My guest for The Happy Hour #133 is Kate Merrick. Kate is a writer, speaker, pastor’s wife, mama of a teen and a toddler, surfer, part-time cowgirl, and self-proclaimed chicken whisperer. She has been married to Britt for 19 years, and they live in Carpinteria, California, where they founded the Reality family of churches. In 2013, she endured the death of her daughter, Daisy Love, after suffering through cancer treatment for three and a half years. Kate is making her way back toward laughter, and finding life to be filled with good things.
In today's show, Kate and I chat about her new book: And Still She Laughs. I have read through most of the book already and was so impressed and surprised by the approach she took to write it. Instead of it being primarily the story of her grief, she details the stories of several women in the Bible who have suffered and persevered.
We also talk about her decision to get off social media preceding her daughter's death, and what led her to that decision. We chat about the tension between perspective and comparison – and how comparison robs us of our joy in living the life God has planned for us.
And finally (because what happy hour would be complete without it?), we discuss shark attacks and my paralyzing (and very rational) fear of being devoured by a shark.
{You can listen to the show HERE. And of course, I would love if you would share with your friends. Just use the FB & Twitter links at the end of this post!}
Links from the Show
Kate's Book: And Still She Laughs
Soul Surfer
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis + A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
What Kate is loving: Spring, making flower bouquets and her Magnolia Journal
Connect with Jamie
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Hi Jamie! Do you mind sharing the name of the book you are reading about the media FAST your family is planning to take? Thank you!!
It’s such a joy to listen to the way you encourage each other, it’s so genuine and raw.
Comparison in social media is such an important conversation- it’s really led my husband and I to tell all the bad, hard, rough stories even if they make us look bad. For the people out there struggling, vulnerability has set us free.
Thank you for this conversation!
I loved Kate @ If Gathering. I was so excited to listen to this episode. This was probably one of my favorites. I left feeling so inspired, and so hopeful.
It especially rang true that the Devil wants you to think you are the only one struggling with something. That truth knocked me on my butt.
Oh and sharks. No way.