers and dads. And I had a wonderful dad. He loved me and all of our my sisters. So well. So well. In many ways, he was my best friend. I just love my dad. He was my best friend. I'm using the past tense because my father died from complications of cancer when I was 19 years old. Um, it was a devastating loss, a devastating loss. He really taught me how, to be honest, how to be vulnerable. Um, I was so open with him. I just remember sharing all sorts, everything. I just was so open and honest and. And his relationship, my relationship with my dad informs a lot of my relationship now with my kids, and how I want them to be able to come to me with anything and to be honest and and open. Now, a few years after my father died, I gave my life to the Lord and became a Christian. When I became a Christian, one of the sweetest doctrines was the doctrine of adoption. It was. Amazing to me. I was in awe of the thought that God is our father. God is my father and not just my Lord, and that I could. Now, all that practicing with my wonderful earthly father was, um, going to him and being vulnerable and honest and sharing. I can now go to my Heavenly Father and be open and honest and vulnerable. And what was also just remarkable to me was the idea that this, this dad that I walked with on this earth for 19 years, he just loved me so much. And the thought that God loves me infinitely more. Infinitely more than my dad. It it just it blew my mind and brought me so much comfort. And I'm I share that to say for a number of reasons. One, it's true. Um, it's remarkable truth that God loves so infinitely more than any earthly father could. I hope that brings the dads listening some comfort to know that that we have a God who loves. Especially if you feel like you've just messed up. Well, you can repent if we confess our sin. He is faithful and just to forgive us and to purify us so we can repent and we can ask God for help, but also for the person who is fatherless. I, I do pray that that will, um, encourage and and bless you if you have given your life to to the Lord, to Jesus. Um, you have a father who. Care so deeply covers you. He. He draws near to you, and and he loves you. And so I just want to to encourage the hearts of you. You listening? Um, with a little bit of my story. God has a lot to say in his word about being our father. But you also see fatherhood in general displayed throughout the scriptures. We are going to talk about one of those stories. It's actually a parable with my guest, Sarah Walton. Sarah Walton is an author, speaker, and elementary special education teacher. She is the co-author of the best selling book, Hope When It Hurts. And that's actually how I got to know Sarah is through Hope when it Hurts. Um, also author of He Gives More Grace and together Through the Storms. She's. Also, um, authored a couple of children's books, Tears and Tossings and The Long Road Home. Sarah, her and her husband and their four children live in Colorado Springs. Sarah, welcome to living by Faith.

Thank you Trillia. It's wonderful to be here with you this morning.

Thank you Trillia. It's wonderful to be here with you this morning.

Well, I, I just should tell everyone it is really early for you because you live in Colorado Springs.

Well, I, I just should tell everyone it is really early for you because you live in Colorado Springs.

That's right. I am.

That's right. I am.

Very grateful that you are here and that you are awake and speaking with me this.

Very grateful that you are here and that you are awake and speaking with me this.

Morning.

Morning.

And I pray that being thinking of the Lord in this early morning will be a blessing to you as well. So speaking of let's I'm sure. Yeah, let's learn a little bit about you. One of the things that I like to do is just ask my guests their testimony, because I really do believe it highlights who they are. Like what? How did God capture your heart? Sarah.

And I pray that being thinking of the Lord in this early morning will be a blessing to you as well. So speaking of let's I'm sure. Yeah, let's learn a little bit about you. One of the things that I like to do is just ask my guests their testimony, because I really do believe it highlights who they are. Like what? How did God capture your heart? Sarah.

Yeah, yeah. Well, like you said, currently I'm a mom of four kids, so I'm kind of in my own different season of life now with oldest 17 down to ten. Um, but my journey kind of started, you know, similar to yours I had I had wonderful Christian parents. Um, they were younger believers when they were kind of on the early years of raising myself and my two older brothers. Um, but being the youngest and the only girl, I kind of threw them into a tailspin a little bit with just a different culture that I was being raised in. Um, and so probably around my junior high years, I started to really, really struggle. I grew up kind of as a tomboy. I was very athletic. And so all the boys were my friends. And then junior high, you know, everything kind of changes, right? Everybody's changing. They're trying to figure it out. And I really struggled with that, that season of change, because all these boys that I was really good friends with suddenly were looking at me differently and not friends in the same way. And it kind of threw me. And that was kind of a time of trying to figure that stuff out. But as I went into high school, um, I think my identity in many ways became being an athlete. And so that was where I poured my time, my energy. It was where my confidence was. But, you know, anything in this life that we put our identity in is vulnerable to being taken. Right. And so the Lord allowed, through various circumstances, kind of an abusive coach situation. Um, I was primarily a basketball player. And my trajectory, my goal was to go and play college basketball. Um, and he allowed through the coaching situation. And then I had a devastating injury and, um, kind of destroyed my ankle. Um, so that happened. But then I also started to really struggle just in the culture I was in. I was in a very sexually aggressive culture, um, a very, very ungodly culture. We'll just put it like that in the school setting I was in. And so here I was, you know, as a, as a child trying to grow up into making my own decisions and struggling, wanting to follow the God of my parents that they had raised me to know I believed in Jesus as my Savior, but I don't think I grasped what it meant for him to be my Lord. And so I wanted one foot in the world, and I wanted one foot to follow the Lord. And you can only do that so long before it utterly destroys you. And so God allowed, through varying circumstances, to strip me of virtually everything I felt like I found confidence in that made me feel valuable, really. My identity and what that led to eventually was an attempt on my own life, and ended up in a pediatric psych ward my senior year of high school, and it kind of all came tumbling down around me. I, I didn't know what is my purpose anymore. And if I have a purpose and God allows everything that I love in life to be stripped away, do I really want to follow him? I so I was grappling with all these really difficult things and I was grieving. I had gone through a lot of really deeply painful things at the same time. But in that hospital, the Lord was so gracious and met me in a place where I realized, basically it came down to, Lord, I either don't want to live, I want you to take my life, or I need you to give me yours and help me know how to live this one. And it was like this burden of £1 million weight off my shoulders of realizing I can never be enough. I can never be the I can't figure out some perfect identity or worth in me to make myself worthy enough for Christ. I had to come to the true realization I have nothing to offer, and I can't. I have nothing except the love of Christ that he has shown me over and over again. And it was like this realization that although I have nothing to offer, in some ways there was something so much more beautiful about that because I realized I don't need anything to offer. The Lord has already called me to himself with nothing, and he has borne everything I was. I was carrying both my sin and my pain I had endured. He had carried on the cross for me. And so it was a period of time where I, I think, finally truly understood surrendering my life to Christ. And and anybody knows, even when you turn your life to Christ, life doesn't suddenly turn around and become peachy, right? Right. Um, and so those those struggles have continued in very different ways. I got married fairly young when I was 20, had my first, and then we started experiencing some severe challenges with him as we realized he was neurodivergent, but nobody could figure out why. And that became 15 years of severe outbursts and tantrums that were very violent and nobody related. And so even as parents, our world unraveled. And that has been kind of a journey that we now have four children and there is a lot within there. Um, I was diagnosed with Lyme disease. I found out after my kids had been had contracted it as well through, um, through giving birth to them. And so they have all had various challenges. Um, and so the Lord is just a lot allowed, a lot of stripping in my and my husband's life through finances, through my own chronic illness, through our children and my son's challenges. But he has been faithful. And so this theme of fatherhood and this grasping of him always having this never ending love for us through the ups, the downs, the valleys, the mountaintops, um, and then through our own journeys of struggling again and having to grapple with our, our own sin and our flesh that we so want to be free from. But it is always there, right in front of our face. Um, I've just come to grasp, I think, more and more as I grow that never ending love of the Lord, um, no matter where I am. And so it's become a heart of mine, I think, just to encourage all, especially today, with this idea that we all have to find an identity that makes us valuable and it is a burden, especially for our kids. And so, um, it's just become a passion. I think I want to help people recognize the Lord alone is their identity.

Yeah, yeah. Well, like you said, currently I'm a mom of four kids, so I'm kind of in my own different season of life now with oldest 17 down to ten. Um, but my journey kind of started, you know, similar to yours I had I had wonderful Christian parents. Um, they were younger believers when they were kind of on the early years of raising myself and my two older brothers. Um, but being the youngest and the only girl, I kind of threw them into a tailspin a little bit with just a different culture that I was being raised in. Um, and so probably around my junior high years, I started to really, really struggle. I grew up kind of as a tomboy. I was very athletic. And so all the boys were my friends. And then junior high, you know, everything kind of changes, right? Everybody's changing. They're trying to figure it out. And I really struggled with that, that season of change, because all these boys that I was really good friends with suddenly were looking at me differently and not friends in the same way. And it kind of threw me. And that was kind of a time of trying to figure that stuff out. But as I went into high school, um, I think my identity in many ways became being an athlete. And so that was where I poured my time, my energy. It was where my confidence was. But, you know, anything in this life that we put our identity in is vulnerable to being taken. Right. And so the Lord allowed, through various circumstances, kind of an abusive coach situation. Um, I was primarily a basketball player. And my trajectory, my goal was to go and play college basketball. Um, and he allowed through the coaching situation. And then I had a devastating injury and, um, kind of destroyed my ankle. Um, so that happened. But then I also started to really struggle just in the culture I was in. I was in a very sexually aggressive culture, um, a very, very ungodly culture. We'll just put it like that in the school setting I was in. And so here I was, you know, as a, as a child trying to grow up into making my own decisions and struggling, wanting to follow the God of my parents that they had raised me to know I believed in Jesus as my Savior, but I don't think I grasped what it meant for him to be my Lord. And so I wanted one foot in the world, and I wanted one foot to follow the Lord. And you can only do that so long before it utterly destroys you. And so God allowed, through varying circumstances, to strip me of virtually everything I felt like I found confidence in that made me feel valuable, really. My identity and what that led to eventually was an attempt on my own life, and ended up in a pediatric psych ward my senior year of high school, and it kind of all came tumbling down around me. I, I didn't know what is my purpose anymore. And if I have a purpose and God allows everything that I love in life to be stripped away, do I really want to follow him? I so I was grappling with all these really difficult things and I was grieving. I had gone through a lot of really deeply painful things at the same time. But in that hospital, the Lord was so gracious and met me in a place where I realized, basically it came down to, Lord, I either don't want to live, I want you to take my life, or I need you to give me yours and help me know how to live this one. And it was like this burden of £1 million weight off my shoulders of realizing I can never be enough. I can never be the I can't figure out some perfect identity or worth in me to make myself worthy enough for Christ. I had to come to the true realization I have nothing to offer, and I can't. I have nothing except the love of Christ that he has shown me over and over again. And it was like this realization that although I have nothing to offer, in some ways there was something so much more beautiful about that because I realized I don't need anything to offer. The Lord has already called me to himself with nothing, and he has borne everything I was. I was carrying both my sin and my pain I had endured. He had carried on the cross for me. And so it was a period of time where I, I think, finally truly understood surrendering my life to Christ. And and anybody knows, even when you turn your life to Christ, life doesn't suddenly turn around and become peachy, right? Right. Um, and so those those struggles have continued in very different ways. I got married fairly young when I was 20, had my first, and then we started experiencing some severe challenges with him as we realized he was neurodivergent, but nobody could figure out why. And that became 15 years of severe outbursts and tantrums that were very violent and nobody related. And so even as parents, our world unraveled. And that has been kind of a journey that we now have four children and there is a lot within there. Um, I was diagnosed with Lyme disease. I found out after my kids had been had contracted it as well through, um, through giving birth to them. And so they have all had various challenges. Um, and so the Lord is just a lot allowed, a lot of stripping in my and my husband's life through finances, through my own chronic illness, through our children and my son's challenges. But he has been faithful. And so this theme of fatherhood and this grasping of him always having this never ending love for us through the ups, the downs, the valleys, the mountaintops, um, and then through our own journeys of struggling again and having to grapple with our, our own sin and our flesh that we so want to be free from. But it is always there, right in front of our face. Um, I've just come to grasp, I think, more and more as I grow that never ending love of the Lord, um, no matter where I am. And so it's become a heart of mine, I think, just to encourage all, especially today, with this idea that we all have to find an identity that makes us valuable and it is a burden, especially for our kids. And so, um, it's just become a passion. I think I want to help people recognize the Lord alone is their identity.

Well, I you have a powerful story. And just to put some dates on it, when what how old were you when you became a Christian?

Well, I you have a powerful story. And just to put some dates on it, when what how old were you when you became a Christian?

You know, I do remember in a sense, um, understanding the basics of the gospel when I was probably five years old and I really had a love for Jesus. But I think then there's an aspect to where you come against the world and you have to decide, wait, is this really my faith, or is this my parents faith, or is this just head knowledge? Or is this truly I am willing to surrender my life? So I think we all hit. I hit that point, and probably in that high school time in the hospitals where it truly became the Lord of my life.

You know, I do remember in a sense, um, understanding the basics of the gospel when I was probably five years old and I really had a love for Jesus. But I think then there's an aspect to where you come against the world and you have to decide, wait, is this really my faith, or is this my parents faith, or is this just head knowledge? Or is this truly I am willing to surrender my life? So I think we all hit. I hit that point, and probably in that high school time in the hospitals where it truly became the Lord of my life.

Right? Well thank you. We will continue with Sarah Walton when we return. Welcome back to living by Faith with Trillia Newbell. I am Trillia and I'm talking with Sarah Walton, and we are talking about her life and the love of the God the Father, and how God transforms hearts and minds and enables us to really serve others with our story. I, I don't want to rush past this and head towards to the prodigal son because Sarah, your your story is very powerful and you were sharing that you were an athlete. You had a few very tough circumstances that led toward to, um, all of that being stripped away. So basketball is now gone. You, um, attempted to take your life, you were in a hospital, and that's when the Lord really captured your heart and you were about 18. But then you, you you. So you're 18, and then two years later, you get married. So that that in between is pretty significant. Yeah. So I'd love to ask you about that because from eight that to marriage is a big that's a big thing. And and then you, you know you shared and which I did know about Lyme disease and your children um contracting that as well. And, and so you have suffered. But one of the things that I think is, um, remarkable is that you have. Shared your in your suffering with others. Kind of like Christ does with us that you've you've you've. Enabled your suffering and your struggle to comfort others. So I really want to know what led you to want to tell that story, those stories, and to to share with others. Um, but before that, could you tell us the 18 to 20 what happened between then and how did you meet your husband?

Right? Well thank you. We will continue with Sarah Walton when we return. Welcome back to living by Faith with Trillia Newbell. I am Trillia and I'm talking with Sarah Walton, and we are talking about her life and the love of the God the Father, and how God transforms hearts and minds and enables us to really serve others with our story. I, I don't want to rush past this and head towards to the prodigal son because Sarah, your your story is very powerful and you were sharing that you were an athlete. You had a few very tough circumstances that led toward to, um, all of that being stripped away. So basketball is now gone. You, um, attempted to take your life, you were in a hospital, and that's when the Lord really captured your heart and you were about 18. But then you, you you. So you're 18, and then two years later, you get married. So that that in between is pretty significant. Yeah. So I'd love to ask you about that because from eight that to marriage is a big that's a big thing. And and then you, you know you shared and which I did know about Lyme disease and your children um contracting that as well. And, and so you have suffered. But one of the things that I think is, um, remarkable is that you have. Shared your in your suffering with others. Kind of like Christ does with us that you've you've you've. Enabled your suffering and your struggle to comfort others. So I really want to know what led you to want to tell that story, those stories, and to to share with others. Um, but before that, could you tell us the 18 to 20 what happened between then and how did you meet your husband?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah. You know, the Lord sure does work in mysterious ways.

Yeah. You know, the Lord sure does work in mysterious ways.

He does.

He does.

So, um, you know, there was a couple layers to that one. Um, and part of the reason I love the prodigal son is I had a real. This season was also very difficult for for me and my parents because they had been fighting for me and fighting for my heart through this season. But, you know, I think parents will know your kids often take the worst out on you, right? Because you feel the safest. Um, typically with those you're closest to. And so I was so angry at my parents and it really wasn't because they did anything. It was because they in some ways held this standard of Christ that I wanted to be able to, in a sense, meet. But I felt such a weight of the world on me as well, that they kind of became a representation of what I couldn't live up to. And so I took that anger out on them in really awful ways. And so I'd say after that time in the hospital, the Lord just softened every ounce of my heart, and a big piece of that was towards my parents suddenly having the eyes to see the love that they had for me. I knew that no matter what, whatever I had done, whatever I had said, they were going to welcome me home because I had seen them fight for me already. And I we see that the Lord do that right. He he is he. Even the spirit groans on our behalf. And so that was a season between those two years of healing with them, of working through a lot of the the struggles and the challenges and the pain we had walked through together. Um, but a big piece obviously was spiritual. It was the Lord, um, kind of meeting me in all these different levels that I had walked through. The identity piece of, okay, God has allowed these things that I felt were really good things in my life to be stripped away. Suddenly my future looks very, very different than I imagined it would. Um, and it was also, I think, a period of, um, surrendering my life in a new way because everything looked like a clean slate. I had no idea where my future was going to hold. I had no trajectory. I felt very lost. And so even though I spiritually felt like I had found a sense of healing with Christ, I still felt lost in myself to some extent of how do I practically keep living now? Um, and I also had to work through healing of those who had, um, really caused a lot of trauma in my life. I had dealt with some sexual abuse from boys at school. I had dealt with verbal and very like kind of emotional type abuse from a coach. And so I was really struggling with those things deep down of forgiveness, of even a different level of identity. Um, do I in a sense, a pleasing man needing to have the approval of man was a struggle. Um, but the Lord did an unbelievable deep work during that time. And I actually met my husband probably six months after I left high school. He was a senior in college, and I came in as a freshman, and he, the Lord actually really used him in my life because I went to college with this kind of this idea that I'm not going to let anyone know what happened in the past. I want that to be in the past. I want a fresh start. But we all know our past is a part of us, whether we like it or not. Yeah, and so he used my husband, Jeff, actually to be the first one to press me. We just kind of were friends at first, but he pushed me a little bit to find out a little bit more of my past. And the poor guy we had the first time. We really sat down by ourselves. He pressed enough and I full on snot, cried. I mean, everything came out. Yes, in the most ugly way. But he sat there just so patiently, so compassionately, hearing me, um, caring, showing me comfort, even though we really didn't even know each other very well. And he was so strong in his faith. And so he actually became really a good example for me of he was so steady. He had walked with the Lord for years. He he was so confident in his identity in the Lord. Um, and so he kind of was a part of my seeking the Lord in even a more intense way, I think. And gradually that that started to unite our hearts. Um, and so I never in a million years would have imagined I would have left high school and begun planning my wedding within a year. Um, but God is. When he chooses to act, he can act in miraculously fast ways too. Sometimes he allows us to. Wait for years and decades and sometimes lifetime. And sometimes he can rework things in our heart so deeply and so quickly. And he really did do a deep work of healing in me in a really miraculous way. I'm still working through those things in other ways, of course, but he he brought me to a much more grounded place of my past, is a part of who I am. And actually, it's a huge part of who I am now, because it's what the Lord used to shape me and to draw me and drive me to him. So it wasn't something to be afraid of. It was something to be able to see that this is something a testimony God has given me to for the hope and the encouragement of others. That no matter how far you are, no matter how lost you feel, there is a father to run to. And so it ended up leading to my husband and I got married and it was a sweet season. I felt like it was a very short season, but it was a sweet season of reprieve, of just experiencing the healing of Christ.

So, um, you know, there was a couple layers to that one. Um, and part of the reason I love the prodigal son is I had a real. This season was also very difficult for for me and my parents because they had been fighting for me and fighting for my heart through this season. But, you know, I think parents will know your kids often take the worst out on you, right? Because you feel the safest. Um, typically with those you're closest to. And so I was so angry at my parents and it really wasn't because they did anything. It was because they in some ways held this standard of Christ that I wanted to be able to, in a sense, meet. But I felt such a weight of the world on me as well, that they kind of became a representation of what I couldn't live up to. And so I took that anger out on them in really awful ways. And so I'd say after that time in the hospital, the Lord just softened every ounce of my heart, and a big piece of that was towards my parents suddenly having the eyes to see the love that they had for me. I knew that no matter what, whatever I had done, whatever I had said, they were going to welcome me home because I had seen them fight for me already. And I we see that the Lord do that right. He he is he. Even the spirit groans on our behalf. And so that was a season between those two years of healing with them, of working through a lot of the the struggles and the challenges and the pain we had walked through together. Um, but a big piece obviously was spiritual. It was the Lord, um, kind of meeting me in all these different levels that I had walked through. The identity piece of, okay, God has allowed these things that I felt were really good things in my life to be stripped away. Suddenly my future looks very, very different than I imagined it would. Um, and it was also, I think, a period of, um, surrendering my life in a new way because everything looked like a clean slate. I had no idea where my future was going to hold. I had no trajectory. I felt very lost. And so even though I spiritually felt like I had found a sense of healing with Christ, I still felt lost in myself to some extent of how do I practically keep living now? Um, and I also had to work through healing of those who had, um, really caused a lot of trauma in my life. I had dealt with some sexual abuse from boys at school. I had dealt with verbal and very like kind of emotional type abuse from a coach. And so I was really struggling with those things deep down of forgiveness, of even a different level of identity. Um, do I in a sense, a pleasing man needing to have the approval of man was a struggle. Um, but the Lord did an unbelievable deep work during that time. And I actually met my husband probably six months after I left high school. He was a senior in college, and I came in as a freshman, and he, the Lord actually really used him in my life because I went to college with this kind of this idea that I'm not going to let anyone know what happened in the past. I want that to be in the past. I want a fresh start. But we all know our past is a part of us, whether we like it or not. Yeah, and so he used my husband, Jeff, actually to be the first one to press me. We just kind of were friends at first, but he pushed me a little bit to find out a little bit more of my past. And the poor guy we had the first time. We really sat down by ourselves. He pressed enough and I full on snot, cried. I mean, everything came out. Yes, in the most ugly way. But he sat there just so patiently, so compassionately, hearing me, um, caring, showing me comfort, even though we really didn't even know each other very well. And he was so strong in his faith. And so he actually became really a good example for me of he was so steady. He had walked with the Lord for years. He he was so confident in his identity in the Lord. Um, and so he kind of was a part of my seeking the Lord in even a more intense way, I think. And gradually that that started to unite our hearts. Um, and so I never in a million years would have imagined I would have left high school and begun planning my wedding within a year. Um, but God is. When he chooses to act, he can act in miraculously fast ways too. Sometimes he allows us to. Wait for years and decades and sometimes lifetime. And sometimes he can rework things in our heart so deeply and so quickly. And he really did do a deep work of healing in me in a really miraculous way. I'm still working through those things in other ways, of course, but he he brought me to a much more grounded place of my past, is a part of who I am. And actually, it's a huge part of who I am now, because it's what the Lord used to shape me and to draw me and drive me to him. So it wasn't something to be afraid of. It was something to be able to see that this is something a testimony God has given me to for the hope and the encouragement of others. That no matter how far you are, no matter how lost you feel, there is a father to run to. And so it ended up leading to my husband and I got married and it was a sweet season. I felt like it was a very short season, but it was a sweet season of reprieve, of just experiencing the healing of Christ.

Oh, that is so encouraging. Like, if you could see I have tears in my eyes just thinking about how.

Oh, that is so encouraging. Like, if you could see I have tears in my eyes just thinking about how.

Kind the Lord is. And yes, and you're right.

Kind the Lord is. And yes, and you're right.

That he, um. What a redemptive story that the Lord he he redeemed you that and then that that your your friend at the time, Jeff, was so gracious that he would listen.

That he, um. What a redemptive story that the Lord he he redeemed you that and then that that your your friend at the time, Jeff, was so gracious that he would listen.

And it.

And it.

Sounds like he didn't judge, and he was.

Sounds like he didn't judge, and he was.

Just.

Just.

Such a gracious way. It's very Christ like. And and it it's what it it makes me think of our relationship with the Lord and how how he forgives. And he's so patient and he understands. And so anyways, my first thought was, hey, can you tell him thanks for his example?

Such a gracious way. It's very Christ like. And and it it's what it it makes me think of our relationship with the Lord and how how he forgives. And he's so patient and he understands. And so anyways, my first thought was, hey, can you tell him thanks for his example?

But also, I mean.

But also, I mean.

How did your parents, they must have been when you when you told your parents.

How did your parents, they must have been when you when you told your parents.

Hey, I'm getting married.

Hey, I'm getting married.

What did they say?

What did they say?

Yes.

Yes.

Oh my gosh. Well, that was kind of another miraculous piece is I thought they were going to go absolutely insane on me. Like, this is you are not ready for this. This is craziness. Um, but actually, God kind of used them to some extent. Um, which to me is another miraculous thing. But so what had happened is when I had first gone to college, because I had really gone through some negative things with, with boys that I had known, I kind of made this decision myself that I am going to have no friends with boys. I'm going to focus on just building girl friendships. I'm going to not date anybody. I'm I kind of had shunned the opposite sex. And, you know, so like the Lord, literally the first weekend I get to school, I met Jeff. And so I actually pushed against that for a while. He started to pursue me and I kept telling my parents, no, I think I don't think this is wise. I need to stay away. I need to have a time of just still growing and healing. And they were actually the ones that, well, he was also a good friends with my brother. So my brother was one that very much vouched for him.

Oh my gosh. Well, that was kind of another miraculous piece is I thought they were going to go absolutely insane on me. Like, this is you are not ready for this. This is craziness. Um, but actually, God kind of used them to some extent. Um, which to me is another miraculous thing. But so what had happened is when I had first gone to college, because I had really gone through some negative things with, with boys that I had known, I kind of made this decision myself that I am going to have no friends with boys. I'm going to focus on just building girl friendships. I'm going to not date anybody. I'm I kind of had shunned the opposite sex. And, you know, so like the Lord, literally the first weekend I get to school, I met Jeff. And so I actually pushed against that for a while. He started to pursue me and I kept telling my parents, no, I think I don't think this is wise. I need to stay away. I need to have a time of just still growing and healing. And they were actually the ones that, well, he was also a good friends with my brother. So my brother was one that very much vouched for him.

Yes. Okay. And the funny.

Yes. Okay. And the funny.

Part was, is when I visited college that summer, right before I came, my brother introduced me to Jeff and said, Jeff, I'm going to be going overseas next semester. I want you to be in charge of being Sarah's big brother. So he took that very seriously, but not in a brother sense.

Part was, is when I visited college that summer, right before I came, my brother introduced me to Jeff and said, Jeff, I'm going to be going overseas next semester. I want you to be in charge of being Sarah's big brother. So he took that very seriously, but not in a brother sense.

I was like, maybe a little. Yes, exactly. Yeah.

I was like, maybe a little. Yes, exactly. Yeah.

I know, um, so anyway, that we kind of had had a really brief meeting, so we recognized each other that first weekend we were at school, but I kind of had my walls up where he was kind of had his radar out. And so the Lord gradually broke that wall down. And he actually used my parents to encourage me. Sarah, if the Lord has brought him into your life, you need to listen to that and be willing to pursue it to you can be prayerful. You can be careful, but you also the Lord works in ways different than we expect sometimes. And so as we began to date, I think my parents saw how good he was for me, how grounding he was, and I went through. We both actually had to work through some really challenging things at the beginning, because I brought a lot of baggage with me, so we had to work through some of my past things, and he was so faithful through that and so good at pointing me back to the Lord. Um, that I think they just saw this really is a provision from God. And that to me was almost confirmation because I really wanted my parents to, to approve that. I don't know that I would have kept pursuing that if they were very against it. Everybody else, however, thought I was crazy. So my parents took a lot of flack. How could you let her get married already? She's not ready. She's so immature. And they had seen my growth. They had seen the depth of work God had done in me. And. And I think they just were sitting back watching in awe what God was doing and felt like, how dare we step in the way of what God is working in our life? Um, and it really was a beautiful redemption. I mean, it was we had a hard road ahead of us, but God actually started us off having to work through some really difficult things, which actually helped build a foundation. And he used my parents to kind of confirm that. Um, which I knew in an earthly sense they wouldn't for from most parents perspective, it didn't make sense that they were affirming that. So I felt like that was even more confirmation that it was the Lord's hand on it.

I know, um, so anyway, that we kind of had had a really brief meeting, so we recognized each other that first weekend we were at school, but I kind of had my walls up where he was kind of had his radar out. And so the Lord gradually broke that wall down. And he actually used my parents to encourage me. Sarah, if the Lord has brought him into your life, you need to listen to that and be willing to pursue it to you can be prayerful. You can be careful, but you also the Lord works in ways different than we expect sometimes. And so as we began to date, I think my parents saw how good he was for me, how grounding he was, and I went through. We both actually had to work through some really challenging things at the beginning, because I brought a lot of baggage with me, so we had to work through some of my past things, and he was so faithful through that and so good at pointing me back to the Lord. Um, that I think they just saw this really is a provision from God. And that to me was almost confirmation because I really wanted my parents to, to approve that. I don't know that I would have kept pursuing that if they were very against it. Everybody else, however, thought I was crazy. So my parents took a lot of flack. How could you let her get married already? She's not ready. She's so immature. And they had seen my growth. They had seen the depth of work God had done in me. And. And I think they just were sitting back watching in awe what God was doing and felt like, how dare we step in the way of what God is working in our life? Um, and it really was a beautiful redemption. I mean, it was we had a hard road ahead of us, but God actually started us off having to work through some really difficult things, which actually helped build a foundation. And he used my parents to kind of confirm that. Um, which I knew in an earthly sense they wouldn't for from most parents perspective, it didn't make sense that they were affirming that. So I felt like that was even more confirmation that it was the Lord's hand on it.

You know, in so many ways, you're the perfect person to write about the prodigal son you have been through. Well, it just I mean, it just sounds like your story is this the Lord has been and and the just a the redemptive power of the gospel. Yeah, yeah.

You know, in so many ways, you're the perfect person to write about the prodigal son you have been through. Well, it just I mean, it just sounds like your story is this the Lord has been and and the just a the redemptive power of the gospel. Yeah, yeah.

And yes.

And yes.

Yes. And of love. God is so good. Okay, well, we want to talk about this more with Sarah when we return. Welcome back to living by Faith with Trillia Newbell. I am so glad to be with you guys and to be thinking through the. The power of the gospel is really what we're talking about. The power of the gospel, the love of God our Father, and how he changes and transforms lives. And that's that's Sarah Walton's testimony. And I've just been in awe of God throughout this whole time as we've been talking. Sarah. And so you've been married now for 20 years, and the Lord has been so faithful to you guys. But it has it hasn't been without still suffering and and challenges. Now, I know that you have Lyme disease and you, if I remember correctly, was that from a tick?

Yes. And of love. God is so good. Okay, well, we want to talk about this more with Sarah when we return. Welcome back to living by Faith with Trillia Newbell. I am so glad to be with you guys and to be thinking through the. The power of the gospel is really what we're talking about. The power of the gospel, the love of God our Father, and how he changes and transforms lives. And that's that's Sarah Walton's testimony. And I've just been in awe of God throughout this whole time as we've been talking. Sarah. And so you've been married now for 20 years, and the Lord has been so faithful to you guys. But it has it hasn't been without still suffering and and challenges. Now, I know that you have Lyme disease and you, if I remember correctly, was that from a tick?

Yeah, they think so, but they think it was when I was actually younger because I started having health problems. But at that time nobody really talked a lot about ticks or Lyme disease. And so I lived in often went was in the forest, in the woods in Wisconsin. I would have had access to having that happen at all times. Um, so I started having health problems when I was younger, but it and it intensified through the years. But I really didn't start seeing doctors actively until I started getting worse after I gave birth to my first son.

Yeah, they think so, but they think it was when I was actually younger because I started having health problems. But at that time nobody really talked a lot about ticks or Lyme disease. And so I lived in often went was in the forest, in the woods in Wisconsin. I would have had access to having that happen at all times. Um, so I started having health problems when I was younger, but it and it intensified through the years. But I really didn't start seeing doctors actively until I started getting worse after I gave birth to my first son.

Sure. So so from from there. You you wrote a book with a friend?

Sure. So so from from there. You you wrote a book with a friend?

Yeah.

Yeah.

And and so the leap feels kind of like. Okay, like a big leap. So how do you go? Yeah. So tell.

And and so the leap feels kind of like. Okay, like a big leap. So how do you go? Yeah. So tell.

Us.

Us.

What led you to desire to to write this story and to give other people hope through the written word?

What led you to desire to to write this story and to give other people hope through the written word?

Yeah. You know, this is really another purely a testimony of God's work in my life, really, that in many ways feels like it had nothing to do with me. Um, I, I was always a journaler, so I always loved writing. I'm. I spend a lot of time in my brain far more than I'd like. So it helps me to process through writing. But I never did so publicly. So it wasn't until I want to say my oldest. We were in the throes of some of the worst years with my oldest, where this looked like a lot of the day, me restraining him through these horrific outbursts that often would leave me bruised and bleeding. And it was very, very stressful, difficult years. On top of that, my husband was a trauma consultant, so he was on call 24 seven. So I was often alone at home with these situations, with my son, with my other three kids, trying to protect them, trying to protect myself and my son. So they were extremely stressful, difficult years. So the idea of writing a book was nowhere in the realm of my thinking. Um, but it was interesting because I started to blog. I found it just helped me to get my thoughts out, but I wanted to be speaking truth to myself. So I started writing in the way someone had. Actually, my pastor had encouraged me to start writing, so I did so with some trepidation to do so publicly. So I was careful with what I was sharing, but I would share the struggles I was facing. But the truth that I felt like I was, I was having to cling to in the midst of that. And so I was doing that for a little while. And then I had a, a girl that I went to church with who was running the prayer ministry of our pastor and online ministry and asked me to start praying for them. And so I started doing that.

Yeah. You know, this is really another purely a testimony of God's work in my life, really, that in many ways feels like it had nothing to do with me. Um, I, I was always a journaler, so I always loved writing. I'm. I spend a lot of time in my brain far more than I'd like. So it helps me to process through writing. But I never did so publicly. So it wasn't until I want to say my oldest. We were in the throes of some of the worst years with my oldest, where this looked like a lot of the day, me restraining him through these horrific outbursts that often would leave me bruised and bleeding. And it was very, very stressful, difficult years. On top of that, my husband was a trauma consultant, so he was on call 24 seven. So I was often alone at home with these situations, with my son, with my other three kids, trying to protect them, trying to protect myself and my son. So they were extremely stressful, difficult years. So the idea of writing a book was nowhere in the realm of my thinking. Um, but it was interesting because I started to blog. I found it just helped me to get my thoughts out, but I wanted to be speaking truth to myself. So I started writing in the way someone had. Actually, my pastor had encouraged me to start writing, so I did so with some trepidation to do so publicly. So I was careful with what I was sharing, but I would share the struggles I was facing. But the truth that I felt like I was, I was having to cling to in the midst of that. And so I was doing that for a little while. And then I had a, a girl that I went to church with who was running the prayer ministry of our pastor and online ministry and asked me to start praying for them. And so I started doing that.

Oh, I think I think we may have lost Sarah. So we will continue with this when we when we get her back. But right now, I'd love to open the phone lines. So if you have been listening and maybe her story resonates with you and you have a child who is discouraged, or maybe they are a prodigal. And when what we mean by that is someone who is is running away from the faith or or maybe, maybe you're discouraged and you just need some prayer. I'd love to pray for you. You can call me at (877) 548-3675. That's 877 live 675 again 877548367 5 or 8 seven seven. Live 675. I did not have a story that's similar to Sarah insofar as I grew up in a very loving home, but not a a a Christian home. We we we had we we were what I would call holiday Christians. So we went to church on Christmas and on Easter.

Oh, I think I think we may have lost Sarah. So we will continue with this when we when we get her back. But right now, I'd love to open the phone lines. So if you have been listening and maybe her story resonates with you and you have a child who is discouraged, or maybe they are a prodigal. And when what we mean by that is someone who is is running away from the faith or or maybe, maybe you're discouraged and you just need some prayer. I'd love to pray for you. You can call me at (877) 548-3675. That's 877 live 675 again 877548367 5 or 8 seven seven. Live 675. I did not have a story that's similar to Sarah insofar as I grew up in a very loving home, but not a a a Christian home. We we we had we we were what I would call holiday Christians. So we went to church on Christmas and on Easter.

Oh gosh, I'm back.

Oh gosh, I'm back.

And I don't know what Sarah's back.

And I don't know what Sarah's back.

Well that's okay. Let me.

Well that's okay. Let me.

I'm.

I'm.

That's okay. I was just telling them a little something real quick. Um, and so, so I was what we would call a holiday Christian, but but when I, um, gave my life to the Lord, it was a remarkable transformation. But I never would have been what we would call a prodigal. I was actually what you'd probably call a, quote unquote good girl. And and but I didn't submit my I wasn't submitted to the Lord, I just did. I just obeyed my dad a lot. And so, so, so, Sarah, I was just telling we opened the phone lines and we I was telling the audience, if if they have a child who is maybe, maybe they are what we would call prodigal, they've run away from the Lord. Or maybe they're they're anxious about their kids and they just need prayer to give us a call. I'm going to say the phone line again. 877548367 5 or 8 775675. And so with our time left in this segment, tell us how did you take your your journey? And you were telling us that you were blogging and but what led you to want just to want to write for for other people who were suffering?

That's okay. I was just telling them a little something real quick. Um, and so, so I was what we would call a holiday Christian, but but when I, um, gave my life to the Lord, it was a remarkable transformation. But I never would have been what we would call a prodigal. I was actually what you'd probably call a, quote unquote good girl. And and but I didn't submit my I wasn't submitted to the Lord, I just did. I just obeyed my dad a lot. And so, so, so, Sarah, I was just telling we opened the phone lines and we I was telling the audience, if if they have a child who is maybe, maybe they are what we would call prodigal, they've run away from the Lord. Or maybe they're they're anxious about their kids and they just need prayer to give us a call. I'm going to say the phone line again. 877548367 5 or 8 775675. And so with our time left in this segment, tell us how did you take your your journey? And you were telling us that you were blogging and but what led you to want just to want to write for for other people who were suffering?

Yeah. You know, I think I started to realize my suffering is not only about me. God started to open my eyes up to really, we are meant to live in community, and I, I dealt with a lot of isolation because of our situation. And so as I started to put myself out there little by little and I saw how much people were craving realness and realizing the Christian life is not easy, and just because you're following the Lord does not mean it's going to be all sunshine and roses. In fact, often it's going to be the opposite. And so how do we cling to hope? How do we encourage each other to cling to hope when really the rubber meets the road? And it's very hard to answer some of the questions we have when God suddenly doesn't seem like the God we thought he was when things were going easier. We have to wrestle with those questions. And so I started to engage more with people and realize how much, no matter how different our circumstances were, God was uniting our hearts in helping each other spur on to run the race he had given us in faithfulness. Um, through all the struggling, through all the things that we were questioning and doubting. And so it ended up being a kind of an encouragement to me in helping me spur myself on in my own walk that felt so hopeless at times, as I saw how God was using my story to also help encourage others to continue persevering in their own. Um. And so it became mutually a blessing, I think. Um, and I've just felt humbled through this whole journey that really our stories are all being woven together on the grand tapestry of the gospel being on display. And so it isn't my job to isolate and to hold my story complete. Obviously, we share with, with, um, discernment in what we say. However, to be able to walk with other people and say, hey, this life is hard and the Lord is faithful, let me encourage you to see how he's been faithful in my life, even though I'm still going through hard things. Um, and you see, and you live out those those verses you said.

Yeah. You know, I think I started to realize my suffering is not only about me. God started to open my eyes up to really, we are meant to live in community, and I, I dealt with a lot of isolation because of our situation. And so as I started to put myself out there little by little and I saw how much people were craving realness and realizing the Christian life is not easy, and just because you're following the Lord does not mean it's going to be all sunshine and roses. In fact, often it's going to be the opposite. And so how do we cling to hope? How do we encourage each other to cling to hope when really the rubber meets the road? And it's very hard to answer some of the questions we have when God suddenly doesn't seem like the God we thought he was when things were going easier. We have to wrestle with those questions. And so I started to engage more with people and realize how much, no matter how different our circumstances were, God was uniting our hearts in helping each other spur on to run the race he had given us in faithfulness. Um, through all the struggling, through all the things that we were questioning and doubting. And so it ended up being a kind of an encouragement to me in helping me spur myself on in my own walk that felt so hopeless at times, as I saw how God was using my story to also help encourage others to continue persevering in their own. Um. And so it became mutually a blessing, I think. Um, and I've just felt humbled through this whole journey that really our stories are all being woven together on the grand tapestry of the gospel being on display. And so it isn't my job to isolate and to hold my story complete. Obviously, we share with, with, um, discernment in what we say. However, to be able to walk with other people and say, hey, this life is hard and the Lord is faithful, let me encourage you to see how he's been faithful in my life, even though I'm still going through hard things. Um, and you see, and you live out those those verses you said.

Absolutely. And you've written a book called The Long Road Home. So in give us a quick synopsis of that book.

Absolutely. And you've written a book called The Long Road Home. So in give us a quick synopsis of that book.

Sure. Um, so I wrote it kind of an allegory along the lines of kind of the Pilgrim's Progress type feel. And we have the story of wander, who was the prodigal son in goodness, who represents the other son in that story. And I tried to really want to capture. I was just thinking about, you know, we we see the story of the prodigal son, but what did he go searching for? And really, all of us are prodigals, right? We all are prodigals at heart until the Lord draws us to himself. And so I used kind of the concept of thinking of the things we often run to in this world, to find our sense of value. What do we run away from? Why do we run away from the father? What are we searching for? And so often we're searching for something. We have to prove that we have a value in ourself. And so wander walks through the cities of perfection and prosperity and popularity. And he ends in the town of desperation, where ultimately we all end when we come to the end of ourselves. But I tried to then represent, showing the beauty of the love of the father in this story, and also showing the depths of the despair we can meet, and how the two actually can become what God uses to bring us to his gospel truth.

Sure. Um, so I wrote it kind of an allegory along the lines of kind of the Pilgrim's Progress type feel. And we have the story of wander, who was the prodigal son in goodness, who represents the other son in that story. And I tried to really want to capture. I was just thinking about, you know, we we see the story of the prodigal son, but what did he go searching for? And really, all of us are prodigals, right? We all are prodigals at heart until the Lord draws us to himself. And so I used kind of the concept of thinking of the things we often run to in this world, to find our sense of value. What do we run away from? Why do we run away from the father? What are we searching for? And so often we're searching for something. We have to prove that we have a value in ourself. And so wander walks through the cities of perfection and prosperity and popularity. And he ends in the town of desperation, where ultimately we all end when we come to the end of ourselves. But I tried to then represent, showing the beauty of the love of the father in this story, and also showing the depths of the despair we can meet, and how the two actually can become what God uses to bring us to his gospel truth.

Mhm. Well, more with Sarah when we return. Welcome back to living by Faith with Trillia Newbell. We are talking with Sarah Walton about the prodigal son, and we kind of I realize we've been throwing out that parable as if everyone knows what it is. And most of you probably know that story. It's told and retold. Um, but Sarah, I think it would be helpful. Tell us about the biblical account that of the prodigal son. And then we can we can make those connections, those dots, um, on your your book, which I'm really excited about, which is called The Long Road Home.

Mhm. Well, more with Sarah when we return. Welcome back to living by Faith with Trillia Newbell. We are talking with Sarah Walton about the prodigal son, and we kind of I realize we've been throwing out that parable as if everyone knows what it is. And most of you probably know that story. It's told and retold. Um, but Sarah, I think it would be helpful. Tell us about the biblical account that of the prodigal son. And then we can we can make those connections, those dots, um, on your your book, which I'm really excited about, which is called The Long Road Home.

Yeah, yeah. Um, so Jesus tells this parable of two sons and a father, and the sons worked the land of the father and the younger son. Um, he both sons were going to receive a portion of the father's inheritance, which usually, obviously would be once the father had died while the younger son, his heart was stirred for wanting to search for something else, something better out there. And so he came to his father very boldly, which at that time would have been very hurtful, and said, I want my inheritance now. I want my inheritance, and I want to go spend it. And so the father reluctantly well, he he willingly gave it to him, I imagine, with great sadness. And the son went on a journey, and he went into the world. And we I think we kind of picture this as like this journey out into searching for something better, away from what the father already had for him, and he squanders his father's inheritance. Long story short, he ends up somewhat in the pit of despair with no money left, with nowhere to go, no food, no no shelter. He desperately goes and searches, and he ends up being able to work for a pig farmer in the pig pigsty, and eventually gets to the point where he's so hungry he's he's eating what the pigs are eating. And I mean, that's as much of a pit of despair as we can be in, I think. Yeah. And so he reaches the end of himself and his. He thinks my only hope is to return to my home. But there's no way my father will receive me. I've been so foolish. But he eventually travels back home. He faces his father. He pleads with his father's mercy simply just to be hired as one of his father's servants. He knows he doesn't deserve to even be called a son anymore. And yet here we see the beautiful portrait of God's love for us in the father's and the father's response to him. He he runs to his son. He grasps him, he wraps his arm around him, and he welcomes him home as the son who was lost but has now been found. And they throw a celebration, and they they thank the Lord for bringing his son back to him. Well, then we have the other son, goodness, who I represented. But it's the older son, and his struggle is just kind of the opposite. He he was a good son. He he obeyed his father. He worked hard on his father's land. But here he struggled because suddenly his younger brother, who had squandered his father's money, came crawling back home, but was received with open arms and a celebration. And so to his eyes he's thinking. I've been. I've been good to you all along. You haven't celebrated me. And the father goes to him and says, son, what I have had has always been yours for the taking. But your brother was lost, and now he's found. And so it kind of helps, I think, give a picture of really all of our hearts can go in both directions, right? We can either become where we want to wander away from the Lord, or we have a sense that we deserve to be loved by the Lord. And we've we've done all the right things. We've been good. Why? We we deserve these good gifts from him. And so it really captures all of our hearts in many ways. We can be a little bit of both at different times of our life. And so that was kind of the story in a whole. But there's so many applications we can pull from.

Yeah, yeah. Um, so Jesus tells this parable of two sons and a father, and the sons worked the land of the father and the younger son. Um, he both sons were going to receive a portion of the father's inheritance, which usually, obviously would be once the father had died while the younger son, his heart was stirred for wanting to search for something else, something better out there. And so he came to his father very boldly, which at that time would have been very hurtful, and said, I want my inheritance now. I want my inheritance, and I want to go spend it. And so the father reluctantly well, he he willingly gave it to him, I imagine, with great sadness. And the son went on a journey, and he went into the world. And we I think we kind of picture this as like this journey out into searching for something better, away from what the father already had for him, and he squanders his father's inheritance. Long story short, he ends up somewhat in the pit of despair with no money left, with nowhere to go, no food, no no shelter. He desperately goes and searches, and he ends up being able to work for a pig farmer in the pig pigsty, and eventually gets to the point where he's so hungry he's he's eating what the pigs are eating. And I mean, that's as much of a pit of despair as we can be in, I think. Yeah. And so he reaches the end of himself and his. He thinks my only hope is to return to my home. But there's no way my father will receive me. I've been so foolish. But he eventually travels back home. He faces his father. He pleads with his father's mercy simply just to be hired as one of his father's servants. He knows he doesn't deserve to even be called a son anymore. And yet here we see the beautiful portrait of God's love for us in the father's and the father's response to him. He he runs to his son. He grasps him, he wraps his arm around him, and he welcomes him home as the son who was lost but has now been found. And they throw a celebration, and they they thank the Lord for bringing his son back to him. Well, then we have the other son, goodness, who I represented. But it's the older son, and his struggle is just kind of the opposite. He he was a good son. He he obeyed his father. He worked hard on his father's land. But here he struggled because suddenly his younger brother, who had squandered his father's money, came crawling back home, but was received with open arms and a celebration. And so to his eyes he's thinking. I've been. I've been good to you all along. You haven't celebrated me. And the father goes to him and says, son, what I have had has always been yours for the taking. But your brother was lost, and now he's found. And so it kind of helps, I think, give a picture of really all of our hearts can go in both directions, right? We can either become where we want to wander away from the Lord, or we have a sense that we deserve to be loved by the Lord. And we've we've done all the right things. We've been good. Why? We we deserve these good gifts from him. And so it really captures all of our hearts in many ways. We can be a little bit of both at different times of our life. And so that was kind of the story in a whole. But there's so many applications we can pull from.

So okay, so this is for ages 6 to 8. So you're you're aiming for young readers, people, kids who are they're likely just starting to read on their own. So it's it's probably simple language. What made you want to go for that age group?

So okay, so this is for ages 6 to 8. So you're you're aiming for young readers, people, kids who are they're likely just starting to read on their own. So it's it's probably simple language. What made you want to go for that age group?

Well, you know the world is coming for our kids, younger and younger. They're exposed to more and more at younger ages than we'd like to even admit. And so really, the heart I think, that we all wrestle with, let's say they've been hearing maybe some truth of the Bible or the gospel. Maybe they've even claimed to put their faith in Christ. But as they're about to start traversing into the world, they are going to be confronted with this bombarding message that who what value do you have to offer? The kids are the air that our kids are breathing today is, what are you going to make of yourself? What great thing are you going to bring to the world? And it's an immense pressure. And so I think in the heart of all of us, we also are searching to fill that void inside of us. And if we are not running to the Lord, then we are often running to what we have to show for ourselves. Whether we're good at sports or we're we're smart or we're good at music or whatever it is we're all searching for, especially at those ages. We're wanting to, um, to show something for ourself or find some value or identity we have. And so getting a foundational age of helping kids think through, where do you see kind of your heart being pulled towards? Some kids deal with perfectionism. They they just beat themselves up anytime they do anything slightly wrong. Then you have other kids that they act like they have a heart of stone, and they don't want to hear a word from anybody. They want to traverse their own journey. And so we all have different struggles we face. But so often it comes back to these key truths of trying to find some value within ourselves to show for us. And so if we can start having those conversations when kids are young that God isn't asking you to prove yourself, you don't have to push your sin to the side and pretend you're better than than you are. You can bring yourself as you are to the Lord, and he will embrace you with his love and his gospel truth, that he has already covered your sins through the cross. And those are important conversations to have with our kids. And then hopefully, as I my prayer is those things can actually the conversations will change as the kids get older and start to face new opportunities and challenges.

Well, you know the world is coming for our kids, younger and younger. They're exposed to more and more at younger ages than we'd like to even admit. And so really, the heart I think, that we all wrestle with, let's say they've been hearing maybe some truth of the Bible or the gospel. Maybe they've even claimed to put their faith in Christ. But as they're about to start traversing into the world, they are going to be confronted with this bombarding message that who what value do you have to offer? The kids are the air that our kids are breathing today is, what are you going to make of yourself? What great thing are you going to bring to the world? And it's an immense pressure. And so I think in the heart of all of us, we also are searching to fill that void inside of us. And if we are not running to the Lord, then we are often running to what we have to show for ourselves. Whether we're good at sports or we're we're smart or we're good at music or whatever it is we're all searching for, especially at those ages. We're wanting to, um, to show something for ourself or find some value or identity we have. And so getting a foundational age of helping kids think through, where do you see kind of your heart being pulled towards? Some kids deal with perfectionism. They they just beat themselves up anytime they do anything slightly wrong. Then you have other kids that they act like they have a heart of stone, and they don't want to hear a word from anybody. They want to traverse their own journey. And so we all have different struggles we face. But so often it comes back to these key truths of trying to find some value within ourselves to show for us. And so if we can start having those conversations when kids are young that God isn't asking you to prove yourself, you don't have to push your sin to the side and pretend you're better than than you are. You can bring yourself as you are to the Lord, and he will embrace you with his love and his gospel truth, that he has already covered your sins through the cross. And those are important conversations to have with our kids. And then hopefully, as I my prayer is those things can actually the conversations will change as the kids get older and start to face new opportunities and challenges.

And it kind of touches all sorts of, as you mentioned, different struggles that we have. So the child who feels like, oh, I have to be perfect and must do everything right, and then I will be noticed, you know? Yeah, they will see. My goodness. Um, that it.

And it kind of touches all sorts of, as you mentioned, different struggles that we have. So the child who feels like, oh, I have to be perfect and must do everything right, and then I will be noticed, you know? Yeah, they will see. My goodness. Um, that it.

Could just be.

Could just be.

Such a benefit to to know, oh, you're already loved. You already have access to us.

Such a benefit to to know, oh, you're already loved. You already have access to us.

You, you.

You, you.

Know, and and and how that can translate to, um, to, to our relationship with God and, and the, the lifelong impact that could have or the child who is really struggling with obedience and, and, and doing their own, you know, trying to go their own way and to know what you can repent, you can change, and you can come to me and you are going to receive grace as I think about it, how often these books also encourage parents? What are you hoping a parent who reads it takes away?

Know, and and and how that can translate to, um, to, to our relationship with God and, and the, the lifelong impact that could have or the child who is really struggling with obedience and, and, and doing their own, you know, trying to go their own way and to know what you can repent, you can change, and you can come to me and you are going to receive grace as I think about it, how often these books also encourage parents? What are you hoping a parent who reads it takes away?

Yeah. You know, well, that's actually why I wanted to write this in allegory, because I think there's something about the allegory storytelling that allows us to kind of pull out things that we can relate to ourself at any age. You know, think about The Pilgrim's Progress. I think I've read that five, six times, and every time I do, I'm in a different place in life where I realize, oh, that is a struggle I see in myself. I didn't even pick that up before. And so even as I read kids books and I as I reread the book that I have written, often, there's a moment where something pierces me, where I think either a sense of gratitude for what God has done in me and what he is, his faithfulness to me. When I don't feel like I've deserved it, I'm reminded of that. Or he convicts me again. And I realize even as I'm reading, that I may be even reading it to my own kids, and all of a sudden I realize, gosh, I've actually been battling perfectionism myself lately, and so we can check, I think, our own hearts. But then it also, I think is just a starting point. Sometimes it's helpful with our kids to have a launching point, to be able to point to a story rather than directly at them, to to start. Even if we see something in them, we can ask questions. What? Where do you see yourself in that story? Do you feel like you relate to either of those characters and how? And so just starting those conversations, I think, also opens up a building of those conversations as the kids get older.