Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 48:41 — 66.9MB)
Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS | More
Have you ever thought….“God could never love me”? “I’ve done so many things that make me unworthy of His love.” “His love is meant for others, but not for me.”
These are LIES based deeply in shame and brokenness, and rooted in distortions that develop as a consequence of sins committed against us for which we bear no responsibility, as well as sins that we commit by our own choices. We do not trust that God loves us unfathomably, unconditionally, and more intimately than we can imagine.
God Our Father wants you and I to know we are deeply loved, right here, right now.
Sr. Miriam James Heidland, author of “Loved As I Am” knows intensely what it feels like to believe the lie that she could never be worthy of the Father’s love.
Sr. Miriam shares so intimately with us the chronicles of her life – a story still unfolding, yet so full of hope. From the wounds she experienced from the very beginnings of her life, to childhood and adolescent sexual trauma, to alcoholism, perfectionism, promiscuity, Sr. Miriam helps us today to connect the dots of how she was able to open to Christ to receive His redemption and freedom through the intercession of her mother, and the gift of a holy priest who became her spiritual father.
Sr. Miriam bears witness that her journey has been (and still is at times) long and quite painful. However, she wants us to know that it’s so worth it, and points us today to the pathway of healing. Her story and her testimony offer tremendous hope for us all to discover our beauty, our dignity, and our authentic identity as beloved daughters of the Most High God.
Here are important questions for each one of us to ask ourselves:
Do I really want healing, or will I continue to seek momentary comfort in a particular area of my life? Do I fearfully cling to my “security blanket” that only masks my deeper pain-my anger, my shame, substances, promiscuity, victimhood….
OR…..am I ready (with courage, faith, and grace) to open, to know, and receive the very birthright of my identity as a beloved daughter of the Most High God? To be “Loved as I am”?
Listen in today to Sr. Miriam as she helps us ponder further upon these questions.
QUOTES:
“The one who has hope, lives differently” Pope Benedict XVI
“Every time you tell your truth, you let in a little of God’s light and healing.” (Sr. Miriam’s therapist)
“To reach it, it is not enough to stop at the surface of human actions. It is necessary to penetrate inside”. (St. John Paul II, TOB 4:1)
RESOURCES:
Sr. Miriam on Twitter: @onegroovynun
Loved As I Am – Sr. Miriam James Heidland
Unbound/Heart of the Father: Neal Lozano
Chronicles of Narnia – Story of Eustis
Staci , I just love your voice . 🙂
It is pleasant and great for podcasting. I can just listen to you all day long. Haha
Don’t you just love Sr. Miriam James? :D. She is one of my favorite person on this earth!
I discovered here from steubenville youth conference.
Which led to my conversion to the Catholic Church.
God Bless you sister ! 😀
Praying for the both you sister and Staci! 🙂
Hi Christian! I’m so appreciative of your kind comments and encouragement. And, I do indeed LOVE Sr. Miriam:) What a beautiful witness she is to a broken world so in need of hope.
I’m grateful as well for your prayers, and am offering prayers for you as well o your journey. Great job on your blog! BTW..I’m a convert, too:)
God bless you, Christian!
Thank so much Staci means alot 🙂
You are very sweet 🙂
I am so glad to be apart of this Catholic family 🙂
This was a wonderful podcast. I could have listened to Sr. Miriam for hours. Thought provoking and filled with hope. I am definitely going to get her book.
Hi Mary,
I’m so with you! I could listen to Sr. Miriam forever as well:) There was so much that she shared that resonated in my heart, and already just from posting the interview yesterday, it seems it is resonating with others as well. I’m so happy to hear that you were inspired with hope – praise God!
I most certainly recommend her book. Additionally, she has a great EWTN interview with Barbara McGuigan (from July 2015 I think) that I did forget to link to in the show notes – gotta update that asap so everyone can check that out as well. I found it to be a very moving interview.
Thanks so much, Mary, and God bless you!
Staci