Episode 108
#106. It's Going to Be Okay: God’s Faithfulness When You Need Him Most | An Interview with Nicole Fredricksen: Part 2
What if.....? When the hardest things in life happen, will God be there for us? Will He be there for our kids? How we get through? And for the rest of us, how do we support widows when they lose a spouse? Nicole authentically shares a testimony of losing her husband to cancer, while pressing into God's strength for motherhood. She is honest, yet hope-filled and she reminds us that the Lord will be good whatever may come.
Nicole is the mentor we all wish we had. Listen to Part 1 of our interview with her here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-again-podcast-on-biblical-motherhood/id1700555502?i=1000732123975
Would it bless you to be pointed to the truth and hope of God's Word every day? Find our Dwelling Place podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dwelling-place-bible-plan-for-busy-moms/id1863449227
Scripture Referenced:
Hebrews 13:5
Psalm 84:11
Matthew 6:25-34
Transcript
They're the joyful agains our children.
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:Shout on the swings, the exhausting
agains of cooking and laundry and
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:the difficult agains of discipline.
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:So much of what we do
as mothers is on repeat.
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:So what if we woke up with clarity,
knowing which agains we were called to.
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:And went to bed believing we are
faithful in what matters most.
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:We believe God's word is
the key to untangle from the
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:confusion and overwhelm we feel.
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:Let's look up together to embrace a
motherhood full of freedom and joy.
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:I am Stephanie Hickox, and this is
brought to you by Entrusted Ministries.
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:In this episode, Nicole
Frederickson authentically shares
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:how she became a widow after her
husband's battle with cancer.
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:She had two young children at the time,
yet the Lord was there for her in it.
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:She doesn't sugarcoat how difficult
it was, but she points us back to
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:the God who says he will never,
never, never leave us or forsake us.
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:There's a reason I'm
releasing this right now.
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:In a world where there is so much chaos
going on and we're wondering what we can
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:do, scripture tells us true religion is
this, that we care for orphans and widows.
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:I hope we look to the big picture,
but I also hope we have eyes to
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:see who's right in front of us.
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:This is just one of the agains
we can be teaching our kids.
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:As Jesus came to serve others, we
were created to be his hands and feet.
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:Nicole gives some truly practical
ways we can serve widows around us.
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:I do apologize that we had some
audio issues in this episode,
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:particularly with a neighbor's
dog barking in the background.
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:But I hope you're willing to push
through that to realize that Nicole's
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:encouragement can help you lay down any
fear of what may come, that whatever
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:happens, God will be faithful through it.
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:This is the second half of our
conversation and we get right into
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:this heavy topic, but if you want
to hear her gentle wisdom for
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:parenting I'll link that part of
the conversation in our show notes.
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:Nicole.
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:Let's transition to talk
about the situation.
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:I have so much respect for the way
that you've traveled through as
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:you've lost a spouse and how you
pressed into the Lord through it.
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:Can you share a little bit more of
the circumstances of that trial?
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:Nicole: sure.
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:. Okay, so 2008, my husband
Jim, he was a mortgage broker.
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:And so if everybody can remember
what happened in:
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:time of the great mortgage crisis.
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:bubble popping, it was just really
difficult and he was coming home
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:every day with, huge headaches.
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:And I was just really concerned
because he didn't have headaches.
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:And I was like, can I help?
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:Can I help you?
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:Can I, he's no, Nicole, don't
you just understand what's
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:happening at work right now?
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:And I'm like, okay, I do.
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:And so I just would be praying for him.
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:And What was a headache turned into
something more where it was actually the
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:day before my daughter's eighth birthday.
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:He was in bed and he just couldn't sleep.
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:couldn't really move, couldn't walk.
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:And so I, for some reason, and I still
can't remember why my brother was
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:there staying with us at the time.
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:And so I told him I'm taking Jim to the
hospital, which was a big deal for a man
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:to let you take him to the emergency room.
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:And we had a health crisis.
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:a few years before, and I had taken
him to emergency room without packing
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:a bag, and the nurse admitted him,
and I was shocked, and she said, Mrs.
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:Siskel, this is what happens.
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:We either let you go, or we
admit you, and I said, okay.
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:So then I remembered that, so I packed
a quick bag for him, and we went,
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:never imagining What it could be.
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:But Jim in the emergency room
was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
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:And not only that, he was having
abdominal pain and he also
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:had a tumor , in his colon.
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:Oh, wow.
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:At the same time.
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:And they have, they were like, now
this has to be two different things.
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:It's very unusual.
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:For it to be in the brain and the colon.
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:So we just were praying and praying.
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:And next thing you know,
he's being taken to Rush.
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:downtown and the Lord was just
so good even in all of it.
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:I had a dear friend that was a nurse
practitioner in oncology so she could
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:help me understand how to navigate it.
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:We got into the head
neurosurgeon right away.
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:He had surgery right away and then
the other surgery for his colon.
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:And As scary as it was, even
in the hospital, the Lord kept
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:bringing believers like it would be
a nurse coming in and she would be,
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:giving us a verse or food delivery.
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:It would be a believer.
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:We just felt surrounded by believers
the whole time because it was
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:just such a frightening time.
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:So that was the beginning of it,
and it hit us like a freight train.
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:Elizabeth was I was so grateful, her
birthday was the 28th of March, that
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:it was the 27th of March, that it
didn't have to like, be on her day.
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:And Michael was 9, so they were 8 9.
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:And one thing about me is I always
try to understand as much as I can.
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:That's how I cope.
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:And the Lord was really good to
me in that he allowed me to have
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:insight in what was really happening
so that I could navigate it and be
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:okay for the children and help Jim.
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:And Jim's way of navigating it was.
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:Being so positive, like he was the
most positive person you could meet.
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:He would be getting his chemotherapy
and he would be evangelizing
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:the people right next to him.
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:he just never, he never gave up hope.
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:And I just was so appreciative
that the Lord was as He is.
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:He so individually cares for us.
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:So He allowed me to understand
where we were going with this.
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:Even though I prayed and I prayed
and I prayed for His healing
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:and the kids and I would pray.
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:But the Lord helped me understand
where we were going with
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:Stephanie: Sure.
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:He was preparing
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:Nicole: was preparing me
and helping me understand.
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:And yet, for Jim, Jim
never stopped having hope.
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:, except for maybe twice during
the end he was pretty sick and he
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:said, Do you think I'm gonna die?
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:Do you think I'm gonna die?
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:And I said, Honey, we're all gonna die.
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:We're all gonna die.
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:Just a matter of when.
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:And he's Yeah, you're right.
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:And then, never talked about it again.
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:And then he mentioned
it maybe one other time.
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:He just said, don't you put me in a suit?
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:And I said, Okay, what
should I put you in?
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:And he goes, A polo and khakis.
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:And I said, Alright.
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:You got it.
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:Whatever you want.
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:And then never talked about it again.
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:It was just his way.
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:It was just his way and he wanted
to remain hopeful and joyful.
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:Anyway, I'll let you say God really
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:Treated us individually
and allowed me to grieve
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:Ahead of time.
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:And , I just prayed all the time to
give me wisdom with the kids because
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:they were dealing with it differently.
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:Michael is a little more like me.
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:I wanted to understand everything.
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:And as much as I thought was
appropriate, I would share with
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:him, just cause he has more of a
medical mind, tried to understand it.
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:Stephanie: Sure, and you said that
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:Nicole: earlier, so
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:Stephanie: you can't stifle that
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:Nicole: it's
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:Stephanie: It's right before him.
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:Nicole: Exactly, and I just felt like
I wanted to meet them where they were
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:And Elizabeth just really, she, Was
very caring towards her dad, but she
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:didn't want to think about it Talk, it
was just and she was a year younger,
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:but that's just more her nature
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:Stephanie: Sure
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:Nicole: Not the same as Michael
so as Things were progressing.
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:I just kept asking the Lord to help the
kids understand and he was just really
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:good to me with that and it was hard.
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:It was
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:really hard, but the Lord was good.
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:The Lord was good.
153
:Stephanie: Did you feel you weren't
fully able to process it because
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:you were just trying to be there so
much for Jim and for your children?
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:Did you feel like you were
able to grieve as well?
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:Nicole: Yeah, I think I did.
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:There were a lot of times when we were
in the hospital by ourselves things like
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:that where it was just he and I and I had
to have family or people helping me with
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:the children so I could have that time.
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:But It is a lot when
you're the mom, right?
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:And the wife.
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:So you're trying to be sensitive to
everyone and by nature, I'm a helper
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:and I just wanted to help shepherd
all three of them through it,
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:Stephanie: right?
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:And
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:He was diagnosed in March how
long was the treatment process
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:Nicole: About 15 months.
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:And my friend told me when he was
diagnosed, I asked her, I said,
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:Jeannie, just be straight with me.
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:How long do you think?
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:She said about 15 months.
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:It's not good.
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:Stephanie: Wow.
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:Nicole: And it was 15 months.
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:Yeah.
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:And he had a good run where
we thought in November.
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:We got no evidence of disease.
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:So we were so thrilled and so happy.
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:And then December 22nd, my
birthday, we got news that it
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:came back really aggressively.
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:It was back in his liver, and
it was back in his brain again.
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:So that was a huge hit.
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:And no matter what,
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:I know the Lord was preparing me, but
I just wasn't prepared to hear that
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:news.
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:So that was really hard.
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:And then for both of us, like
it was really hard for Jim, but
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:then he typically, he bolstered
himself back up and I did too.
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:And we're just like, okay,
we're going to do this and we're
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:going to see what the Lord has.
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:Stephanie: Yeah.
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:Nicole: And then it was
pretty challenging after that.
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:Finally we found out he was in and out of
the hospital and I think it was like July.
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:I took the kids to Great America because
, I had a friend stay with Jim and I just
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:wanted them to have a fun day and kind
of a little bit of respite and then
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:we got a call that things were bad.
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:And he went back in the hospital
and, I think it's just how we cope.
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:Like I should have in hindsight
realized, okay, he's probably not
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:coming home out of the hospital.
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:But I was so shocked.
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:Like no matter how you're
preparing yourself and the Lord
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:is preparing you and you know the
reality, I was still so shocked.
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:Like I just couldn't believe.
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:That this was it, but that was it.
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:, he fought his fight and I brought
the children to see him and he was
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:semi comatose, but the love of a
father, when he saw his, he knew
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:his kids, he made such an effort.
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:to say something to them that
it was really so precious.
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:So
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:Stephanie: And after all
that time of putting all his
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:energy into fighting, Yeah.
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:To realize I need to leave
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:well.
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:Nicole: Yeah.
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:It was hard, but he,
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:he suffered really well.
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:He suffered really well and he
honored and glorified the Lord.
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:It was really hard.
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:He was a big, strong guy.
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:Jim could do anything.
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:, he used to rehab homes like in
Lincoln Park when he was a young
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:person, so he could do anything.
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:It was a dream.
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:I'd be like, I want to do this.
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:Okay, and it would be done.
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:It would be done perfectly and quickly and
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:Stephanie: rare.
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:Nicole: Yeah, that's rare
Dale can do things very
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:perfectly but not quickly But I
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:love it and i'm grateful
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:but yeah, so It was very hard for him
because he was a doer and just, a big
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:strong guy that was used to being on
the go and providing and all of that.
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:So that was very hard.
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:Stephanie: What was that season like
for you when he actually did pass?
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:Nicole: I will say that I was plagued
with a lot of fear especially for
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:my kids because such an aggressive
cancer, you just really worry
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:what is going to happen to them?
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:Is this a genetic thing?
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:Is this something that's
going to affect them?
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:And you also worry about their emotional
health and their spiritual health.
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:And I just was so afraid.
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:And I had to really go to the Lord
and just seek Him like, honestly
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:crying out please protect my kids.
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:Please help us.
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:And he was so good.
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:He gave me a lot of verses to hang on to.
247
:My main verse is Psalm 84, 11, where
the Lord God is a son in the shield.
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:He will give grace and glory.
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:No good thing will he withhold
from those who walk up brightly.
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:And I just kept going back to that,
Lord, You're a sun and a shield.
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:You're going to be that provider and
protector for Michael and Elizabeth.
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:And you're not going to withhold good.
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:That's who you are.
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:And he's shown himself to be true to that.
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:Stephanie: That's one of my banner
verses as well, to cling to
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:his goodness and his protection.
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:And sometimes I think when we see
the horrible things that can happen
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:on this earth, It brings a new
fear in you I'm not naive anymore.
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:I can imagine that it's
very natural to fear
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:Nicole: As young women, we get married
and, We're so bright eyed and hopeful,
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:and it's not that I'm not hopeful,
and that I wasn't hopeful during this
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:trial, but I never would have written
my story to be a widow from cancer.
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:I just always thought, when I would
hear stories like that and feel bad
264
:and, but I never put myself in that
position that, that would be my story.
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:But it is my story.
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:It's a story that the Lord gave to
me and to Michael and Elizabeth.
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:That's where I walk.
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:Stephanie: So how did you see God's
faithfulness to you and your family?
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:Nicole: Church was
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:so good to us in school.
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:And I reached out and got some soul
care from Michael and Elizabeth.
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:And we had two wonderful people
who met them right where they were
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:at and really helped them process
their grief and put words to things.
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:And just were there.
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:It's just really a blessing to me
to have other people be there in
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:such an intimate way for my kids.
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:So that was for sure a huge blessing.
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:And the church came around me
and helped me with some guidance
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:that I desperately needed.
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:And like now Now what do I do with some
financial things and some big decisions
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:and so that was really very helpful
and I'm still so grateful to the church
282
:for that because At least was very
abreast of all of our financial dealings.
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:I took care of everything at
home, so that wasn't a problem.
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:With some women, their
husband did everything.
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:At least, I knew what I needed to
know, but I needed guidance and I
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:needed
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:someone to help me figure out next steps
and what we do and that sort of thing.
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:So I was super grateful.
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:And then just like friends in
small group that were just praying.
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:And I remember one, she's
still a dear friend.
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:Here I was driving, Doing all this
driving with kids and doing all things she
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:Offered to help and I said no, it's okay.
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:It's all right.
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:She goes Nicole No, we're gonna just
help each other and , I never forgot
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:that and I was like, yeah we can
do that we can help each other and
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:It was great to feel like I
wasn't alone in this season
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:Stephanie: because you're
carrying so many things.
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:Yeah.
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:To figure out the things where you, maybe
you could persevere to do it, but maybe
300
:it's better for you to rely on others
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:Nicole: It was humbling,
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:But good.
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:Stephanie: Elizabeth and Michael got
older, did you find that they processed
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:it in different ways, or maybe different,
deeper questions came up, or that you
305
:would see it in them spiritually or
emotionally, what they were going through?
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:Nicole: I think so grief is a funny thing.
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:You can be going along and then
all of a sudden it's at you again.
308
:And you're not really, sometimes
it's a surprise, sometimes it's
309
:a birthday or a special thing.
310
:I noticed Especially for Elizabeth
and Michael, when they would have
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:accomplishments or a special thing
that would happen, a birthday, a
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:graduation, they would be really
excited and happy, but they would
313
:be also sad because their dad wasn't
there to experience it with them.
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:And now I am remarried, And so my husband
Dale has been a huge blessing to us.
315
:He came alongside us We
316
:got married, when Michael
and Elizabeth were 12 and 13.
317
:Okay.
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:And so he has been an awesome father
figure to them and they love him.
319
:And so it doesn't diminish.
320
:Dale being a part of our lives, but
they still felt sad that their dad
321
:wasn't there, especially like Elizabeth
just got married and she just felt
322
:really sad that her dad couldn't be
323
:Stephanie: there.
324
:Definitely.
325
:Nicole: And she did want Dale to walk her
down the aisle, which was a huge blessing.
326
:That's changed.
327
:She Wasn't always,
didn't always want that.
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:So we've talked about it.
329
:Started at, I want you to walk
to me down the aisle, Mom.
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:Okay.
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:And then she said, I want you and Dale.
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:And I said, okay.
333
:And then now when she got
married, she said, I want Dale.
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:And I said, I think that's awesome.
335
:So that was a huge growth of their
relationship and her acceptance of him.
336
:But it didn't take away the
sadness of her dad not being there.
337
:these important things,
it doesn't go away.
338
:It I don't know if it even becomes easier.
339
:I think it just becomes, I don't know.
340
:I don't know the answer.
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:I don't know the right word
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:Stephanie: The shock wears off.
343
:Nicole: The shock
344
:wears
345
:Stephanie: off.
346
:But the pain is still very real.
347
:and you said that you had really
prayed that the Lord would bring
348
:another man to help guide your family.
349
:Nicole: I
350
:did.
351
:I did.
352
:I prayed a lot a long list.
353
:And I really wanted to have someone
to partner with me, to be a dad to
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:Michael and Elizabeth, and a husband
to me, and to do life together.
355
:And I wanted, Both of them, but
especially Michael, to have a man
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:that he could see as a model,
357
:to
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:model after.
359
:And Dale's been a gift to us.
360
:He's a man, he's not perfect, but
he loves us, he loves Jesus, he
361
:loves the kids like his own, so
we're just super grateful, it's been
362
:very redemptive for us as a family.
363
:Stephanie: I can imagine so many
emotions than trying to then be united
364
:and become one with another person.
365
:Did you wonder, is this
going to happen to me again?
366
:Or did you feel loyalty to Jim
367
:Nicole: I
368
:felt,
369
:I felt released, so I
didn't feel that guilt.
370
:I felt
371
:Yeah, I've I had prayed so much about
it and I, I really felt at peace
372
:when it was time to even explore.
373
:And I was open to see
what the Lord would have.
374
:Dale and Jim are so different.
375
:They have some similarities, like
they both like to fish and work with
376
:their hands and things like that.
377
:But they are night and day.
378
:So I feel like, I don't know,
I feel like I was okay to have
379
:that chapter in To Love Jim.
380
:And then to have this
chapter in this season.
381
:Stephanie: That makes And
how did you handle it with your
382
:kids as you started dating?
383
:Was Dale the first person you dated?
384
:Nicole: yeah, he was really the
first person I dated and I had
385
:conversations with the children to
prepare them and let them know what
386
:I was thinking and how they felt.
387
:And if it would have been
really traumatic, I would have
388
:taken that as a point to okay,
389
:Stephanie: Sure.
390
:Nicole: But They felt okay, they
were, I wouldn't say positive, but
391
:they were very neutral about it, and
seemed accepting that it was okay for
392
:me, and so I did it slowly I didn't
introduce him right away, for sure
393
:but when I felt like, okay, there's
really something here, then I did and
394
:it was good, michael was like a golden
retriever, and was like, Hi, I'm Michael.
395
:There's another man, and you're
nice, and you like to fish.
396
:And Elizabeth was the cat with the side
eye this is my mom, and this is my house,
397
:and, she did not warm up very quickly.
398
:She wasn't mean to him, but she was not
like warm and it took her a little bit, it
399
:took her a little bit, but I am actually,
it was really grateful that my daughter
400
:did not give her heart away so quickly.
401
:I was like, that's okay.
402
:That's all right.
403
:He's going to have to prove
himself to you and no problem.
404
:We'll see what happens.
405
:Stephanie: Good for you.
406
:As much as you're wanting them to
respect authority and to be open minded
407
:that was a wise
understanding to not push it.
408
:Nicole: Yeah
409
:Yeah.
410
:And she was fine.
411
:She just was not warm and friendly,
friendly in a respectful way,
412
:but not excited, like Michael.
413
:Stephanie: How would you recommend
that we come alongside someone in
414
:a similar struggle, whether it's
finding their spouse has a cancer
415
:diagnosis or becoming a widow?
416
:Nicole: The first thing I would say
is If you have a friend or someone
417
:who you're close to that happens,
one thing I heard from my friends a
418
:lot was I don't want to burden you
with you have so much happening.
419
:Your problems are way bigger than mine.
420
:Bigger than mine.
421
:And I would be like, Oh my goodness.
422
:No, I want to come alongside you too.
423
:Like your problems are
important, whatever it might be.
424
:And so I would say don't shy away from
like sharing what's going on with you
425
:personally, just because you feel like
someone is carrying a heavy burden.
426
:Like I heard that a lot.
427
:And I know people were trying to be
just so kind and loving and careful.
428
:But I just still wanted to be involved
with other people's lives and not only
429
:focus on my life, I wanted to be normal.
430
:And so I would just say, Lean
in and don't be afraid to be
431
:transparent with whatever it is.
432
:If it's your, you're struggling with
potty training or you got a flat tire
433
:in your car, you can share these things
and still have a genuine relationship.
434
:And secondly, I would say do not
say, let me know if I can help.
435
:Look for the needs.
436
:I had, I remember my first Christmas,
I had this giant wreath I put
437
:somehow, I don't even know how
I got it above the garage and I
438
:Stephanie: Wow.
439
:Nicole: And then it was
like, Bitter cold, February.
440
:I am the type of person, no judgment
to anybody else, but I like my
441
:things down after New Year's.
442
:That is my way I do things.
443
:And that wreath was up in February.
444
:And I just did not have a way to get it
down because of the ice and all that.
445
:And somebody noticed and said, we're going
to come over and take down that wreath.
446
:And I said, Oh, thank you so
447
:It was like, it was just wonderful.
448
:And I didn't want to, I should have
asked, I should have asked, but
449
:I felt like I have so many needs.
450
:I didn't want to bother somebody,
so that's one thing I would say,
451
:look for ways to help and you
don't want to impose yourself but.
452
:Offer in a positive way like, I noticed
this, could we help you with this?
453
:Instead of the let me know, because no
one, they're not going to let you know.
454
:They're not going to, most people are not.
455
:And then I guess the other
thing is just be sensitive.
456
:I started uh, CaringBridge and
a lot of people do that now.
457
:To help people know how to pray
because just going to church was
458
:so hard because people would ask
the same question over and over.
459
:it's cathartic to, to say it a few times,
460
:but you don't want to have
to repeat it so often.
461
:And sometimes your kids are there.
462
:So just to be sensitive.
463
:Stephanie: You like to write
and to process that way
464
:or was it purely practical
465
:Nicole: It, It was helpful.
466
:It helped me process.
467
:And now I'll sometimes
even go back and look.
468
:Because I saw God working so much
and it reminds me of how He worked so
469
:clearly and faithfully in like amazing
ways during that very hard time.
470
:Stephanie: Yes,
471
:if you could go back.
472
:At the beginning, when Jim
received the diagnosis,
473
:what
474
:would you tell yourself at
the beginning of the trial?
475
:Nicole: the I would tell
myself, it'll be okay.
476
:And that is now, my family
knows, that's my mantra now.
477
:To anything I always say, and I
started it in that trial because I
478
:always told the kids when we were
worried about something,, I would say.
479
:But it'll be okay.
480
:And then we would say we know why, right?
481
:Because no matter what Jesus
is going to be with us.
482
:He's going to help us.
483
:We don't know what it's going
to look like, but it'll be okay.
484
:And so I wish I would know
that at the very beginning,
485
:but the Lord grew that in me.
486
:And so now we all laugh about it
because I'll say it all the time.
487
:I'll be like, if something I have,
I'll be like, it'll be okay.
488
:It'll be okay.
489
:And it will be okay.
490
:And when you go through.
491
:These deep valleys, the things in
life, really, it'll all be okay really,
492
:because we've already been through it.
493
:And not that I won't be through
it again, because I might.
494
:And we don't know what the Lord has
for me, but I know that we're going
495
:to be okay because of Jesus, right?
496
:Stephanie: Sometimes I think when you're
going through the heaviness, it's almost
497
:like the Lord gives you the grace to
handle the big thing, but then the small
498
:thing, the cabinet falling off of the
door or something sets you off, and
499
:you're like, I can't handle this too.
500
:Nicole: Yeah.
501
:Yeah.
502
:Stephanie: Was there anything else
that you wanted to share that
503
:you feel would minister to women
504
:? Nicole: I would just say one thing the
Lord impressed upon me and he was gracious
505
:to allow it is that with all the changes
with the kids, One of the things I asked
506
:the Lord, and I really determined to
do it to the best of my ability, was to
507
:be steady and to keep things constant.
508
:And so that way my children
would have some stability.
509
:So I was like, we're not, we
could have moved and might have.
510
:In hindsight, without marrying Dale
probably in time would have had to move.
511
:But I wanted to keep them in their
home, in their school, in their youth
512
:group, and I tried to be steady and
513
:unflustered, unflappable
in this so they feel safe.
514
:I just wanted to create a safe place
for the kids to grow up and feel safe.
515
:feel okay, all these things were
chaotic, but we have some things, the
516
:Lord, our school, our church, our home.
517
:And so I know not everybody
may be able to do that.
518
:But there are always things that you can
say, these are going to be a constant
519
:things, whatever it is, maybe we're
in a different home, but we're going
520
:to still read the same devotionals and
we're going to have our same routines.
521
:Are gonna be the same or whatever it
is to keep that consistency for kids.
522
:Stephanie: think that I've grown
523
:Nicole: in this season?
524
:I think that I've grown into that.
525
:I don't think that I was always like that.
526
:I think my temperament is somewhat
steadfast, but I think when I was
527
:younger, I was a little bit more on
that rollercoaster and the Lord had
528
:to train me, like literally train me
to be like no, we're not going ahead.
529
:We are not going to worry about tomorrow.
530
:That's another one of my verses.
531
:We are not going to worry about tomorrow.
532
:is enough worries of Nicole,
this is where we are today.
533
:You're, you can't, because you can't
let your mind go into all those places
534
:that then you're going to be in fear
535
:So I do think the Lord has trained
me in steadfastness and gentleness.
536
:I, I think praise the
Lord that He works on us,
537
:Right.
538
:Stephanie: Absolutely.
539
:And how else can you make
beauty from like that?
540
:Only he does that, such
a devastating situation.
541
:Nicole: Yeah.
542
:so hard.
543
:Stephanie: What were some
healthy ways that you
544
:taught your kids or yourself to take
their sadness to lament because it is
545
:healthy to grieve and that is biblical.
546
:Nicole: Yes.
547
:In our house, we just have a lot
of really open conversations.
548
:And so we talk about everything.
549
:And as things would have it, like
when something, would remind me of
550
:Jim or their dad, we would talk about
it and I'd be like, remember this?
551
:And then they would talk about it.
552
:And sometimes that would be a
happy thing and sometimes it
553
:would lead to them being sad.
554
:And I'd be like, that's okay.
555
:That's okay.
556
:We feel sad right now.
557
:Another thing, Elizabeth reminded
me of this today as I had them
558
:on his first birthday in heaven.
559
:They wrote a card and a note to their
dad and we just put it away for him.
560
:And we did little things to
celebrate his birthday together.
561
:So I think.
562
:Open, open communication, and a
little bit of that journaling.
563
:Our soul care people.
564
:The lady, Miss Jackie, had Elizabeth
make a scrapbook about her family and her
565
:dad, and that really helped her process.
566
:Michael did some other things
567
:But yeah, it was, I think that
was a really tangible thing that
568
:she still has to look back on
569
:Stephanie: because so much of it is,
You're wanting to keep the memory
570
:alive, of the person you lost.
571
:Nicole: And praise the Lord Dale
is really sweet about it too.
572
:He does not feel any awkwardness when we
talk about Jim and things like that, sure.
573
:So that's good.
574
:Amidst the heaviness of this topic, I
hope you can see how God was faithful.
575
:If you're looking to meet with a God
who longs to dwell with you, I encourage
576
:you to check out our other podcast, the
Dwelling Place Bible Plan for Busy Moms,
577
:so you can hear from his word every day.
578
:We know you're busy, mama.
579
:So we are truly grateful you joined us for
this episode of again, if you're looking
580
:for more information about building your
home on the foundation of Jesus Christ,
581
:head to www dot Entrusted Ministries
dot com to learn more about our study
582
:for moms Entrusted with a child's Heart.
583
:This scripture saturated study
has blessed families around the
584
:world, and we want it for you too.
585
:Before you go, I want to pray this
benediction over you from Second
586
:Thessalonians one 11 through 12.
587
:We're rooting for you to this end.
588
:We always pray for you that our God
may make you worthy of his calling
589
:and fulfill every resolve for good.
590
:And every work of faith by his power
so that the name of our Lord Jesus
591
:may be glorified in you and you
and Him according to the grace of
592
:our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
593
:Amen.
594
:Until we meet again.
