As a licensed marriage and family therapist and life coach, Kim Fredrickson counseled and taught others about self-compassion for years. When she received an unexpected terminal diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis, a rare side-effect of the treatment she had received for breast cancer, she wrote a book to leave for her children on giving that same compassion to the grandchildren she will never meet.

On June 3rd, 2019, Kim passed on to be in the presence of her Savior. We are grateful for a way to honor her legacy by re-releasing her fantastic mentorship. (This episode originally aired in January 2018).

When people feel ashamed, they blame other people because they feel like if I really look at my shame then I’m going to collapse inside. That’s why self-compassion is desperately important because kids feel shame a lot. They fail at everything at the start.

What we chat about:

• Kim’s story of receiving a devastating diagnosis after completing treatment for breast cancer
• How she’s chosen to spend the years she has left with her family
• The new book she wrote for when her children have kids called “Give Your Kids a Break: Parenting with Compassion for You and Your Children”
• How it’s a process to develop a compassionate inner voice
• Applying grace and truth to every situation in our lives
• Variety of temperaments--some that are harder on themselves than others.
• The difference between self-compassion and self-pity
• Encouraging your children to practice self-compassion and reinforcing it by showing ourselves that same
• Giving our kids the language to identify their failings and separate them from their self- worth
• Moms have a really hard job. It’s ok to acknowledge that.
• The importance of taking care of ourselves as moms
• How to talk to your kids after you’ve been hard on yourself and reframing it with self compassion

Oh friendship! A gift that can bring incredible joy and cause great pain. If female relationships weren't tricky enough, our wounded selves bump into each other causing even deeper hurts.

But what are we to do? How do we heal, move forward and develop lasting friendships?

Thankfully, my friend, Lisa-Jo Baker came on the show back in April of 2017 to help. With content from her book, "Never Unfriended", on episode 159 we talked about friendship wounds. And Lisa-Jo pointed us to Jesus, the only One who promises to heal and never leave us.

Jesus is never tired of me always needing Him. Instead, He is delighted by how desperately I need His validation and He never, ever withholds it from me. Or from you. - excerpt from "Never Unfriended" by Lisa-Jo

• What do we fear most in friendship
• How to include the new girl and ignore the "cool kid" lies
• How to heal past friendship wounds.
• Turning to Jesus for meat and potatoes soul filling.
• Not blaming social media for our heart issues.
• How do you survive a friendship break-up.
• The hope of reconciliation and knowing when to let go.

The first guest in our mentorship series is Nancy Williams**. She is known by her 9 grandchildren & 4 great-grandchildren to label each family gathering as "the best ever". Her phrase perfectly summarizes this podcast.

The show first aired in February of 2014 (Episode 11) and was titled "Best Ever Life". Based on the title, you may be surprised to discover Nancy's motherhood journey includes many trials and heartache. But she views each challenge as an "opportunity" (her word) to see the power of God at work.

This interview is bursting with Truth and wisdom. Here's a brief summary of the topics we cover:

• How to keep your thoughts and perspective in check when your husband works long hours.
• Where to turn with your parenting questions.
• How to respond when the consequences of sin enter your children's lives
• How to share a simple family tradition of gratitude and love (fabulous idea!)
• How to deal with mom guilt (a.k.a., the part of the podcast where I get emotional)
• How to help your children turn to God when you can't meet all their needs.

SUCH good stuff.

I was most encouraged to hear this message from Nancy:

This can be the "best life ever", no matter the circumstances, if it includes eternal salvation for our children and unconditional love in our homes.