WHAT YOU WILL HEAR
My guest for The Happy Hour # 233 is Lisa Leonard. Lisa is a momma, author, and business owner. Together with her husband Steve, they built a thriving jewelry business, Lisa Leonard Designs. Lisa and Steve have been married 20 years, and have two boys, David and Matthias. Steve and Lisa live in California and her first book, Brave Love, came out in January!
Lisa and I start off the show talking about how she started her business. Lisa then opens up about how she felt like the true Lisa was disappearing in efforts to accommodate others. I appreciated her honesty when she spoke about her fear of rejection when she decided that she wouldn't hide the true Lisa anymore. Lisa and I then talk about what it's been like parenting a special needs child. You will love hearing her story of how God prepared her heart for having a special needs child in the most incredible way through a non-verbal second grader. Lisa also shares about the grief she's been through. I think we can all relate when you hear her speak of the struggle of confronting dark places of grief instead of putting on a happy face and pretending we're okay. At the end of the show, I had Lisa do something I've never done on my show – read aloud from her book! I loved hearing her words, and I know you'll be encouraged to live life with Brave Love.
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LINKS FROM THE SHOW
- Lisa Leonard Designs
- Steven David Leonard
- Lisa's book: Brave Love
- What Lisa is loving: hot tea in the evening, power naps, Aquaphor lip balm
- What Lisa is reading: Becoming by Michelle Obama, In Pieces by Sally Field
- What Jamie is reading: Afraid of All the Things by Scarlet Hiltibidal, Becoming by Michelle Obama
- Come join The Happy Hour on Patreon
- If You Only Knew
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Yes! I am encouraged to live life with brave love! Thank you, thank you, thank you for having Lisa read the introduction to her book. I was impressed with and inspired by her honesty throughout the podcast, but it wasn’t until she read her book that “Brave Love” truly made sense to me. I believe that listening to her read has changed the trajectory of my relationships, and that is no exaggeration.
This past week I asked God to show me where I am trying to be perfect instead of being faithful and obedient and resting in His grace and goodness. Oh my, He has heard my cry. This podcast came at a turning point in the way that I love, Jamie, and I am so thankful. I see that I have misunderstood what it means to truly love. AND I see that I am loving where I thought I was failing.
I was so very encouraged when she began describing (brave) love; but when she said “sometimes love means yelling and screaming and laying everything out on the table” I burst into tears, saying “Thank You Jesus! Thank You Jesus! Thank You Jesus!” again and again. What incredible timing. I’m not a yeller or a screamer, but the night before listening to this I had, for the first time, yelled out my emotions and fears to my husband. He responded with such grace, but I felt like a failure. I was failing at love. I wasn’t living up to the my understanding of “perfect” love. This is such a turning point for me. I see now that my husband and I are in the middle of love; I DO love my husband and that is why we’re honest about our failures.
I continued to respond to Lisa’s definition of love with “yes, yes, yes!” And later shouted “Hallelujah!” Oh I’m so thankful for this new revelation of love. Jamie, I think this podcast has been truly life changing. Thank you.
And would you please send this to Lisa? I’m not quite sure how to do that. Lisa, thank you. Thank you for your faithfulness.