1 00:00:08,257 --> 00:00:09,696 Speaker 1: Life audio. 2 00:00:11,137 --> 00:00:14,537 Speaker 2: Find inspiration as close as your phone. Download the Jesus 3 00:00:14,576 --> 00:00:17,416 Speaker 2: Calling app and get started today for free. Look for 4 00:00:17,457 --> 00:00:20,057 Speaker 2: the Jesus Calling app in both the Apple and Google 5 00:00:20,137 --> 00:00:20,776 Speaker 2: Play stores. 6 00:00:24,137 --> 00:00:26,497 Speaker 3: Honestly, it's still crazy to thank you back. I mean, 7 00:00:26,576 --> 00:00:29,136 Speaker 3: the only answer how it happened is God, because it 8 00:00:29,137 --> 00:00:30,657 Speaker 3: doesn't really make a lot of sense. 9 00:00:31,217 --> 00:00:33,257 Speaker 1: And the dudes we all talk together like, hey, this 10 00:00:33,377 --> 00:00:35,057 Speaker 1: is obviously so dumb. 11 00:00:35,097 --> 00:00:36,777 Speaker 3: No one's going to want to watch this, but everyone 12 00:00:36,857 --> 00:00:39,857 Speaker 3: throw this on your status the link and say, hey, guys, 13 00:00:39,857 --> 00:00:40,617 Speaker 3: we made this fun. 14 00:00:40,537 --> 00:00:42,977 Speaker 1: Video in our backyard. We'd love it if you'd watch it. 15 00:00:42,897 --> 00:00:44,897 Speaker 3: And wouldn't it be cool if it got a million views? 16 00:00:45,137 --> 00:00:47,417 Speaker 3: And to this day, I still don't understand how this works. 17 00:00:47,417 --> 00:00:49,337 Speaker 3: But I woke up to a phone call from Good Morning, 18 00:00:49,336 --> 00:00:49,977 Speaker 3: your Bearcat. 19 00:00:51,217 --> 00:00:54,417 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Jesus Calling Podcast. Today, we're joined by 20 00:00:54,497 --> 00:00:57,856 Speaker 2: Kobe and Corey Cotton of Dude Perfect, who share how 21 00:00:57,857 --> 00:01:00,817 Speaker 2: a simple idea filmed in a backyard with friends grew 22 00:01:00,857 --> 00:01:03,657 Speaker 2: into videos watch by millions around the world on YouTube. 23 00:01:03,777 --> 00:01:06,137 Speaker 2: They reflect on their early days of creating trick shots 24 00:01:06,217 --> 00:01:09,257 Speaker 2: just for fun, the challenges that came with unexpected success, 25 00:01:09,577 --> 00:01:12,777 Speaker 2: and a medical emergency that reminded them to slow down 26 00:01:12,897 --> 00:01:16,017 Speaker 2: and make room for what matters most. Next, we hear 27 00:01:16,017 --> 00:01:19,977 Speaker 2: from author and grief counselor Jennifer Marshall Bleakley, who shares 28 00:01:20,017 --> 00:01:23,217 Speaker 2: how losing her golden retriever Bailey opened her eyes to 29 00:01:23,297 --> 00:01:26,857 Speaker 2: the depths of pet grief, the memories that remain, and 30 00:01:26,937 --> 00:01:31,137 Speaker 2: the love we carry after saying goodbye. Let's start by 31 00:01:31,137 --> 00:01:32,897 Speaker 2: speaking with Due Perfect. 32 00:01:37,937 --> 00:01:40,377 Speaker 1: What's going on, guys, Kobe Cotten here with Dude Perfect. 33 00:01:40,377 --> 00:01:42,177 Speaker 1: I'm here with my brother Corey. 34 00:01:41,937 --> 00:01:45,297 Speaker 4: And we have three other members in the group, Tyler, Cody, 35 00:01:45,457 --> 00:01:47,937 Speaker 4: and Garrett. We have been doing Do Perfect now for 36 00:01:48,057 --> 00:01:50,737 Speaker 4: seventeen years, which is very hard to believe. 37 00:01:54,537 --> 00:01:56,417 Speaker 3: Coviin and are super blessed that we grew up in 38 00:01:56,457 --> 00:02:00,377 Speaker 3: a family that really modeled daily devotions with Jesus. Ohould 39 00:02:00,377 --> 00:02:02,897 Speaker 3: see my dad, see my mom, and even at a 40 00:02:02,937 --> 00:02:06,097 Speaker 3: young age, had the Jesus Calling devotional. I remember like 41 00:02:06,137 --> 00:02:10,256 Speaker 3: sitting at the fireplace and reading these different devotionals and 42 00:02:10,537 --> 00:02:14,737 Speaker 3: just trying to have a habit of meeting with God 43 00:02:14,777 --> 00:02:18,097 Speaker 3: every single day. And I've gone through different seasons in 44 00:02:18,137 --> 00:02:21,657 Speaker 3: my life where I've been more consistent and less consistent. 45 00:02:22,017 --> 00:02:27,457 Speaker 3: But there's no doubt that meeting with Jesus every single day. 46 00:02:28,497 --> 00:02:31,737 Speaker 3: It differentiates someone that just says they're a believer and 47 00:02:31,777 --> 00:02:34,537 Speaker 3: someone that actually has a relationship with Jesus. But Jesus 48 00:02:34,537 --> 00:02:37,857 Speaker 3: calling a big role and my life early on in 49 00:02:38,217 --> 00:02:41,057 Speaker 3: learning what it was like to have a devotional and 50 00:02:41,217 --> 00:02:42,657 Speaker 3: to be pointed to Christ daily. 51 00:02:42,697 --> 00:02:43,337 Speaker 1: It's huge. 52 00:02:44,057 --> 00:02:47,337 Speaker 3: I think the five of us are a kind of 53 00:02:47,377 --> 00:02:51,577 Speaker 3: funny on paper group. Sometimes we definitely five big personalities. 54 00:02:51,897 --> 00:02:54,457 Speaker 3: We met in college at Texas A and M. We 55 00:02:54,577 --> 00:02:57,337 Speaker 3: basically all bumped into each other through some different Christian 56 00:02:57,417 --> 00:03:01,377 Speaker 3: organizations and playing basketball up there. Honestly, it's still crazy 57 00:03:01,417 --> 00:03:03,337 Speaker 3: to think you back. I mean, the only answer of 58 00:03:03,377 --> 00:03:05,777 Speaker 3: how it happened is God, because it doesn't really make 59 00:03:05,777 --> 00:03:07,817 Speaker 3: a lot of sense. We filmed the video over the 60 00:03:07,817 --> 00:03:10,977 Speaker 3: course of two days, just for fun, starting with one 61 00:03:11,017 --> 00:03:14,497 Speaker 3: of the guys a bet in the backyard Tyler Bet Garrett, Hey, 62 00:03:14,537 --> 00:03:17,056 Speaker 3: if I make this hook shot over this tree, Garrett, 63 00:03:17,097 --> 00:03:18,577 Speaker 3: you owe me a Jimmy John sandwich. 64 00:03:18,617 --> 00:03:20,577 Speaker 1: And he made the shot. It's funny. 65 00:03:20,617 --> 00:03:22,537 Speaker 3: And so then I got home later and had a 66 00:03:22,537 --> 00:03:24,497 Speaker 3: little camera and they were telling a story and I said, 67 00:03:24,497 --> 00:03:26,297 Speaker 3: go do it again and I'll film you and so 68 00:03:26,457 --> 00:03:29,257 Speaker 3: we filmed him, and then one shot led to another shot, 69 00:03:29,297 --> 00:03:31,697 Speaker 3: and our competitive nature come took over and everyone thought 70 00:03:31,697 --> 00:03:34,417 Speaker 3: they could do something cooler than the other person. And 71 00:03:34,497 --> 00:03:37,137 Speaker 3: so Kobe does a shot over the fence and someone 72 00:03:37,137 --> 00:03:39,097 Speaker 3: climbs up onto the roof, and it turned into just 73 00:03:39,177 --> 00:03:41,937 Speaker 3: you know, boys, band boys filming a fun video. And 74 00:03:42,217 --> 00:03:44,697 Speaker 3: I was the only one with both a YouTube channel 75 00:03:45,217 --> 00:03:48,617 Speaker 3: or any video editing experience whatsoever. I had taken one 76 00:03:48,697 --> 00:03:51,497 Speaker 3: video editing class in high school. And the dudes we 77 00:03:51,537 --> 00:03:54,577 Speaker 3: all talked together. We're like, hey, this is obviously so dumb. 78 00:03:54,617 --> 00:03:56,537 Speaker 3: No one's gonna want to watch this, but everyone throw 79 00:03:56,617 --> 00:03:59,377 Speaker 3: this on your status the link and say, hey, guys, 80 00:03:59,377 --> 00:04:01,017 Speaker 3: we made this fun video in our backyard. 81 00:04:01,217 --> 00:04:02,497 Speaker 1: We'd love it if you'd watch it. 82 00:04:02,417 --> 00:04:04,337 Speaker 3: And wouldn't it be cool if this got a million views. 83 00:04:04,577 --> 00:04:07,217 Speaker 3: We said something to that, but went to sleep expected 84 00:04:07,297 --> 00:04:10,137 Speaker 3: absolutely nothing, And to this day, I still don't understand 85 00:04:10,177 --> 00:04:11,897 Speaker 3: how this works. But I woke up to a phone 86 00:04:11,897 --> 00:04:13,177 Speaker 3: call from Good Morning America. 87 00:04:13,777 --> 00:04:16,777 Speaker 4: It's definitely nostalgic for us to look back again seventeen 88 00:04:16,856 --> 00:04:19,057 Speaker 4: years ago. When we started a few years back, we 89 00:04:19,097 --> 00:04:21,816 Speaker 4: went and replicated that video. We went all the way 90 00:04:21,816 --> 00:04:24,976 Speaker 4: back to that same college house and we repeated it 91 00:04:25,017 --> 00:04:27,097 Speaker 4: shot for shot, and that was just a fun trip 92 00:04:27,137 --> 00:04:29,577 Speaker 4: down memory lane. But yeah, there will always be a 93 00:04:29,616 --> 00:04:31,816 Speaker 4: special place in our heart for that first Goofy video 94 00:04:31,816 --> 00:04:36,056 Speaker 4: in our backyard. So we were about five years into 95 00:04:36,176 --> 00:04:38,616 Speaker 4: making these videos where we'd been doing them part time, 96 00:04:39,137 --> 00:04:43,657 Speaker 4: but we genuinely felt like if we didn't try it, 97 00:04:43,736 --> 00:04:45,856 Speaker 4: how would we ever know if it could be something 98 00:04:45,897 --> 00:04:48,097 Speaker 4: that God had for us, And so we prayed about it. 99 00:04:48,337 --> 00:04:51,257 Speaker 4: The guys talked to their wives and decided that they 100 00:04:51,257 --> 00:04:53,856 Speaker 4: would quit their jobs. Those first couple of months, it 101 00:04:53,897 --> 00:04:56,296 Speaker 4: felt like God was providing in some really cool ways. 102 00:04:56,296 --> 00:04:59,137 Speaker 4: We signed our first couple of more significant brand deals 103 00:04:59,137 --> 00:05:01,337 Speaker 4: that would ended up lasting for a long time, like 104 00:05:01,496 --> 00:05:04,176 Speaker 4: NERF we ended up working with for seven or eight years, 105 00:05:04,337 --> 00:05:06,737 Speaker 4: and so it was really all awesome and we had 106 00:05:06,736 --> 00:05:09,777 Speaker 4: a blast figuring out how the whole thing could get 107 00:05:09,777 --> 00:05:10,337 Speaker 4: off the ground. 108 00:05:11,897 --> 00:05:14,576 Speaker 3: So for about six years we were on a crazy 109 00:05:14,616 --> 00:05:17,857 Speaker 3: grind of working the twins here seven days a week 110 00:05:17,897 --> 00:05:20,577 Speaker 3: on Do Perfect. I had just finished two all nighters 111 00:05:20,577 --> 00:05:23,097 Speaker 3: in a row editing some videos that we were doing, 112 00:05:23,416 --> 00:05:26,616 Speaker 3: and I finally went to sleep, and then I woke 113 00:05:26,697 --> 00:05:28,496 Speaker 3: up that next morning and I went to brush my 114 00:05:28,577 --> 00:05:31,337 Speaker 3: teeth in the mirror and the water was just running 115 00:05:31,337 --> 00:05:32,177 Speaker 3: down my face, and I. 116 00:05:32,137 --> 00:05:34,297 Speaker 1: Realized that half of my face was paralyzed. 117 00:05:34,777 --> 00:05:37,176 Speaker 3: And I went and woke up Kobe in this random 118 00:05:37,217 --> 00:05:40,256 Speaker 3: ranch in the middle of nowhere, Texas, and I thought 119 00:05:40,296 --> 00:05:41,817 Speaker 3: I was having a seizure or something. 120 00:05:42,257 --> 00:05:44,736 Speaker 1: And so we get in Kobe's tahoe and. 121 00:05:44,657 --> 00:05:46,497 Speaker 3: We go however long an hour wur to the near 122 00:05:46,616 --> 00:05:49,496 Speaker 3: Is Random hospital and I go in and after tests, 123 00:05:49,496 --> 00:05:51,777 Speaker 3: they tell me that I had Bell's palsy, which is 124 00:05:52,097 --> 00:05:54,976 Speaker 3: basically a temporary paralysis. 125 00:05:54,337 --> 00:05:54,856 Speaker 1: Of the face. 126 00:05:55,296 --> 00:05:58,097 Speaker 3: They said that it's usually brought on by a lack 127 00:05:58,137 --> 00:06:01,816 Speaker 3: of sleep and stress, and so for me, this was 128 00:06:01,816 --> 00:06:04,777 Speaker 3: an example of basically my body shutting down because of 129 00:06:04,856 --> 00:06:06,736 Speaker 3: the pace that we were on. I just remember, now, 130 00:06:06,936 --> 00:06:08,657 Speaker 3: get on my knees beside my bed, and I would 131 00:06:08,657 --> 00:06:10,896 Speaker 3: just great. And now would just say, Lord, you have 132 00:06:10,976 --> 00:06:13,056 Speaker 3: allowed this to happen for some reason. You know better 133 00:06:13,097 --> 00:06:16,496 Speaker 3: than I do. I would obviously love to have my 134 00:06:16,736 --> 00:06:18,697 Speaker 3: facial movement back. So God, I asked that if it 135 00:06:18,697 --> 00:06:20,176 Speaker 3: would be or will, you would let that happen. But 136 00:06:20,217 --> 00:06:23,657 Speaker 3: if not, I trust you, and I would walk over 137 00:06:23,697 --> 00:06:25,697 Speaker 3: to the mirror and I would look and usually there 138 00:06:25,697 --> 00:06:26,696 Speaker 3: would be no change. 139 00:06:27,017 --> 00:06:28,496 Speaker 1: And all the textbooks and. 140 00:06:28,496 --> 00:06:30,177 Speaker 3: The internet and everything said that it was supposed to 141 00:06:30,176 --> 00:06:33,217 Speaker 3: come back within weeks, and it was six and a 142 00:06:33,257 --> 00:06:36,257 Speaker 3: half months until I got a single twitch back on 143 00:06:36,296 --> 00:06:38,496 Speaker 3: that side of my face. And I think it was 144 00:06:38,577 --> 00:06:40,856 Speaker 3: during that season, for the first time in my life, 145 00:06:41,296 --> 00:06:45,697 Speaker 3: that I really felt like one hundred percent dependent on Christ. 146 00:06:46,137 --> 00:06:50,257 Speaker 3: And I think I had known that philosophically and it 147 00:06:50,376 --> 00:06:54,616 Speaker 3: past theologically, but when you experience at that age, you know, 148 00:06:54,616 --> 00:06:56,976 Speaker 3: I'm twenty two years old, however old I was, and 149 00:06:57,056 --> 00:07:00,176 Speaker 3: you just experienced something that you have zero control over, 150 00:07:00,457 --> 00:07:03,696 Speaker 3: then I just realized I can't control this. This is 151 00:07:03,736 --> 00:07:06,777 Speaker 3: only God. And I have told people, and I still 152 00:07:06,816 --> 00:07:09,296 Speaker 3: stand on the fact I wouldn't trade that experience for 153 00:07:09,376 --> 00:07:12,297 Speaker 3: the world, because I think it was really God helping 154 00:07:12,297 --> 00:07:17,136 Speaker 3: me lean into that dependence on Him. 155 00:07:17,577 --> 00:07:19,497 Speaker 1: I think the honest truth is that. 156 00:07:20,816 --> 00:07:23,816 Speaker 4: While we have stayed together for all seventeen years, it 157 00:07:23,857 --> 00:07:26,257 Speaker 4: hasn't been easy, as anybody can imagine. Just let your 158 00:07:26,297 --> 00:07:28,737 Speaker 4: mind go there. Pick four or five of your best 159 00:07:28,737 --> 00:07:33,816 Speaker 4: friends start a business together, and just emotionally. 160 00:07:33,297 --> 00:07:34,337 Speaker 1: And think about how that would go. 161 00:07:34,897 --> 00:07:38,097 Speaker 4: The business cannot be healthy unless our friendships are healthy, 162 00:07:38,497 --> 00:07:40,897 Speaker 4: and again, I don't want to act like that's been 163 00:07:40,937 --> 00:07:42,816 Speaker 4: perfect through the years. It's been hard, and there have 164 00:07:42,816 --> 00:07:45,417 Speaker 4: been times where somebody will really hurt somebody else's feelings 165 00:07:45,417 --> 00:07:46,577 Speaker 4: and it'll take us a while to get to the 166 00:07:46,617 --> 00:07:49,217 Speaker 4: point where we're willing to admit that and have those 167 00:07:49,257 --> 00:07:51,857 Speaker 4: hard conversations. But I think that has been absolutely critical. 168 00:07:51,897 --> 00:07:53,657 Speaker 4: At the only reason we've been able and willing to 169 00:07:53,697 --> 00:07:56,217 Speaker 4: do that is number one, we've had good mentors lead 170 00:07:56,257 --> 00:07:59,137 Speaker 4: us there, but ultimately because we have seen the example 171 00:07:59,297 --> 00:08:01,297 Speaker 4: of forgiveness from Jesus. 172 00:08:00,937 --> 00:08:02,977 Speaker 1: And the five of us are united in that. 173 00:08:03,577 --> 00:08:05,977 Speaker 3: The longest period of time that we're gone is during 174 00:08:05,977 --> 00:08:08,817 Speaker 3: the summer. We've been doing this live summer tour for 175 00:08:09,177 --> 00:08:12,937 Speaker 3: six years now, off and on, and it's amazing and 176 00:08:12,977 --> 00:08:15,897 Speaker 3: it's very very cool. We get to put on this 177 00:08:16,097 --> 00:08:19,017 Speaker 3: really fun live show. We think it's honestly like the 178 00:08:19,017 --> 00:08:21,497 Speaker 3: best thing that our company does. We're really proud of 179 00:08:21,537 --> 00:08:23,657 Speaker 3: the team that's worked on it and helped us get 180 00:08:23,697 --> 00:08:25,737 Speaker 3: it to where it's at. And at the end of 181 00:08:25,737 --> 00:08:27,977 Speaker 3: the show, we get to share the gospel on stage, 182 00:08:27,977 --> 00:08:30,737 Speaker 3: which has become literally the highlight of our year. At 183 00:08:30,737 --> 00:08:33,057 Speaker 3: the same time, it is hard to be away from 184 00:08:33,057 --> 00:08:37,537 Speaker 3: our families. There's no magical solution to it. But our 185 00:08:37,657 --> 00:08:41,857 Speaker 3: kids are our biggest priority in our lives, and so 186 00:08:42,017 --> 00:08:45,417 Speaker 3: we definitely are doing everything we can to guard that 187 00:08:45,457 --> 00:08:47,417 Speaker 3: and make sure they know that they're loved and that 188 00:08:47,417 --> 00:08:51,097 Speaker 3: we all stay away for too long. We are not perfect. 189 00:08:51,537 --> 00:08:53,537 Speaker 3: I'm not a perfect dad, I'm not a perfect husband. 190 00:08:53,617 --> 00:08:57,977 Speaker 3: We're not perfect friends or business owners. But something Kobe 191 00:08:57,977 --> 00:08:59,897 Speaker 3: and I say all the time is Jesus is greater. 192 00:09:00,177 --> 00:09:01,617 Speaker 1: He's greater than anything. 193 00:09:01,577 --> 00:09:04,337 Speaker 3: And so I think when I meet with him in 194 00:09:04,337 --> 00:09:09,017 Speaker 3: the morning and take my problems and try and find 195 00:09:09,017 --> 00:09:12,537 Speaker 3: the peace in whatever situation I'm dealing with and try 196 00:09:12,577 --> 00:09:14,377 Speaker 3: to center ourselves on, well, this is. 197 00:09:14,297 --> 00:09:16,177 Speaker 1: What the priority in life really is. 198 00:09:17,177 --> 00:09:19,057 Speaker 3: If you're not in the Word, or if you're not 199 00:09:19,097 --> 00:09:21,617 Speaker 3: in a devotional that's pointing you to the Word, I 200 00:09:21,617 --> 00:09:23,617 Speaker 3: think you're missing out. 201 00:09:26,457 --> 00:09:30,257 Speaker 2: To learn more about Dude Perfect, visit dudeperfect dot com 202 00:09:30,457 --> 00:09:32,897 Speaker 2: and be sure to check out their new book, Operation 203 00:09:33,097 --> 00:09:36,737 Speaker 2: Trick Shot at your favorite retailer. Stay tuned to Jennifer 204 00:09:36,737 --> 00:09:47,217 Speaker 2: marshall Bleakly story. After a Brief Message. With more than 205 00:09:47,257 --> 00:09:50,857 Speaker 2: fifty million copies sold, the original classic edition of Jesus 206 00:09:50,857 --> 00:09:53,737 Speaker 2: Calling is your daily guide to living a more peaceful life. 207 00:09:54,377 --> 00:09:57,617 Speaker 2: Experience a deeper relationship with Jesus as you savor the 208 00:09:57,657 --> 00:10:00,497 Speaker 2: presence of the one who understands you perfectly and loves 209 00:10:00,537 --> 00:10:04,577 Speaker 2: you forever. With scripture and personal reflections, Jesus Calling is 210 00:10:04,617 --> 00:10:07,097 Speaker 2: your year long guy to living a more peaceful life. 211 00:10:07,537 --> 00:10:10,137 Speaker 2: Its price and size also make it the perfect gift 212 00:10:10,337 --> 00:10:14,097 Speaker 2: for anyone who needs encouragement. Find Jesus Calling wherever you 213 00:10:14,137 --> 00:10:22,937 Speaker 2: buy books. Our next guest is Jennifer Marshall Bleakley, a 214 00:10:23,017 --> 00:10:26,097 Speaker 2: grief counselor and author of Pause in His Presence and 215 00:10:26,377 --> 00:10:29,817 Speaker 2: the paw Verbs devotional series, sharing the story of losing 216 00:10:29,857 --> 00:10:32,897 Speaker 2: her golden retriever, Bailey, and making the case for why 217 00:10:33,017 --> 00:10:35,817 Speaker 2: pet grief deserves to be taken just as seriously as 218 00:10:35,857 --> 00:10:36,697 Speaker 2: any other loss. 219 00:10:40,777 --> 00:10:42,697 Speaker 5: I went to college thinking I was going to be 220 00:10:42,697 --> 00:10:46,017 Speaker 5: a doctor. My senior year of college, my best friend's 221 00:10:46,057 --> 00:10:50,257 Speaker 5: father died of pancreatic cancer, and I was with him 222 00:10:50,417 --> 00:10:53,577 Speaker 5: and the family during the last days of his life, 223 00:10:53,737 --> 00:10:58,617 Speaker 5: and it completely transformed my life. Honestly, I realized I 224 00:10:58,697 --> 00:11:02,537 Speaker 5: was not interested so much in the body systems that 225 00:11:02,617 --> 00:11:04,817 Speaker 5: a physician would need to be. I was far more 226 00:11:04,857 --> 00:11:08,737 Speaker 5: interested and the heart in the mind and how his 227 00:11:08,777 --> 00:11:11,137 Speaker 5: family was coping with this loss. I got to see 228 00:11:11,177 --> 00:11:15,657 Speaker 5: firsthand the work that hospice does and pivoted and ended 229 00:11:15,737 --> 00:11:20,977 Speaker 5: up getting a master's degree in counseling. But it's a 230 00:11:21,017 --> 00:11:24,217 Speaker 5: beautiful way that all of that worked together, because as 231 00:11:24,297 --> 00:11:28,977 Speaker 5: a child, I had a deep affection for animals, and 232 00:11:29,377 --> 00:11:32,457 Speaker 5: I've always wondered how I ended up on this path 233 00:11:32,497 --> 00:11:35,817 Speaker 5: of writing stories about animals and using a little bit 234 00:11:35,857 --> 00:11:38,377 Speaker 5: of grief counseling in that it always seemed like I 235 00:11:38,457 --> 00:11:42,777 Speaker 5: had a very random path to being an author. To 236 00:11:42,937 --> 00:11:46,537 Speaker 5: have a bachelor's in pre med to have a master's 237 00:11:46,537 --> 00:11:49,377 Speaker 5: in counseling so that one day I could write animal stories. 238 00:11:49,777 --> 00:11:54,137 Speaker 5: Not the most linear of journeys, But as a young 239 00:11:54,257 --> 00:11:57,857 Speaker 5: child that found it very difficult to speak to people, 240 00:11:58,537 --> 00:12:01,537 Speaker 5: I found it very easy to talk to a cat 241 00:12:01,777 --> 00:12:04,537 Speaker 5: that would come around to get fed every once in 242 00:12:04,577 --> 00:12:08,417 Speaker 5: a while. Developed a strong bond with this cat that 243 00:12:08,497 --> 00:12:12,257 Speaker 5: I named Sugar, And that's really where I think God 244 00:12:12,337 --> 00:12:14,897 Speaker 5: started to plant the seeds in my heart to see 245 00:12:14,977 --> 00:12:20,817 Speaker 5: animals as ambassadors of His grace on this planet. Animals 246 00:12:20,897 --> 00:12:24,937 Speaker 5: really can teach us so much about ourselves about each other, 247 00:12:25,297 --> 00:12:29,457 Speaker 5: about God. The world right now can seem a rather 248 00:12:30,177 --> 00:12:34,257 Speaker 5: harsh price, and so many people have been so hurt 249 00:12:34,977 --> 00:12:38,217 Speaker 5: by other people, And so how kind of God to 250 00:12:38,257 --> 00:12:41,777 Speaker 5: sprinkle ambassadors of his grace all across this planet in 251 00:12:41,817 --> 00:12:44,937 Speaker 5: the form of animals. For anyone, I feel like there 252 00:12:44,977 --> 00:12:47,417 Speaker 5: can be a strong bond with an animal. But when 253 00:12:47,457 --> 00:12:50,577 Speaker 5: you're dealing with people that have experienced some kind of 254 00:12:50,697 --> 00:12:56,177 Speaker 5: hurt from another person, it's often hard for them to 255 00:12:56,257 --> 00:13:00,297 Speaker 5: maybe see the image of God in another person. But 256 00:13:00,377 --> 00:13:02,897 Speaker 5: they can see it in an animal, the way that 257 00:13:03,097 --> 00:13:06,497 Speaker 5: a dog they're faithful, loyal love, the way a cat 258 00:13:06,537 --> 00:13:10,417 Speaker 5: will just sit with you and just purr and enjoy 259 00:13:10,457 --> 00:13:13,537 Speaker 5: being in your presence. Even you know, watching birds, how 260 00:13:13,577 --> 00:13:16,377 Speaker 5: they just trust that there will be seed and they 261 00:13:16,377 --> 00:13:20,257 Speaker 5: go about their lives unconcerned with anything. There's so much 262 00:13:20,377 --> 00:13:23,337 Speaker 5: that we can learn. God is constantly pointing us to 263 00:13:24,257 --> 00:13:27,737 Speaker 5: animals throughout Scripture, encouraging us to look to the eagle, 264 00:13:27,937 --> 00:13:30,297 Speaker 5: to look to the lion who he feeds, to look 265 00:13:30,337 --> 00:13:33,497 Speaker 5: to the aunt who's busy at work. What God is 266 00:13:33,537 --> 00:13:35,977 Speaker 5: able to do and what he's able to show people 267 00:13:36,137 --> 00:13:40,617 Speaker 5: about himself through the animals, that we love their loyalty, 268 00:13:40,697 --> 00:13:44,177 Speaker 5: their faithfulness. In a world that's often so concerned with 269 00:13:44,257 --> 00:13:48,897 Speaker 5: image and with just wanting something from us, here are 270 00:13:48,937 --> 00:13:52,136 Speaker 5: these animals that could care less about our bank accounts. 271 00:13:52,257 --> 00:13:54,417 Speaker 5: They don't care what we look like, they don't care 272 00:13:54,457 --> 00:13:58,217 Speaker 5: about our education. They just want to be with us. 273 00:13:58,857 --> 00:14:04,177 Speaker 5: And oftentimes animals are the one being in our lives 274 00:14:04,177 --> 00:14:08,337 Speaker 5: that we can be a hundred percent ourselves with, and 275 00:14:08,937 --> 00:14:12,097 Speaker 5: they show up for us on the good days and 276 00:14:12,137 --> 00:14:15,057 Speaker 5: the bad days, and there is impressed by us when 277 00:14:15,097 --> 00:14:16,857 Speaker 5: we feel like we have it all together and when 278 00:14:16,897 --> 00:14:18,937 Speaker 5: we've just fallen on our face. And so I really 279 00:14:18,977 --> 00:14:22,617 Speaker 5: do think it is a beautiful picture of God's love 280 00:14:22,937 --> 00:14:26,177 Speaker 5: and his feelings towards us that we don't have to 281 00:14:26,217 --> 00:14:29,097 Speaker 5: try to clean ourselves up to come to him. He 282 00:14:29,217 --> 00:14:33,457 Speaker 5: just loves us as we are and just desires for 283 00:14:33,617 --> 00:14:42,857 Speaker 5: us to be present with him. We walked through a 284 00:14:42,977 --> 00:14:46,257 Speaker 5: very difficult season in our family when we lost our 285 00:14:46,297 --> 00:14:51,897 Speaker 5: second golden retriever, Bailey. Bailey was only six years old. 286 00:14:52,577 --> 00:14:55,097 Speaker 5: It was very sudden she died of a bowel obstruction, 287 00:14:55,697 --> 00:15:01,737 Speaker 5: and we had two young children who adored Bailey. So 288 00:15:01,897 --> 00:15:04,217 Speaker 5: not only were my husband and I grieving, but so 289 00:15:04,337 --> 00:15:08,617 Speaker 5: were our children, and it was incredibly painful. It was 290 00:15:08,657 --> 00:15:12,257 Speaker 5: a very difficult dark season for us as I'm trying 291 00:15:12,297 --> 00:15:14,777 Speaker 5: to help my two kids grieve, and they were grieving 292 00:15:14,817 --> 00:15:18,137 Speaker 5: in very different ways. I was grieving. I missed my 293 00:15:18,577 --> 00:15:23,057 Speaker 5: girls so much, and so was my husband. And you know, 294 00:15:23,137 --> 00:15:25,857 Speaker 5: there was a lot of times that I cried a 295 00:15:25,897 --> 00:15:29,977 Speaker 5: lot to God, my prayer life probably looked like just 296 00:15:30,057 --> 00:15:33,617 Speaker 5: a lot of crying, a lot of questions. There was 297 00:15:33,657 --> 00:15:36,697 Speaker 5: a lot of why why didn't you savor? Why did 298 00:15:36,737 --> 00:15:40,737 Speaker 5: this happen? That's where I discovered firsthand that God is 299 00:15:40,777 --> 00:15:43,377 Speaker 5: not afraid of our questions and that he will hold 300 00:15:43,457 --> 00:15:48,257 Speaker 5: us through them. I also learned a lot about navigating 301 00:15:48,497 --> 00:15:51,017 Speaker 5: two different children that are grieving in two different ways, 302 00:15:51,177 --> 00:15:54,857 Speaker 5: and having to rely on God to help hold my 303 00:15:55,017 --> 00:15:59,457 Speaker 5: heart while I helped hold my kid's grief, so relying 304 00:15:59,497 --> 00:16:02,337 Speaker 5: on him a lot, even while if I'm very honest, 305 00:16:02,417 --> 00:16:07,297 Speaker 5: being angry and being heartbroken and upset, but realizing that 306 00:16:07,377 --> 00:16:09,297 Speaker 5: I could take all of that to him, that I 307 00:16:09,337 --> 00:16:12,457 Speaker 5: didn't have to try to hide it. I dropped my 308 00:16:12,537 --> 00:16:15,337 Speaker 5: kids off at school for the first time since losing her, 309 00:16:15,377 --> 00:16:17,257 Speaker 5: and then I was having a drive home and go 310 00:16:17,297 --> 00:16:19,697 Speaker 5: into the house by myself, and I was dreading it. 311 00:16:19,777 --> 00:16:23,177 Speaker 5: I cried the whole way home. A few months earlier, 312 00:16:23,257 --> 00:16:26,657 Speaker 5: we had discovered a stray cat living in the drainage 313 00:16:26,697 --> 00:16:28,977 Speaker 5: ditch under our driveway. We thought it was a fox. 314 00:16:29,617 --> 00:16:32,337 Speaker 5: He had a very bushy tail, and so we kept 315 00:16:32,337 --> 00:16:34,177 Speaker 5: thinking we saw a fox. It turned out to be 316 00:16:34,177 --> 00:16:36,777 Speaker 5: a cat. We thought the cat was a girl because 317 00:16:37,297 --> 00:16:40,017 Speaker 5: she was fluffy. We weren't really cat people at the time, 318 00:16:40,097 --> 00:16:44,017 Speaker 5: so fluffy means girl cat. Turns out that our girl 319 00:16:44,057 --> 00:16:46,217 Speaker 5: cat was a boy. Our fox was a cat, so 320 00:16:46,337 --> 00:16:49,737 Speaker 5: that's why he is named Foxy. Foxy was basically an 321 00:16:49,777 --> 00:16:52,377 Speaker 5: outdoor cat that we just fed whenever he showed up. 322 00:16:52,417 --> 00:16:55,937 Speaker 5: So Foxy had never been in our house before I 323 00:16:55,977 --> 00:16:58,497 Speaker 5: pull up and I'm sitting in my car. I don't 324 00:16:58,497 --> 00:17:00,377 Speaker 5: even want to go in the house because I don't 325 00:17:00,377 --> 00:17:04,697 Speaker 5: want to face the silence, and I see Foxy walk up. 326 00:17:05,617 --> 00:17:07,657 Speaker 5: So I gave the car and I'm saying hi to 327 00:17:07,696 --> 00:17:11,137 Speaker 5: the cat and petting him, and he follows me up 328 00:17:11,177 --> 00:17:14,337 Speaker 5: to the door and I said, do you want to 329 00:17:14,377 --> 00:17:17,497 Speaker 5: come inside? And I opened the door and the cat 330 00:17:17,537 --> 00:17:20,297 Speaker 5: walked in the house, and in that moment, I just 331 00:17:20,977 --> 00:17:24,216 Speaker 5: I cried, but for a different reason. It was just 332 00:17:24,297 --> 00:17:27,297 Speaker 5: a kindness of God to send a cat so that 333 00:17:27,337 --> 00:17:29,857 Speaker 5: I didn't have to walk in the house alone. She 334 00:17:30,177 --> 00:17:34,337 Speaker 5: ate and just was able to do that initial walk 335 00:17:34,377 --> 00:17:37,577 Speaker 5: into the house with Foxy, and it was just a 336 00:17:37,617 --> 00:17:39,936 Speaker 5: reminder and like a little week from God that I 337 00:17:39,977 --> 00:17:42,897 Speaker 5: still got Scha with me through the whole thing. The 338 00:17:42,937 --> 00:17:45,137 Speaker 5: cat came and went, but God stayed with me through 339 00:17:45,137 --> 00:17:49,297 Speaker 5: thele the whole time. And as painful as that was, 340 00:17:49,897 --> 00:17:54,256 Speaker 5: I learned so much about God's heart towards his children 341 00:17:54,257 --> 00:18:00,257 Speaker 5: that are grieving the loss of an animal. I think 342 00:18:00,257 --> 00:18:05,097 Speaker 5: it's vitally important for us, especially as believers, to honor 343 00:18:06,057 --> 00:18:09,496 Speaker 5: the grief that people feel when they've lost a pet. 344 00:18:10,017 --> 00:18:13,057 Speaker 5: I think a lot of times good intentions of wanting 345 00:18:13,137 --> 00:18:17,577 Speaker 5: to help someone feel better to focus on the positive 346 00:18:17,897 --> 00:18:21,337 Speaker 5: that can lead to people feeling like their grief is 347 00:18:21,377 --> 00:18:25,457 Speaker 5: being minimized or like they're being encouraged to rush through 348 00:18:26,297 --> 00:18:29,377 Speaker 5: that grief. It is such a kindness and a gift 349 00:18:29,617 --> 00:18:34,177 Speaker 5: to hold space for someone who is grieving, to be 350 00:18:34,257 --> 00:18:39,097 Speaker 5: a compassionate witness and just say I see you, and 351 00:18:39,177 --> 00:18:41,897 Speaker 5: I'm going to stay here with you in the hurt 352 00:18:42,137 --> 00:18:49,857 Speaker 5: and in the heavy. Oftentimes we don't have to say anything. 353 00:18:49,897 --> 00:18:54,937 Speaker 5: There's nothing to say. It's just it's a gift to 354 00:18:54,977 --> 00:18:57,737 Speaker 5: provide space for them to talk about their animals. Tell me, 355 00:18:58,457 --> 00:19:01,016 Speaker 5: what did your animal mean to you? What's something that 356 00:19:01,017 --> 00:19:04,057 Speaker 5: you're going to you know, miss about them, what's something 357 00:19:04,097 --> 00:19:06,697 Speaker 5: you don't want to forget about them? And just ask 358 00:19:06,737 --> 00:19:09,617 Speaker 5: them questions, let them talk about that and process it. 359 00:19:10,457 --> 00:19:14,857 Speaker 5: And that's such a gift. And oftentimes people will start 360 00:19:14,897 --> 00:19:19,417 Speaker 5: talking about their animal grief and it'll morph into other griefs. 361 00:19:19,457 --> 00:19:22,137 Speaker 5: The fact is, grief is grief and loss is loss. 362 00:19:22,857 --> 00:19:27,657 Speaker 5: And especially as followers of Jesus, who was not afraid 363 00:19:27,777 --> 00:19:31,617 Speaker 5: to sit in people's pain with them, invite people to 364 00:19:31,737 --> 00:19:34,457 Speaker 5: invite us into their pain and then to weep with them, 365 00:19:34,537 --> 00:19:37,216 Speaker 5: to stand with them in that pain, to sit with them, 366 00:19:37,577 --> 00:19:42,257 Speaker 5: and then gently start to walk with them toward the 367 00:19:42,337 --> 00:19:43,657 Speaker 5: light of healing. 368 00:19:48,617 --> 00:19:49,256 Speaker 1: From Jesus. 369 00:19:49,417 --> 00:19:54,057 Speaker 5: Listens July twenty fifth. As you listen to birds calling 370 00:19:54,097 --> 00:19:57,977 Speaker 5: to one another, here also my love call to you. 371 00:19:59,457 --> 00:20:06,377 Speaker 5: I speak to you continually through sights, sounds, thoughts, impressions, scriptures. 372 00:20:07,697 --> 00:20:10,297 Speaker 5: There's no limit to the variety of ways I can 373 00:20:10,337 --> 00:20:14,537 Speaker 5: communicate with you. Your part is to be attentive to 374 00:20:14,617 --> 00:20:19,217 Speaker 5: my messages in whatever form they come. When you set 375 00:20:19,217 --> 00:20:21,417 Speaker 5: out to find me in a day, you discover that 376 00:20:21,497 --> 00:20:26,337 Speaker 5: the world is vibrantly alive with my presence. You can 377 00:20:26,377 --> 00:20:30,377 Speaker 5: find me not only in beauty and bird calls, but 378 00:20:30,457 --> 00:20:35,897 Speaker 5: also in tragedy and faces filled with grief. I can 379 00:20:35,897 --> 00:20:39,257 Speaker 5: take the deepest sorrow and weave it into a pattern 380 00:20:39,377 --> 00:20:44,016 Speaker 5: for good. Search for me and my messages as you 381 00:20:44,057 --> 00:20:47,936 Speaker 5: go through this day, you will seek me and find 382 00:20:47,977 --> 00:20:50,817 Speaker 5: me when you seek me with your whole being. 383 00:20:53,817 --> 00:20:57,497 Speaker 2: To learn more about Jennifer Marshall Bleakly, visit Jennifer Bleakly 384 00:20:57,697 --> 00:21:00,057 Speaker 2: dot com and be sure to check out her new book, 385 00:21:00,177 --> 00:21:02,897 Speaker 2: Thank You For Loving Me, available at your favorite retailer 386 00:21:02,937 --> 00:21:05,897 Speaker 2: in August. If you'd like to hear more stories about 387 00:21:05,897 --> 00:21:08,577 Speaker 2: the bond between people and their pets, check out our 388 00:21:08,577 --> 00:21:20,377 Speaker 2: interview with Steve Woolberg. Next time on the Jesus Calling podcast, 389 00:21:20,537 --> 00:21:24,097 Speaker 2: we'll hear from Megan Pyphus, a puppeteer and ventriloquist who 390 00:21:24,097 --> 00:21:27,617 Speaker 2: plays Gabrielle on Sesame Street, who uses her craft to 391 00:21:27,737 --> 00:21:30,337 Speaker 2: encourage kids about what is possible in their lives. 392 00:21:32,217 --> 00:21:35,577 Speaker 6: Oftentimes kids are told, well, I don't know if you 393 00:21:35,617 --> 00:21:38,337 Speaker 6: can do that, or I don't know if that's possible, 394 00:21:38,817 --> 00:21:42,657 Speaker 6: And so as we get older, our world slowly confines 395 00:21:42,697 --> 00:21:47,017 Speaker 6: into a space if what we see is possible and. 396 00:21:46,937 --> 00:21:49,936 Speaker 5: What the world tells us is possible. But what I 397 00:21:49,977 --> 00:21:52,537 Speaker 5: loved about puppetry is it kind of broke a lot 398 00:21:52,537 --> 00:21:55,657 Speaker 5: of those rules. It broke the laws if what's possible. 399 00:22:01,657 --> 00:22:04,177 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to the Jesus Calling Stories of Faith 400 00:22:04,257 --> 00:22:08,097 Speaker 2: podcast on the Life Audio Network. Every week will bring 401 00:22:08,137 --> 00:22:10,696 Speaker 2: you stories from people who share their journeys of faith 402 00:22:11,057 --> 00:22:14,736 Speaker 2: and how prayer and a relationship with God transformed their lives. 403 00:22:15,537 --> 00:22:18,897 Speaker 2: Be sure to follow us on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or 404 00:22:18,937 --> 00:22:22,216 Speaker 2: wherever you listen to podcasts, and leave us a review 405 00:22:22,297 --> 00:22:26,497 Speaker 2: so others can be inspired weekly by these stories of faith. Finally, 406 00:22:26,817 --> 00:22:30,337 Speaker 2: you can find encouragement resources and more on the Jesus 407 00:22:30,337 --> 00:22:33,577 Speaker 2: Calling website at Jesus Calling dot com.