This week Jamie brings you Emily Thomas who shares her story of rushing into a marriage in her early 20s with someone who seemed perfect on paper and ended up in a situation she never saw coming. She vulnerably shares her story of moving to his country and suffering abuse immediately as well as infidelity. She talks about not being allowed to have a phone, only being able to eat what he gave her all while being forced to work to support them. She talks through the devastation of fearing for her life but also grappling with her faith tradition which told her “God hates divorce”. She gives us a backstage look into the mind and heart of an abused woman that one day meticulously planned her escape. She also talks through the gut wrenching experience of divorce and how she preferred death to the shame that accompanied that choice. We talk about how the church can do better to love and join those in abusive situations as well as those walking through painful divorces. Enjoy Emily...and lots of love and gratitude to her angel to Hazel, wherever you are (you’ll understand when you listen!).