In today’s episode, The Bridge Between Us host Melinda Patrick answers a heartfelt question from a listener:

How do I support my transgender niece without endorsing or condoning their choices?

If you’ve ever struggled with how to show love to a LGBTQ-identified family member while holding onto your personal beliefs, this episode is for you.

Melinda dives into the balance of loving well while staying true to your values, sharing practical and spiritual steps to help you show up for your loved ones without compromising your convictions.

Key Topics Covered:

• Acknowledging the Hurt Without Endorsing the Path: Melinda addresses the delicate tension between showing love and acceptance, without affirming a lifestyle that goes against your faith.

• The Importance of Loving Like Jesus: We discuss the significance of loving others in a way that reflects God’s love—sacrificial, unconditional, and without compromise. Melinda also shares a powerful scripture, 1 John 4:19, reminding us that we love because God first loved us.

• Practical Ways to Support:

  1. See the Person Beyond the Label: Pray for God to help you see your loved one as He does.
  2. Engage in Their Life: Make an intentional effort to connect and be involved.
  3. Understand Their Love Language: Show love in ways that are meaningful to them.
  4. Be a Listening Ear: Listening isn’t agreement—it’s a sign that you see them, hear them, and care for them deeply.

• Spiritual Support Through Prayer: Melinda encourages prayer as a vital part of loving well. Drawing from Oswald Chambers' insights on true intercession, we learn that prayer isn’t just about sympathizing—it’s about seeking God’s heart and perspective on the situation.

Closing Thoughts: Loving a transgender family member with non-endorsing support doesn’t mean withdrawing—it means showing up with love, prayer, and a heart that seeks God’s truth and grace.

Call to Action:

• Share this episode with someone who might need this encouragement.
• If you haven’t left a review for The Bridge Between Us, please consider doing so to help us reach more people.
• If you’ve read The Daring Rescue: Joining Jesus Christ In His Pursuit Of Your LGBYQ-identified Child's Heart, Melinda’s book, please leave a review on Amazon, Focus on the Family, or Goodreads. Each review helps families in need of guidance find the book.

Thank you for listening and supporting The Bridge Between Us podcast!

 

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Speakers:

Dr. Andrew Rodriguez- TBBU episode 45 with Andrew

                                      TBBU episode 33 with Andrew

Dr. Julie Hamilton

Dr. Anne Gillies

Jonathan Daugherty