In The Middle-Divorce Healing For Catholic Women

In my recent podcast Divine Discoveries, I shared the abundant connections that God has placed in my life over the past six months. One of those connections is Joanne Moody. In the podcast, I explained how reading Joanne’s book encouraged me to take more risks in sharing my faith. Her book, Everyday Supernatural: Experiencing God’s Unexpected Manifestation in Your Life, challenged me to look outside the box of how I walk with the Holy Spirit. 

I was honored and blessed to have a conversation with Joanne about the Gift of healing and the Holy Spirit in this week’s show, The Gift Healing with Joanne Moody. 

As a cradle Catholic, I have learned over and over about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I have attended conferences over the years where the Holy Spirit has been active and present, but it wasn’t until recently that I realized that the gifts of the Spirit are an important part of my faith journey. A part of my faith journey that I have neglected. In the past, I’ve taken inventories to see which charisms or gifts God has blessed me with, but I realized that I often limit these gifts and use them sparingly.

Joanne Moody's book: Everyday Supernatural: Experiencing God's Unexpected Manifestation in Your Life

Joanne's Ministry Agape Freedom Fighters

Jennie is a Catholic speaker, Life Coach, Podcaster, Weekly Radio Show Host on Nashville Catholic Radio and Radio Maria USA, and founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. After 26 years of working in Catholic education, Jennie felt God calling her "to step out of the boat" to serve in a new way. In her new ministry as a Catholic Life Coach, she now equips and encourages middle-life moms to reconnect with who they are and their unique God-given purpose so they can MAGNIFY Christ in their corner of the world.

In this show, I talk with Kimberly Hahn on how she lives her Catholic faith in her marriage and family life. Kimberly shares her journey into the Catholic faith and gives insight and wisdom on how a faith-filled marriage can inspire others. 

Kimberly's honesty and witness will encourage you to take an honest look at how you can share your faith in more profound ways with your family and friends. Her love of the Catholic faith will challenge you to look within to see where you can grow deeper in your love of Christ. 

Kimberly shares the reason that she and her husband, Scott Hahn, founded the St. Paul Center is so that Catholics can have an opportunity to learn more about Scripture with Catholic focused studies. The St. Paul Center is an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about Scripture and the Catholic faith. 

Click here to learn more about the St. Paul Center and the upcoming St. Paul Gala in Nashville on November 2, 2023. 

Click here to learn more about Kimberly Hahn's teachings.

Jennie is a Catholic speaker, Life Coach, Podcaster, Weekly Radio Show Host on Nashville Catholic Radio, and founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. After 26 years of working in Catholic education, Jennie felt God calling her "to step out of the boat" to serve in a new way. In her new ministry as a Catholic Life Coach, she now equips and encourages middle-life moms to reconnect with who they are and their unique God-given purpose so they can MAGNIFY Christ in their corner of the world.

In this show, Jennie explores her journey with the Holy Rosary and how it is an important part of her prayer life. 

Jennie shares, I can remember feeling a sense of dread as a child when someone would say, "let's pray the rosary." I didn't understand the rosary and I didn't understand its importance. In all honesty, it took a while for me to mature in my faith so that the rosary became a devotion. It became something that I looked forward to rather than something that I had to do. Looking back, my devotion to the rosary began to grow as I became a mom. When I had these little people that I was caring for and there were times that I had no idea what I was doing so I felt completely overwhelmed. It was at those times that I turned to the Blessed Mother. I would obviously go to my mom here on earth who is a wealth of information, but I was also reminded that we have this Heavenly mother who is there to guide us and lead us. As a mom, especially as my children got older,  when they started driving, when they were more independent and I wasn't always with them that I felt this neediness that I needed somehow to pray even more for them. That's when I started relying on the rosary. That's when I started picking up the rosary beads and praying for my children. It wasn't always daily. Sometimes, I might pray the rosary during Advent or during Lent but it wasn't probably until the last 10 years that the rosary has become part of my daily routine. It's just part of my prayer time every morning.

I can tell the days that I take the time and pray the rosary, and I can tell the times that I either rushed through it or put it off for later, that things seem a little more chaotic. I'm not as grounded as I am when I pray the rosary first thing in the morning. The rosary has impacted my life and I want to inspire you to pick up your beads and come to know Jesus and the love of the father through the rosary. Mary will take your hand and she will walk you through the mysteries so that you will come to know and love her son and a whole new deeper way.

The Rosary grew in importance the first time Jennie visited Medjugorje. As she was riding a bus with a group of pilgrims, they were praying the Rosary as they arrived in the little village of Medjugorje. Jennie shares how that Rosary was different, more powerful and how she immediately fell in love with the prayers. It was through this knowledge of the Rosary that Jennie felt called to pray the Rosary daily for one year during the pandemic on Facebook Live. 

Listen to this show, to hear how the Rosary can inspire and encourage you in your daily life. 

Jennie is a Catholic speaker, Life Coach, Podcaster, Weekly Radio Show Host on Nashville Catholic Radio, and founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. After 26 years of working in Catholic education, Jennie felt God calling her "to step out of the boat" to serve in a new way. In her new ministry as a Catholic Life Coach, she now equips and encourages middle-life moms to reconnect with who they are and their unique God-given purpose so they can MAGNIFY Christ in their corner of the world.

In this week's show, Jennie talks with Kim Derrick about her hospice ministry. Kim is a long time hospice nurse and the founder and executive director of the Heart of Mary House in Nashville, Tennessee. Kim shares how she saw a need for those without a home or support to receive hospice care in the midst of a loving environment. Kim's desire to offer a safe, comfortable, peaceful home for the dying poor became a reality in 2022. God opened the doors, helped her overcome obstacles and placed the people and resources in her path to make this dream a reality. 

Kim shares her experiences and the many lessons that she has learned from the residents at the Heart of Mary House. The ministry has not only been a blessing for the residents who become like family to the many volunteers who minister to their needs, but Kim recognizes that as they serve the residents that they receive more than they ever imagined. She sees the hand of God in everyone who walks through the door at the Heart of Mary House. 

Kim tells stories of how even the most broken can be saved, healed and come to recognize the love of Christ no matter how difficult their past has been. When asked about the biggest regret people face in their final days, Kim shares it is not forgiving and reconciling with loved ones.

This podcast will open your eyes to the journey of hospice and allow you to see that there is holiness in dying for the person facing their last days on earth, but also for the family and loved ones surrounding them. 

Click here to learn more about the Heart of Mary House and how you can support this beautiful ministry.

Jennie is a Catholic speaker, Life Coach, Podcaster, Weekly Radio Show Host on Nashville Catholic Radio, and founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. After 26 years of working in Catholic education, Jennie felt God calling her "to step out of the boat" to serve in a new way. In her new ministry as a Catholic Life Coach, she now equips and encourages middle-life moms to reconnect with who they are and their unique God-given purpose so they can MAGNIFY Christ in their corner of the world.

This week in Catholic Moms in the Middle, Jennie interviews Jean Heaton about her book, Helping families Recover from Addiction. Jean shares her family's journey through the 12 step program and how she was personally impacted by the steps more than she ever imagined. Jean is honest about the struggles, worries and fears that come with addiction. 

Jean's book is powerful and applicable even if you aren't facing addictions. Each one of us has a "coping mechanism" that we use to avoid uncomfortable feelings or situations. The coping mechanism brings a reprieve from that situation, but usually causes more harm in the long run. 

Here is how you can learn more about Jean and her retreats.   https://ignatiushouse.org/calendar/recovery-retreat-for-those-affected-by-the-addictions-of-others-nov2023/   https://www.saintmeinrad.org/retreats/?event=13935   https://bishopsdinner.guesthouse.org   website: jeanheaton.com IG: jeanheaton64 Facebook: Jean Heaton, Author

Order Jean's book here!

Jennie is a Catholic speaker, Life Coach, Podcaster, Weekly Radio Show Host on Nashville Catholic Radio, and founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. After 26 years of working in Catholic education, Jennie felt God calling her "to step out of the boat" to serve in a new way. In her new ministry as a Catholic Life Coach, she now equips and encourages middle-life moms to reconnect with who they are and their unique God-given purpose so they can MAGNIFY Christ in their corner of the world.

As a midlife woman I am sure that you’ve experienced your share of deception over the years. As you’ve listened to my story, maybe you can relate to a specific time you’ve been deceived. It could be a financial situation like the bitcoins where you thought that you were going to strike it rich… maybe you were deceived at work.. after years of pouring your heart and soul into your career… you were part of layoffs or maybe you realized that there was more to life than climbing the corporate ladder. 

Deception often shows up in relationships.  I see this alot with the moms in the middle that I work with. They've spent years taking care of their children, meeting the needs of their family and have put their marriage on the back burner. All of the sudden when they become empty nesters they find themselves looking at their spouse who is a stranger. They have been deceived for years convincing themselves that their marriage is ok, they are just busy. If this is you, don’t despair…once you recognize this situation, you can work together to reconnect and be stronger than ever! I’ve seen it happen so many times with the women that I coach. 

If you have been deceived, don’t beat yourself up! Give yourself some grace and use it as an opportunity to learn the truth. 

I have come up with three stages that seem to be common in  deception.

First, it begins with thought which creates curiosity. 

Second, a desire is planted in the heart or mind. This could mean the desire creates doubt in a current belief or because of that desire for something different a new belief is beginning to take hold. This desire could simply be to feel a different way.

Third, there is an intent toward action. This action could be to release old beliefs and replace them with a new one or to get you to take some sort of action based on your new transformed belief. Often this action creates that desire to feel something different.

Here is how deception works… The truth is hidden and false information shared. Deception is not new, in fact it started at the beginning of time and the ring leader is Satan. 

Satan is always doing this, and the reason he’s doing it is to separate you and I from our Father in Heaven. 

Satan wants you and I to live in the darkness being deceived about God’s great love. In Scripture Jesus says, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12) Satan hates the light of Christ and because of this he tries to pull every trick in the book to keep us from seeing his glory. 

Jennie is a Catholic speaker, Life Coach, Podcaster, Weekly Radio Show Host on Nashville Catholic Radio, and founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. After 26 years of working in Catholic education, Jennie felt God calling her "to step out of the boat" to serve in a new way. In her new ministry as a Catholic Life Coach, she now equips and encourages middle-life moms to reconnect with who they are and their unique God-given purpose so they can MAGNIFY Christ in their corner of the world.

You might not even like what I have to say, but please listen all the way through And I promise you it will change your outlook on the difficult people in your life. So let's talk about what makes someone difficult. We could all pick that one person and create a mile long list of all of the reasons that they are difficult.

According to Rick Warren, there are six types of difficult people. The first type is demanding. These people are the ones who take control and work really hard to make sure that everything goes exactly as they plan. They try to be everyone's boss and take the lead in every discussion. Do you know anybody like that?

The second type is disapproving. These people love to point out your mistakes. They are highly critical and judgmental. They very rarely have anything positive to say. The third type is deafening. They are loud and never run out of things to say. I like to say these people make my ears bleed. These people love to argue and will keep going until you give in and agree with them.

The fourth type is destructive. These people are like volcanoes. They blow up easily and hurt everyone in their path. You find yourself walking on eggshells, uncertain of what will set them off. The fifth type is discontent. These people are touchy. They are always whining and complaining about something.

They have a woe is me complex and are never happy. The sixth type is demeaning. These people are rude, they are mean, and are always looking to put others down. Their main goal is to make you feel insignificant. Now, can you think of people who fit in these categories? Here's what happens. Whether you realize it or not, you have expectations in all of your relationships.

There isn't anything wrong with expectations, except that their behavior and actions Often, don't meet your expectations. In fact, you also may not realize, but for most of your relationships, you have pages and pages of rules that you expect the other person to follow. These rules have been created over time.

And they are based on lots of factors like your childhood, your teenage years, traumas, hurts and pains, your desires, your assumptions about the world, your observations of life, and more. Your expectations can go something like this. They shouldn't complain. They should be kinder. They should never point out when I'm wrong.

They should take out the trash without being asked. They always have to be right. They shouldn't be crude or vulgar. They should have the same views I have on politics. They shouldn't argue with me. And the list of how people should behave could go on and on. When you hear yourself using the word should about someone else, that is a warning that you have expectations for that person, or rules.

When you think they should do something, you are placing your rules on them. When people don't meet your expectations or follow your rules, then you make it mean that their behavior is wrong. You categorize them and their actions. Here's how your brain works. When you label someone based on their actions, then your brain works hard to prove it true.

For example, if you label someone as negative, every interaction you have with them will be focused on all of the negative things that they say and do. You will find lots of evidence to prove that your thought, they are negative, is true. But, you overlook all of the interactions. Where they are not negative because of your tunnel vision.

Look at it this way. Think of that one relationship that you struggle with. Imagine that your relationship with this person is a movie. What would the title be? Could it be The Angry Uncle, The Backstabbing Best Friend, The Ungrateful Boss? When you assign them a specific role, you are also assigning yourself a specific role in the relationship.

The angry uncle, maybe you become the peacekeeper in the family. The backstabbing friend, maybe you become the victim in the relationship. The ungrateful boss. Maybe you become a people pleaser in order to get their approval. When we find ourselves in these situations or similar situations, we often find somebody to confide in.

You know, that friend who always has your back. We tell them our story from our point of view. Our point of view is usually one sided. It includes our thoughts, our opinions, our judgments, and our expectations. And usually, we only confide in people who are going to agree with us. When they agree with us, we think it confirms that we are right and the other person's behavior is wrong.

This type of one sided conversation confirms that our expectations are valid, so the other person is falling short. This is why we label people as difficult. Because they don't measure up to our expectations. What we really desire is to control people. We want them to act in a certain way so that we can feel good or be happy.

We think that they have to change for us to feel differently. Now, what if there was a different way to approach people? What if you could be happy without the other person changing at all? They could still be their normal self. angry, loud, argumentative, controlling, or however it is that they act. Now, I have news for you.

We can't control other people. We can't control their beliefs and behaviors because they are based on their past, their opinions, their pain and struggles, their judgments, and their views on the world. But what if you could rewrite the movie by dropping your expectations and judgments of the person? So let me give you some examples.

Instead of The Angry Uncle, what if you changed the title to simply Uncle Joe. There's no judgment in that title. There are no expectations that he should be kind or friendly. You aren't looking for all of the reasons that he might be angry and have an outburst. He just becomes Uncle Joe. Your role in the relationship is to be present without trying to control or manipulate Uncle Joe.

Or trying to control and manipulate other people's words or actions in order to prevent an outburst. If you change the title to Uncle Joe, how do you think your relationship would change? Do you think you might find more enjoyment at family get togethers? Alright, let's look at the backstabbing friend.

What if you change the title to simply, My Friend? You might have the expectation that people should never gossip or talk about you. And when they do, you think, woe is me. When you become the victim in the story, you give up all of your power and allow others to be in control. As the victim, you blame others for things that happen without taking ownership for your role in the situation.

You don't have to agree with your friend's actions, but you get to decide how to respond. In emotional situations, I always suggest to my clients to pause and reflect before they react. If possible, take a step back and look at the situation with curiosity. Be open to see the expectations that you've placed on the relationship.

The gap between your expectations and the other person's behavior is where you will find yourself as the victim. This gap is where all of your pain and suffering occurs. You may also find yourself in this gap, complaining, gossiping, manipulating, being passive aggressive, and confrontational. This is the area where most conflict occurs.

Now, I'm not saying that you should never have expectations for people. I have several good friends who I share intimate details of my life with. I expect them to be honest and to keep things confidential. There is nothing wrong with this, in fact that is how you create strong relationships. But here's the question to ask.

Do you like your expectations and the relationship? Why are they important to you? How would your relationship change if you drop the expectations? So now, finally, let's look at the ungrateful boss. When you label your boss as ungrateful, then you probably have expectations like, they should praise me for all of my hard work.

They should notice my effort and give me a pat on the back. They should tell others about the great job that I'm doing. They would make me happy by saying good job. You might also have thoughts like, I need to work harder so they will give me a compliment. He or she doesn't have a clue how hard I work. I am not doing a good enough job because they didn't compliment me.

I will be happy when they say good job. I know I am worthy when they compliment me. In all of these expectations and thoughts, you have become the people pleaser who depends on someone else's words or actions to make you feel good. You are seeking the approval of other people. You are allowing them to determine your self worth.

In this relationship, it is possible for you to find the approval you need, but you might be surprised to learn that it doesn't come from someone else. Your approval is more important than that of others. When you are confident in your abilities and effort, then you don't need anyone else to give you a pat on the back.

You can give yourself a pat on the back. Can you relate to any of the scenarios that we've talked about? I'm going to review with you. When you give someone else a title like difficult or destructive, you are judging them based on the expectations that you have for them. Some expectations are healthy and a normal part of a relationship, but others are unrealistic and create tension and hard feelings.

I encourage you to spend time thinking about the expectations that you have for your most important relationships. As you reflect, ask these three questions. Number one, what expectations do you have for this person? Number two, what title would you give to the relationship? And when you give the title to the relationship, what title do you assume?

Number three, what is a new title that you could assign to the relationship that would allow you to drop your judgments and expectations? When you find yourself feeling annoyed, angry, or disappointed in a relationship, look at your thoughts and expectations. Ask the three questions I just shared. You might be surprised to see that many times someone is difficult because of your thoughts and expectations.

Be sure to listen to the entire podcast to gain a new perspective on difficult people! Maybe, they aren't difficult after all!

Jennie is a Catholic speaker, Life Coach, Podcaster, Weekly Radio Show Host on Nashville Catholic Radio, and founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. After 26 years of working in Catholic education, Jennie felt God calling her "to step out of the boat" to serve in a new way. In her new ministry as a Catholic Life Coach, she now equips and encourages middle-life moms to reconnect with who they are and their unique God-given purpose so they can MAGNIFY Christ in their corner of the world.

In this week's show, Jennie talks with Susan Skinner and Ashley Blackburn about a book they recently published on family healing. The book, The Queen's Triumph: Family Healing Prayer Book, was a result of several years of prayer and discernment for them. Susan and Ashley share their journey from when God placed writing prayers on their hearts to share in their weekly prayer group to the process of writing the different types of prayers to compile into a book. 

Not only did they find personal healing through the writing process while learning how to step into their God-given gifts, but God used this project to bring healing to their families and marriages. 

Susan and Ashley share their first prayer, Litany of Our Lady, Healer of Families, which recognizes Mary as the daughter of God, spouse of the Holy Spirit and mother of Jesus. The litany is a reflection of the relationship Mary had with the Trinity and how she can intercede for each one of us to heal even the most broken relationships. The book includes litanies, novenas and prayers that will bring healing and restoration to all families. 

Listen to learn more about their journey!

You can purchase The Queen's Triumph: Family Healing Prayer Book at St. Phillip or St. Catherine's in the church bookstores, St. Mary's Bookstore on West End or at www.spiritdaily.com

To read more you can follow Susan and Ashley's blogs.

Susan: Veil of Veronica

Ashley: Steadfast Heart of God

Jennie is a Catholic Life Coach, Podcaster, Weekly Radio Show Host on Nashville Catholic Radio, Speaker and founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. After 26 years of working in Catholic education, Jennie felt God calling her "to step out of the boat" to serve in a new way. In her new ministry as a Catholic Life Coach, she now equips and encourages middle-life moms to reconnect with who they are and their unique God-given purpose so they can MAGNIFY Christ in their corner of the world.