1 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 1: Welcome to Christian Parent Crazy World, the podcast that tackles 2 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 1: tough topics to help you be a godly parent in 3 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:17,079 Speaker 1: an ungodly world. I am your host, Katherine Seegers, and 4 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:21,319 Speaker 1: in today's episode, we will tackle this uplifting question, where 5 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 1: can we find some wholesome entertainment that wrestles with real 6 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:27,639 Speaker 1: life in a biblical way. You know that is not 7 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 1: easy to find. Moms and dads, and my special guest today, 8 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: Felicia Ferguson, is an author who creates stories and characters 9 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: that wrestle with many of the topics that we talk 10 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 1: about on this show. So today we are going to 11 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: take a little spring break here from real life and 12 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: talk some fiction and along the way you will be 13 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 1: inspired to make a difference, to make an impact for 14 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 1: God's Kingdom in your own life. That's the plan for 15 00:00:53,760 --> 00:01:06,319 Speaker 1: this episode of Christian Parent Crazy World. I have a 16 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 1: very special treat for you today. This is going to 17 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:11,039 Speaker 1: be so fun. It's going to be a super laid 18 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:14,680 Speaker 1: back best of episode because I am in the middle 19 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 1: of a move to another state that is involving some 20 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: ill shall we say well complications, I guess would be 21 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 1: the best way to put it. Kind of mild, but 22 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 1: more on that in a future episode. I would actually 23 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 1: like to do a whole episode on facing your Giants, 24 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:32,839 Speaker 1: because we are facing some big giants right now, trying 25 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 1: to block the way to where God is calling us, 26 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: and you may be feeling the same way, so be 27 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 1: on the lookout for that coming up very soon. But thankfully, 28 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 1: with five years of episodes under my belt, I have 29 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:47,560 Speaker 1: an incredible well to draw from when I need to, 30 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 1: and I'm needing to do that a lot lately. So 31 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: today we are going to take a vacation from real 32 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 1: life to talk about some fiction. I have an author 33 00:01:56,920 --> 00:02:00,120 Speaker 1: on the show today who wrestles with tough topics in 34 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 1: her stories. She actually talks about many of the same 35 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 1: topics that we have covered and will be covering on CPCW, 36 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:11,120 Speaker 1: only she wrestles through these topics in her novels, and 37 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: she shines God's light and biblical truth throughout her storylines 38 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 1: and her characters. It's so inspiring and so necessary because, 39 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 1: as I'm sure you know, much of the entertainment out there, 40 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 1: even Christian entertainment, is not redemptive. It's not always inspiring 41 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 1: or God honoring. If we're really honest So my guest 42 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 1: today is Felicia Ferguson. She has master's degrees. Yes you 43 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 1: heard that right, that's like plural, one in healthcare administration 44 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:48,839 Speaker 1: and another in speech language pathology. Felicia is also an 45 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:54,079 Speaker 1: award winning fiction and nonfiction freelance writer. She's truly, truly 46 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: a renaissance woman. She has published several devotionals, but her passion, however, 47 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:05,239 Speaker 1: is women's fiction with strong female characters who work through 48 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 1: their traumas and tragedies using biblical principles. So she writes 49 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 1: about women just like us moms. Felicia talked about one 50 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: of her latest books a little while back on the show. 51 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 1: It's called When Secrets Come Calling, and I think you're 52 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 1: going to want to get a copy of that for 53 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 1: your summer reading. That's what we're talking about today. So 54 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 1: let's jump right in. Well, Alicia, welcome to Christian Parent 55 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:32,079 Speaker 1: Crazy World. It's such an honor to have you here. 56 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 2: Oh I'm so excited to be here. Thank you so much. 57 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 1: Well, you're so welcome. Why don't you start off just 58 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 1: give us some information about yourself, where you're from, what 59 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 1: your day job is, what you do when you're not writing. 60 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 2: Sounds great, I currently live in Colorado. God moved me 61 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 2: here after ten years in the Florida Panhandle, and I 62 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 2: write full time. I'm very, very blessed to be able 63 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 2: to do that, and that it's not always been the case. 64 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 1: Uh huh. 65 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:00,839 Speaker 2: So I do that and when I'm not writing, I'm 66 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 2: out exploring, I'm hiking. I did just lose my thirteen 67 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 2: and a half year old French bulldog, and so that's 68 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 2: been That's been a little hard. I mean, you know, 69 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 2: it's one of those things where you know it's coming, 70 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 2: but at the same time, when it happens, it's still 71 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 2: a shock. So yeah, I've been working through that a 72 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 2: little bit kind of missing her, but I'm really seeing 73 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:23,040 Speaker 2: a lot of fun opportunities coming my way in terms 74 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 2: of writing conferences and critique groups and really enjoying my 75 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 2: time out here. 76 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 1: One of the things I love about your writing. We 77 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:35,600 Speaker 1: deal with a lot of tough topics here, and your books, 78 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: like that first book that you came out traditionally published. 79 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 1: Tell us just a little bit about that. You're going 80 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 1: to do a book giveaway on that one, aren't you sure? 81 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:48,039 Speaker 2: Yes, Yes, that one is when Secrets come calling, and 82 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 2: it has won multiple Awards. It's in audiobook paperbacks. 83 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 1: Good choices she made that one? Yes, sorry, yes, when 84 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:57,480 Speaker 1: secret comes going, that's the new one. 85 00:04:57,520 --> 00:04:59,720 Speaker 2: That's the one that's on my brain right now. So yeah, 86 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 2: I got that. 87 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, we're gonna get to that one. 88 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, the choices she made. And so this is 89 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 2: the one, and it is about it's a dual timeline, 90 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:11,479 Speaker 2: and it is about a girl named Madeline Williams. And 91 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 2: at seventeen, that's the first timeline, she is sexually assaulted 92 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 2: and becomes pregnant from the sexual assault. And so that 93 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:21,239 Speaker 2: whole timeline, you follow her as she decides the choices 94 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 2: she makes and about what to do with the pregnancy. 95 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 2: And then in the second timeline, which starts at chapter two, 96 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:30,039 Speaker 2: she's thirty years old, and you do find out she 97 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 2: kept the baby. But now she has to decide how 98 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:35,159 Speaker 2: to tell her daughter and if she's going to testify 99 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 2: against her rapist. Wow. And so she works through a 100 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 2: lot of her trauma. She has her counselor that she 101 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 2: works through things with, and her dad is very supportive 102 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 2: of her. Her mom passed away before the book opened 103 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 2: when she was I believe it was nine years old. 104 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 2: And so he's single parenting her and trying to figure 105 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 2: out what are we doing? And she has a boyfriend 106 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 2: who wanted to marry her, and so she's got to 107 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 2: figure out am I going to lie to him? Am 108 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:06,559 Speaker 2: I going to push the limits? And then we could 109 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 2: tell everybody that the baby is his? Are we going 110 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 2: to you know, all these big questions of things that 111 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:15,480 Speaker 2: she could do, and she really leans into her faith 112 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 2: and into biblical principles to figure out what are the 113 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 2: right choices to make, what are the right decisions, And that's. 114 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 1: What we need to do in real life. So what 115 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: I love is that you're doing in fiction kind of 116 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 1: a lot of things we're talking about on this show 117 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 1: all the time. I mentioned to you earlier. 118 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:32,160 Speaker 2: I have an. 119 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 1: Upcoming guest who was conceived in a sexual assault. He 120 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 1: was conceived from rape, and of course, what our culture 121 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:41,559 Speaker 1: would tell you to do that the choice you should 122 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 1: make in that instance is to end the life. And 123 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:47,600 Speaker 1: that's not a choice that I think we're going to 124 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 1: find biblically that God is the author of life, and 125 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: may he may not have ordained the circumstance right with 126 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 1: how you came here, but he did ordain the life 127 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 1: and the life is beautiful and celebrate. It's not an 128 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 1: easy choice, obviously, not so many of our choices in 129 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 1: life aren't. And then your newer book also, which you're 130 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 1: going to get into it deals with a lot of 131 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 1: these kind of tough issues. But what I so appreciated, 132 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 1: and when secrets come calling, why don't you tell our 133 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: readers just a little bit about that first, and then 134 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 1: we can and we can talk about how you're we're 135 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 1: wrestling through these and I love how you're wrestling through 136 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 1: it and with such a high ethical Christian standard, because 137 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 1: a lot of books aren't doing that. I have picked 138 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: up other Obviously the secular books aren't doing that, we 139 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 1: wouldn't expect them to, but even a lot of the 140 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 1: Christian ones, they seem like they're just a sanitized version of. 141 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 2: The secular stuff out there. 142 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 1: I picked up one in the library recently just I'm like, well, 143 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 1: what's going on in Christian fiction these days? And I'm like, 144 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 1: WHA sounds an awful lot. I mean, they're not exactly 145 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 1: till my husband wasn't heaving bosoms, but I mean it 146 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 1: was pretty darn clothes and and it just it was 147 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 1: like the spirit in the in the purpose behind it, 148 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 1: and the objective behind it wasn't really helping will wrestle 149 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:04,880 Speaker 1: through difficult issues. Rather, it was just kind of satisfying 150 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 1: our fleshly desires while maintaining a Christian standard somehow just 151 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 1: kind of. 152 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 2: Get right in under the wire there. 153 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 1: So, but your books don't do that. I read I 154 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: read all of your last book, and I really enjoyed it. 155 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 1: Got sucked in by the way. Okay, I have a 156 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 1: little bone to pick with you because we get up 157 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 1: really early to go to prayer at my church on 158 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: Sunday mornings, and here I am a couple of Sundays ago, 159 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 1: it's like one point thirty in the morning. I got 160 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:34,559 Speaker 1: to get up in four hours. 161 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:35,240 Speaker 2: And I'm still sucking. 162 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 1: I'm still sitting here reading your book. Like Felicia, you 163 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:44,680 Speaker 1: are contributing to a sleepless epidemic in the country, which 164 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 1: I think, if you're an author, that's a good. 165 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 2: Thing to do. That's a very good thing. I know. 166 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 2: I got sucked into it, and I did. 167 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: I got up three and a half hours, four hours 168 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:55,040 Speaker 1: later to go to church for our Monday morning prayer. 169 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: But anyways, let's talk about that high ethical standard and 170 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 1: by telling us a little bit about the new book 171 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 1: and what you try to accomplish with your characters and 172 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: pointing them for having them wrestle with issues. Like the 173 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 1: two main characters in your latest book, they're not following 174 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 1: Christ at the moment. They're kind of struggling in their faith. 175 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:16,920 Speaker 1: But they come around and they deal with some really 176 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: serious issues, but they come around. 177 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, So when secrets come calling, that's this one. It 178 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 2: is about a We've got two people who were formerly together, 179 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:32,840 Speaker 2: they broke up five years prior, and Dax Carpenter is 180 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 2: a sec commentator for the network. He's a former NFL 181 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 2: player for the Titans and graduated from Alabama. And when 182 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 2: he is being inducted into the College Hall of Fame 183 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 2: for his wide receiver stats and everything, his dad gets 184 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:52,640 Speaker 2: pulled up on the stage and somebody accuses him of 185 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:56,720 Speaker 2: committing a robbery and murder forty years prior. And so 186 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 2: that just absolutely shatters Dax's vision, well, an image of 187 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 2: his dad, because his dad has been a stand up man. 188 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:08,079 Speaker 2: He has uh run, he's been an electrician for all 189 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:10,520 Speaker 2: the all of Dax's life and had a really good business. 190 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 2: He's been a faithful father and a faithful husband to 191 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 2: Dax's mom, and so Dax he questions Dad's identity, but 192 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 2: then also his own because as the word gets out 193 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 2: about the father's arrest and everything, Dax starts taking a 194 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:31,199 Speaker 2: hit in social media in terms of, you know, this 195 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 2: could impact his career, this is impacting his fandom and 196 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 2: who is he if he's not part of football? And 197 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 2: so he was raised in the faith, as was Caitlin, 198 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:46,960 Speaker 2: but still they don't have that strong level background, so 199 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 2: they're really struggling with finding their foundation. And so he 200 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 2: goes to Caitlin because she is a cold case specialist 201 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:57,199 Speaker 2: with the Alabama State Division of Investigations and she has 202 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:01,600 Speaker 2: she chose that career because of an issue that happened 203 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 2: in her life back when she was in college. I'm 204 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 2: not going to spoil it, but it's very triatic for her, 205 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 2: and so she went into this career in order to hopefully, 206 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:15,760 Speaker 2: in a sense, not necessarily atone for what happened, but 207 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 2: to make sense of it. And she's trying to help 208 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:21,560 Speaker 2: heal that, but she's doing it in all the wrong ways. 209 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 2: And so she goes down to Gulf Shore. She agrees 210 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 2: and starts investigating the new details and evidence that they 211 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 2: have and so while we're doing that, her father's dementia 212 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 2: is progressing and he's currently living at home with her 213 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:45,599 Speaker 2: mom as the primary caregiver, and so Mom is struggling 214 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 2: with a little bit of how do I honor my 215 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:51,840 Speaker 2: vows to my husband? And so she's, you know, she's 216 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:53,680 Speaker 2: wanting to keep him at home, but he's no longer 217 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:56,760 Speaker 2: safe at home. He's starting to get a little bit combative, 218 00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:00,040 Speaker 2: and so Caitlin and her siblings are getting concerned about that. 219 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:02,720 Speaker 2: And so you walk through the process of what do 220 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:05,079 Speaker 2: we do with dad, you know, how do we honor 221 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:10,840 Speaker 2: and still keep everybody safe? And so we've got a 222 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 2: lot of stuff mingling in there in terms of hard 223 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:19,480 Speaker 2: issues and life issues that people do experience. And part 224 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:23,559 Speaker 2: of the reason I'm able to pull the dementia aspect 225 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 2: in there is because I was a speech therapist for 226 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 2: a long time worked in the skilled nursing facility, so 227 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 2: I have the clinical expertise of seeing patients and parents 228 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:38,479 Speaker 2: and daughters and sons struggling with those decisions, those hard decisions. 229 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:40,800 Speaker 2: But then also in two thousand and nine, my dad 230 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 2: had a stroke and it was very, very intense, and 231 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 2: he ended up losing basically his ability to speak. You know, 232 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 2: it was a rambling speech, It wasn't mute, but he's him. 233 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:54,960 Speaker 2: He lived at home for twelve years with my mom, 234 00:12:55,440 --> 00:13:00,199 Speaker 2: and so I learned from the child perspective of the 235 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:03,760 Speaker 2: role of a caregiver and how life changes, and how 236 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:08,439 Speaker 2: you have to really look at what happens now once 237 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:11,319 Speaker 2: somebody who's had such a significant role in the family 238 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 2: is now impaired. And thankfully we never had to make 239 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 2: the decision whether or not to put him in a 240 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:22,199 Speaker 2: nursing facility. Way. We have very incredible therapists and personal 241 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 2: trainers who walked alongside with us and got him to 242 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 2: where he could live somewhat independently at home, So we 243 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:31,600 Speaker 2: didn't have to make that decision, But towards the end 244 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 2: we were leaning towards that and it's yeah, these are 245 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 2: hard things, and these are things real that people, even 246 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 2: and Christians go through, and so you have to figure 247 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:48,120 Speaker 2: out how am I going to biblically honor and make 248 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:52,560 Speaker 2: these decisions using the biblical principles that we've been taught 249 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:58,440 Speaker 2: without succumbing into, you know, fear and desperation and despair. 250 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: That's what I so appreciated about it because I was, like, 251 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 1: I saw so many things we have podcasted about here 252 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:18,079 Speaker 1: on Christian Parent Crazy World represented in the book. How 253 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 1: you know, how does God allow this evil and suffering 254 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 1: in the world. Evil happens, and that's what your main character, Caitlin, 255 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 1: was dealing with from her past. Something evil happened and 256 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 1: wrestling through that, trying to reconcile that with a good 257 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: God is Honestly, that's one of the top reasons according 258 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: to recent research, It's the top reason gen Z is 259 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 1: leaving the face reconciling a good God with the evil 260 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 1: and suffering that we see in the world. I also 261 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:48,880 Speaker 1: personally experienced recently with someone I'm very close to, a 262 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 1: secret king calling where I kind of found out something 263 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 1: that I just had no idea blew me out of 264 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 1: the water. I'm like, I had no idea, and there 265 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 1: were some there were some ramifications of that secret that 266 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:06,040 Speaker 1: came calling, and that certainly is what happened with your 267 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 1: main character there, Dax, and I think we have to 268 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 1: deal with that sometimes in life, whether that's with a 269 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 1: child or a spouse or a friend, sibling, parent, discovering 270 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 1: you're not who I thought you were, you had a 271 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 1: secret here that's kind of eating away and what I 272 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:28,840 Speaker 1: love is in your book, these characters end up turning 273 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:34,640 Speaker 1: to God in those desperate moments of trying to figure 274 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 1: out which direction to go, trying to figure out how 275 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 1: to handle this secret that came up, or trying to 276 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:42,960 Speaker 1: deal with the past trauma, and what I do love. 277 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 1: You don't wrap everything up with a pretty bow, do you. 278 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:46,240 Speaker 2: No? 279 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 1: I do not I do, because it doesn't get wrapped 280 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 1: up with a pretty bow in real life. 281 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 2: And we know this. 282 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:53,320 Speaker 1: And one thing I wanted to mention earlier, I don't 283 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:55,560 Speaker 1: get to read a lot of fiction just because I'm 284 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 1: always with the kids reading stuff for their school, and 285 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 1: I'm always reading stuff for the the podcast that is 286 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: usually nonfiction. So this is just the perfect thing for 287 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: summer because it is a piece of fiction that you 288 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 1: can get engrossed in and really enjoy. But at the 289 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 1: same time, it is wrestling through the issues that we're 290 00:16:14,840 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 1: actually wrestling through in everyday life, and we don't see 291 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: that very often in our entertainment, whether it's in literature 292 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:25,160 Speaker 1: or whether it's on television. As Christians, we don't get 293 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: to see these incredible stories of people wrestling through real 294 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: life issues. Like dementia, trauma of secret that acts I 295 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 1: just kind of like implode your life, and we don't 296 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 1: get to see that done well with a Christian perspective. 297 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 1: And that is what I experienced in reading your book. 298 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 1: And I just want to thank you for that, that 299 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 1: you're doing that kind of work because I think it's important. 300 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 1: I think it's important in television. I think it's important 301 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 1: in literature. And this is the perfect thing for a Christian. 302 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:57,880 Speaker 1: If you want to spend some time into fiction, which 303 00:16:57,920 --> 00:16:59,760 Speaker 1: you've encouraged me to start reading more fiction, I'm gonna 304 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 1: get your your older book. Maybe I'll win it. No, 305 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 1: I think that would be that might be a conflict 306 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 1: of interesting if I ended up winning it. But talk 307 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 1: to that, just a little bit of how you infuse 308 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:16,320 Speaker 1: your stories with your faith and with that standard that 309 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 1: you have because you did there's there's not gratuitous sex 310 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:23,640 Speaker 1: needs and you were I love the way you would 311 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 1: say simply she cursed, because we know she's not a Christian. 312 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:28,920 Speaker 1: She's probably yeah, got a bit of a body mouth, 313 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:30,879 Speaker 1: but we don't hear what she said, but we know 314 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 1: that she said yes. And how have you balanced that? 315 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:36,439 Speaker 1: Because I think in all of our lives, whether you're 316 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 1: in a creative area or just in your workplace. Balancing 317 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:45,560 Speaker 1: your Christian faith, your Christian ethic and a very secular world. 318 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:48,639 Speaker 1: It's not easy. How how have you infused that and 319 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 1: managed to do that and this work that God has 320 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:51,879 Speaker 1: called you to do? 321 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 2: Sure? Yeah, I rely on biblical principles to guide my writing, 322 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 2: but that's how that's how I live my life. Yes, 323 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:00,440 Speaker 2: and so there have been times and I've had the 324 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:03,439 Speaker 2: lean heart and the God and the truth and the 325 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 2: nature of Him and his character, And so I want 326 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:13,080 Speaker 2: my characters to have that same experience, because, like you, 327 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:17,800 Speaker 2: I don't see that enough in the Christian market. We 328 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:19,720 Speaker 2: see a lot of escape books. We see, you know, 329 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:23,880 Speaker 2: we see romantic suspense where somebody's trying to solve a mystery. 330 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:27,720 Speaker 2: But even if the characters are struggling with some issues, 331 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:31,159 Speaker 2: it seems like they're kind of glossed over. And I 332 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 2: want to really dig into the healing process because I 333 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:39,159 Speaker 2: believe that fiction is a great way to model what 334 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 2: we experience in life. And there's so many people out 335 00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:47,400 Speaker 2: there who don't heal because they're scared of the process, 336 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:51,640 Speaker 2: or they don't want to touch the pain because they're 337 00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 2: worried about what you know, what will happen. And so 338 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 2: my goal as a writer is Kingdom impact, and I 339 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:02,680 Speaker 2: want these stories, these characters to be authentic to the 340 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:06,920 Speaker 2: Christian life and show not only Christians but also non believers, 341 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:09,040 Speaker 2: because I do have non believers who read my books, 342 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:12,480 Speaker 2: and I want to show them how we do life 343 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 2: using faith as a plumb line for making those choices 344 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:20,919 Speaker 2: and making those life decisions. And it's just one of 345 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:24,119 Speaker 2: those things where you know God is good all the time, 346 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 2: even when my circumstances aren't. And so it's a way 347 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:31,760 Speaker 2: of showing how God is still good even when all 348 00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:34,879 Speaker 2: of this is going on. And yes, my books are 349 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 2: going to have a happily ever after, but it's going 350 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 2: to be a hopeful happily ever after because you know 351 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:43,960 Speaker 2: their hope is going to now be in God and 352 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:49,439 Speaker 2: not in their past trauma, not in their circumstances. And 353 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:52,840 Speaker 2: so it's it's one of those things that I just 354 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:59,719 Speaker 2: absolutely really want people to see someone going through their 355 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:03,159 Speaker 2: back bage, working through it and not repacking it at 356 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:05,200 Speaker 2: the end, and then just going on about their life. 357 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:07,960 Speaker 2: I want them to walk either start walking in freedom 358 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 2: or walk in freedom by the end of the book, 359 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:13,640 Speaker 2: so that it can encourage other people. It can encourage 360 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:17,480 Speaker 2: readers to either have empathy for people who are working 361 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 2: through their struggles or encourage them to work on their 362 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:24,560 Speaker 2: own struggles so that they can see hope. And yes, 363 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:28,199 Speaker 2: you can have the abundant life that Jesus promised, but 364 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:30,960 Speaker 2: sometimes you got to walk through your mess to get 365 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 2: to it. 366 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:35,040 Speaker 1: M yeah, yeah, that'll preach. 367 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:36,480 Speaker 2: That'll preach right there. 368 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:39,920 Speaker 1: I love that, and I love what you said. Kingdom impact. 369 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 1: That's what we all want. 370 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:42,560 Speaker 2: I don't care what. 371 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:46,679 Speaker 1: You do in life. You want kingdom impact. That should 372 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 1: be our heart's goal, is that God, I want to 373 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:51,959 Speaker 1: impact your kingdom. And there's some books out there, you know, 374 00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 1: all the kids were reading, obviously Hunger Games and that's 375 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:56,960 Speaker 1: been out for a while, and Divergent in some of 376 00:20:57,000 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 1: these more dystopian novels, and I picked it up because 377 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 1: I'm like, I need to know what they're reading. So 378 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 1: I read the Hunger Games trilogy and I actually, it's 379 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:06,800 Speaker 1: good fiction. Have you read them there? 380 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:11,320 Speaker 2: I'm not bold on teenagers killing teenagers, so no. 381 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:14,440 Speaker 1: I wasn't either. But when I was in homeschool circles 382 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:16,560 Speaker 1: and they were doing book reports on it. I'm like 383 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:20,200 Speaker 1: Christian homeschool circles and they're doing book reports on it. 384 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:22,920 Speaker 1: I'm like, what in the world. I'm like, I think 385 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:24,720 Speaker 1: I at least need to be conversant on it so 386 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:26,879 Speaker 1: I can have a conversation with these kids and not 387 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 1: be ignorant, because I just kind of figured that wouldn't 388 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:32,760 Speaker 1: make its way to my circles and it did you know? 389 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 1: There was some biblical themes in it. The main character 390 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 1: sacrifices herself or potentially sacrifices her life for her sister. 391 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:46,560 Speaker 1: It's beautiful, and of course we all admire that and 392 00:21:46,720 --> 00:21:50,040 Speaker 1: honor that, and that's great, but it was so dark 393 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:54,399 Speaker 1: and unredemptive. There was no consolation. Let's face it, we 394 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:56,960 Speaker 1: read the Bible. There's some dark places in the Bible, 395 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 1: but the overarching arc of the story of history that 396 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:03,359 Speaker 1: God is writing is redemptive. 397 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:04,800 Speaker 2: Yes, it is redemptive. 398 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:10,560 Speaker 1: And so, as a creator made in God's image, I 399 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:14,359 Speaker 1: want to focus on stories, whether I'm reading them or 400 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:17,800 Speaker 1: watching them or writing them myself, I want to focus 401 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 1: on stories that are redemptive. And that is what the 402 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:24,920 Speaker 1: world is not offering, and that is what the world 403 00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 1: so desperately needs. Is that there is perhaps not an 404 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 1: answer for everything that we've experienced this side of heaven. 405 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:35,000 Speaker 1: And like I said, I love that you don't wrap 406 00:22:35,119 --> 00:22:38,439 Speaker 1: up every boat. But there is someone who is the answer. 407 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:40,359 Speaker 1: And he has promised that one day he will wipe 408 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:44,440 Speaker 1: away every tear, and he will use those heartaches, those 409 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:47,680 Speaker 1: sufferings for his glory. He will use it for our 410 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:50,960 Speaker 1: own good, just as as Joseph said to his brothers, 411 00:22:51,119 --> 00:22:54,879 Speaker 1: you know what you meant for harm, God meant for good. 412 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:56,879 Speaker 1: And I love what you said in this exchange. I 413 00:22:56,920 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 1: actually I pulled this quote and I sent it to you, 414 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:01,000 Speaker 1: and you're like, quote, and I'm like, it was mine 415 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:05,800 Speaker 1: from the book too. One of your characters, it's Katie's 416 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:07,400 Speaker 1: is it Kaitlin or Katie? 417 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:10,480 Speaker 2: It's Katie, It's it's both Katie. Is family calls or so. 418 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 1: Your family calls? Because I wrote it down as Katie 419 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:14,080 Speaker 1: and I'm like, no, I thought it was Kaitlyn. Okay. 420 00:23:14,119 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 1: So Shannon is her sister in law and she was 421 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:19,480 Speaker 1: going through a struggle. I won't spoiler that one either, 422 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:23,440 Speaker 1: but she had some very disappointing news, very traumatic news. 423 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:27,399 Speaker 1: And Shannon says to the main character, Katie. She says, 424 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:31,440 Speaker 1: bad things happen all the time. Katie, Yes, this one 425 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:34,639 Speaker 1: hurts and it hurts bad. But I can't and I 426 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:38,480 Speaker 1: won't let it define me. And I was like wow 427 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:43,360 Speaker 1: right there to see a character have to deal with 428 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:47,600 Speaker 1: a traumatic event in their life, some bad news and 429 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:50,920 Speaker 1: say this isn't This isn't who I am. It's not 430 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:54,920 Speaker 1: going to define me. It's a powerful message that we 431 00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:57,120 Speaker 1: need in this culture because our culture defines us by 432 00:23:57,200 --> 00:24:01,040 Speaker 1: our work, our roles, our successes, our failure, past or 433 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:06,680 Speaker 1: feelings or attractions are afflictions. So often we're labeling ourselves 434 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 1: with our afflictions. Of the younger generation, whatever they're attracted to, 435 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 1: that's who they are. Everything defines us except the one 436 00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:18,520 Speaker 1: who made us in our culture and your characters I've 437 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:21,119 Speaker 1: found in the book. I thought it was so refreshing, 438 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:23,960 Speaker 1: so refreshing that your characters are on a journey to 439 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:28,479 Speaker 1: find their God given identity, so to speak. And our 440 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:32,119 Speaker 1: closing moments here into that theme of identity that is 441 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:42,640 Speaker 1: so prevalent in when secrets come calling. Hey, friends, it's 442 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 1: Catherine here. If you're trying to be a godly parent 443 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:48,600 Speaker 1: in this wild and wacky world. You need all the 444 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 1: help you can get, and I've got you covered. When 445 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:55,240 Speaker 1: you subscribe to my website, you'll get instant access to 446 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:59,240 Speaker 1: tons of free resources made just for Christian parents. You'll 447 00:24:59,280 --> 00:25:02,560 Speaker 1: get my product a bundle, which is packed with every podcast, 448 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:06,359 Speaker 1: article and scripture list I've created for parents walking that 449 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:09,760 Speaker 1: tough prodigal road. You'll also get my free eat book 450 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:13,720 Speaker 1: Beyond the Lies and covering five myths the culture spreads 451 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:17,199 Speaker 1: to mothers, plus powerful scripture list Pray over your kids, 452 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:20,159 Speaker 1: and even scripture songs to help your family hide God's 453 00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:23,639 Speaker 1: word in your hearts without even trying. And of course 454 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:27,280 Speaker 1: I'll keep you encouraged with my weekly newsletter full of 455 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:30,480 Speaker 1: faith filled PEP talks and outlines of what we're tackling 456 00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:32,040 Speaker 1: each week on the show. 457 00:25:32,119 --> 00:25:32,880 Speaker 2: So don't miss out. 458 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:36,199 Speaker 1: Head over to Catherine Scars dot com. That's Katherine Segers 459 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:40,360 Speaker 1: dot com and subscribe today. Because Christian parenting may be crazy, 460 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:45,760 Speaker 1: but you don't have to do it alone. 461 00:25:46,080 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 2: Yes, yeah, that was one of the things. When I 462 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:51,439 Speaker 2: first started working on this book, I knew identity was 463 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:54,320 Speaker 2: going to be the one of the overarching themes just 464 00:25:54,440 --> 00:25:58,119 Speaker 2: because of you know what happens when your world is 465 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:01,760 Speaker 2: shattered and what you thought of as who you were 466 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:06,120 Speaker 2: actually isn't And so where do you go from there 467 00:26:06,359 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 2: at that point? And so thankfully they had seeds of faith, 468 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:12,560 Speaker 2: so they went back to God and tried to figure out. 469 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:15,240 Speaker 2: Of course his mom helped him with that, but yeah, 470 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:18,679 Speaker 2: so many people find their identities in their careers, in 471 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:21,520 Speaker 2: their role as a parent or a spouse. And so 472 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:25,159 Speaker 2: when you know easily with the parents, you know, when 473 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:28,560 Speaker 2: your kids go off to school and you're an empty master. Yeah, 474 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:31,080 Speaker 2: some marriages break up because they were there for the 475 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:35,760 Speaker 2: kids and because they don't know who they are outside 476 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:39,720 Speaker 2: of being mom and dad. And then you know, some people, 477 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:42,639 Speaker 2: if they experience divorce, they kind of flounder because they 478 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:45,640 Speaker 2: don't know who they are outside of being this person's 479 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:50,879 Speaker 2: spouse and the role of supporting them or being mister 480 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:54,680 Speaker 2: and missus. And so I really wanted to dig in 481 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:59,680 Speaker 2: on who we are outside of the roles, outside of careers. 482 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:03,320 Speaker 2: I mean, when I was back working as a speech therapist, 483 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:06,280 Speaker 2: you know, I would call myself I'm a speech therapist, 484 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:08,600 Speaker 2: and I caught myself one day on that, and I 485 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:13,159 Speaker 2: mean this has been decades ago. Well, a decade. But 486 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:15,400 Speaker 2: I caught myself on that and I was like, wait, 487 00:27:15,880 --> 00:27:19,440 Speaker 2: I'm not a speech therapist. I work as a speech therapist, 488 00:27:20,280 --> 00:27:23,600 Speaker 2: and so I am still me even if I'm not 489 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:26,960 Speaker 2: doing this job, because I went I worked in all 490 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:30,200 Speaker 2: of these different areas, and when I would introduce myself 491 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:32,960 Speaker 2: to clients and patients and that sort of thing, that's 492 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:36,920 Speaker 2: how I would introduce myself. And it got to be where, no, 493 00:27:37,119 --> 00:27:40,320 Speaker 2: that's not my identity. Let's take a step back and 494 00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:43,680 Speaker 2: let's really look at who I am. Whose I am, 495 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:46,840 Speaker 2: And first of all, I am a blood bought child 496 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:51,920 Speaker 2: of God. I am his loved daughter. I am fearfully 497 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:56,479 Speaker 2: and wonderfully made. I am a recipient of incredible favor 498 00:27:56,520 --> 00:28:00,600 Speaker 2: from Him. And I am seated in the right, you know, 499 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:03,680 Speaker 2: seated next to him in heavenly places. And so this 500 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:07,320 Speaker 2: I really did dug down into. This is my identity. 501 00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:09,960 Speaker 2: This is who I am. And anything else that's gravy 502 00:28:10,280 --> 00:28:12,720 Speaker 2: chearing on top, you know, back of chips, whatever you 503 00:28:12,760 --> 00:28:16,360 Speaker 2: want to call us. But who I am intrinsically is 504 00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:18,119 Speaker 2: who God created me to be. 505 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:22,040 Speaker 1: M That is beautiful and I'm so. 506 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:29,520 Speaker 3: Excited, relieved, refreshed to see that kind of message into 507 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:34,040 Speaker 3: fiction is amazing. Yeah you yeah, please, I'm so excited 508 00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:37,320 Speaker 3: because we just don't see that nearly enough. 509 00:28:37,560 --> 00:28:41,760 Speaker 1: We just don't. And you're you're providing a tremendous service 510 00:28:42,040 --> 00:28:46,160 Speaker 1: to Christians and non Christians. It's a gateway truly to 511 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:48,600 Speaker 1: reach people out there that are struggling with some really 512 00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:53,240 Speaker 1: tough stuff, like you said, dementia, dealing with secrets that 513 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:55,760 Speaker 1: are coming out, dealing with the issue in your last 514 00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:59,000 Speaker 1: book sexual assault that ended up, and the rare occurrence 515 00:28:59,040 --> 00:29:01,320 Speaker 1: of a life that came and how do you deal 516 00:29:01,360 --> 00:29:04,880 Speaker 1: with these real life situations because they do happen, and 517 00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 1: turning to the Lord and finding your identity and him. 518 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:11,200 Speaker 1: That's that's where we find our relief, that's where we 519 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:14,560 Speaker 1: find our answers, and that's where we find our hope 520 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:16,680 Speaker 1: in our future. And I love that you've done that. 521 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:18,800 Speaker 1: And why don't you tell us again where they can 522 00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:20,960 Speaker 1: get a copy of any of your books and find 523 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:22,800 Speaker 1: out more about you and your writing. 524 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:27,080 Speaker 2: Sure. Absolutely. My website is Felicia ferguson author dot com 525 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:30,400 Speaker 2: and it has links to all of my books where 526 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:33,480 Speaker 2: you can buy them. I also have links to I 527 00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:37,680 Speaker 2: do a weekly radio devotion spot on Christian Mix one 528 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:41,719 Speaker 2: oh six, and so I have all of those listed 529 00:29:41,760 --> 00:29:45,760 Speaker 2: there so you can catch up on old ones previously aired. 530 00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:48,200 Speaker 2: And then I've got my blog post there as well. 531 00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:53,280 Speaker 2: And uh, the books are available When Choice The Choices 532 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:56,000 Speaker 2: she made is available at pretty much every outlet because 533 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:59,280 Speaker 2: it is traditionally published, and When Secrets Come Calling is 534 00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:02,480 Speaker 2: independently published, so it's only available at Amazon, but is 535 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:06,560 Speaker 2: going to be available in all the formats hardback, paperback, digital, 536 00:30:06,880 --> 00:30:09,840 Speaker 2: And the audiobook is getting done right now by the 537 00:30:09,880 --> 00:30:13,360 Speaker 2: same narrator who narrated The Choices she made, and that 538 00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:17,360 Speaker 2: audiobook won an award. So wonderful. 539 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:20,360 Speaker 1: Yea, oh, I've thought about getting over into audiobooks myself. 540 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:22,120 Speaker 1: My background. I don't know if you saw it's in theater. 541 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:24,240 Speaker 1: I have an ma in theater. It's been a dozen 542 00:30:24,280 --> 00:30:27,840 Speaker 1: years doing all that. And oh that's so cool. I 543 00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:30,320 Speaker 1: love audiobooks too. I think they're the best. I listen 544 00:30:30,360 --> 00:30:32,840 Speaker 1: to them all the time. I can't thank you enough 545 00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:35,920 Speaker 1: for coming on and inspiring me and inspiring my listeners 546 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:37,880 Speaker 1: to be a light, a witness with the gifts that 547 00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:40,440 Speaker 1: God has given us and whatever field He's called us to. 548 00:30:41,120 --> 00:30:43,800 Speaker 1: And also thank you for giving us a break from 549 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:46,640 Speaker 1: all we're crazy lives this summer and giving us something 550 00:30:46,720 --> 00:30:53,320 Speaker 1: really wholesome, redemptive, and just a wonderful addition to our 551 00:30:53,320 --> 00:30:55,120 Speaker 1: summer reading. We can take it to the pool, we 552 00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:56,800 Speaker 1: can take it to the beach, we can go read 553 00:30:56,840 --> 00:30:58,440 Speaker 1: it on the back porch. Or you can stay up 554 00:30:58,480 --> 00:30:59,840 Speaker 1: late on Sunday night when you have to get up 555 00:30:59,840 --> 00:31:02,320 Speaker 1: really early the next morning. He got to church and 556 00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:05,400 Speaker 1: only get three hours of sleep. So any of those 557 00:31:05,480 --> 00:31:08,200 Speaker 1: choices are good. But pick yourself up a copy of 558 00:31:08,240 --> 00:31:10,959 Speaker 1: When Secrets Come Calling. Thank you for joining us today. 559 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:13,640 Speaker 1: Thank you, this has been so wonderful. 560 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:15,040 Speaker 2: It's been so fun. Thank you so much. 561 00:31:15,560 --> 00:31:19,680 Speaker 1: You are so welcome. I hope you enjoyed this special 562 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:23,600 Speaker 1: best of episode of cpc W. I don't know about you, 563 00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:27,440 Speaker 1: but I really needed a break from real life and 564 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:31,720 Speaker 1: Felicia's work certainly provides that for all of us in 565 00:31:31,760 --> 00:31:36,720 Speaker 1: a very compelling, redemptive and inspiring way. But most of all, 566 00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:40,479 Speaker 1: she does it in a biblical way, and that is 567 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:45,520 Speaker 1: so incredible to see. And as always, remember God gave 568 00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:49,800 Speaker 1: you your kids, your specific kids for a reason. That's 569 00:31:49,840 --> 00:31:54,080 Speaker 1: because you hold the key to unlocking God created them 570 00:31:54,120 --> 00:32:03,760 Speaker 1: to be. We'll see you next time, Christian parent Crazy 571 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:06,720 Speaker 1: World is a production of Life Audio and Salem Media. 572 00:32:07,280 --> 00:32:09,360 Speaker 1: If you liked what you heard today, please take a 573 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:12,400 Speaker 1: second to rate and review this podcast in your favorite 574 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:15,400 Speaker 1: podcast app so that more listeners like you can find 575 00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:19,760 Speaker 1: the show. For more faith filled inspirational podcasts, visit us 576 00:32:19,840 --> 00:32:28,520 Speaker 1: at lifeaudio dot com.