In today’s episode I am joined by my friend, Author and Host of the Breathe: The Stress Less podcast, Bonnie Gray.

Bonnie writes regularly for DaySpring’s (in)courage and is the author of Whispers of Rest, Finding Spiritual Whitespace and today, we are going to be talking about her latest release: Sweet Like Jasmine - A memoir sharing her story as the daughter of a mail order bride, abandoned by her father at the age of 7 to be raised by her toxic and abusive mother.

Bonnie’s real life story is beautifully told like a novel that will have you turning page after page and I can’t wait for you to hear from her today as she speaks to the lies she battled as a result of her upbringing.

Join me for this special episode as Bonnie shares her story, excerpts from her new book release and offers encouragement to the Mom who comes from broken places.

In this episode, Bonnie discusses lies she believed such as:

You cannot be sad. 

No one is going to help you. 

You have to do everything on your own.

Nobody wants to hear your story. Nobody can relate to it.

Don’t talk about how lonely you feel.

There are parts of me I need to cut off, shut down and not talk about.

You can connect with Bonnie on Instagram @thebonniegray and at her website: thebonniegray.com

Grab a copy of Sweet Like Jasmine and the FREE audio book by going to sweetlikejasmine.com

You can connect with Somer on Instagram and Facebook @somercolbert and her website: somercolbert.com

FAVORITE TAKEAWAYS from Today's Episode:

We need a safe place to confide in God and in each other.

2 Corinthians 2:14-15

How can we share the fragrance of God’s love? It’s when we share our weaknesses.

The world’s view of triumph: I’m looking beautiful, awesome and nothings wrong and I’m always positive and always strong.

He completes you using things you already have.

I was serving in the church so I didn’t want anyone to think I was broken

I realized it wasn’t shameful that I was having anxiety and panic attacks, it was because I’ve been strong.

It’s not about just being from broken families - every woman has a different story.

Even though you’ve experienced brokenness, it doesn’t disqualify you from being a good mom.