The Story He Knew I Need
I almost missed it.
I was reviewing Emily Kulp's blog article "Broken Plates" one day in May, preparing to create the graphics and social media content to share it with our community in July. It was work. It was a task on my list. And then, at 8:15 the next morning, it became exactly what I needed.
8:15 AM and I had already blown past my window of tolerance. My coonhound, Chicory, had left an accidental mess by the back door. I was out of paper towels. My black lab, Creole, was walking in it. There was mud, and wild rabbits, and two dogs that wouldn't listen no matter how loud I raised my voice. There was a door slammed hard enough to knock a picture off the wall and send a Zevo plug-in skidding across the floor in pieces, dead moths ejected from the sticky surface. And then my husband appeared after hearing the commotion, and his timing was not great.
Here's what made it almost funny, in hindsight: minutes before all of this, I had been sitting with Jesus. In the quiet of my morning, I had asked Him what He wanted me to know. And I heard, clear as anything, "Take every thought captive. Don't give the enemy a seat at your table. That's easier when you invite me to help."
And then BOOM.
The meltdown arrived right on schedule. And right behind it came the voice I know far too well. The one that doesn't miss an opportunity.
You're a horrible person. A horrible pet parent. A horrible neighbor. A horrible wife. How could you lose it like that? Your husband is so disappointed in you. And so is Jesus, especially after what He just spoke to you. You should be ashamed of yourself.
At first, like an old habit, I believed it. But after a deep breath and a few tears, I changed the narrative: "No. Shame off me."
I went back to Emily's article. And something deeper in me exhaled.
Because she had been there too. Not in the same kitchen, not with my dogs, not with the same exact breaking point. But in that same human place where we snap and spiral and the shame voice shows up uninvited and very, very loud. She had written about it honestly, vulnerably, without tying it up neatly. And because she had, I felt less alone in my perimenopausal meltdown at 8:15 on a Friday morning.
And here's what I chose to do next. Instead of pouring myself into work and blowing past it the way I might have in the past, I stopped. I chose to reset with Jesus and spend time with Him around it, sitting in the discomfort instead of outrunning it. Swimming in the grey. That's the work, isn't it? Not the cleaning up of the mess, but the pausing. The turning toward Him instead of away.
“In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed; In Your righteousness deliver me.” - Psalm 31:1 (NASB)
This is what happens when we share our stories honestly.
Not the polished versions. Not the ones where we already have the answer and we're writing from the other side of the breakthrough. The real ones. The broken plates and slammed doors and voices that tell us we should be ashamed.
When we share those stories, other women see themselves. And something shifts. The shame loses just a little of its grip because it no longer gets to tell us we're the only one.
This is exactly what I watch happen inside our Hello, Freedom! Community. Women share something real, something they've never said out loud, and another woman responds with, "Me too." And in that moment, something that felt like a secret becomes a bridge.
You don't have to have it figured out to encourage someone else. You just have to be willing to tell the truth about where you are.
If you haven't read Emily's article, I hope you will. Not because it will fix anything, but because it might make you feel exactly the way it made me feel.
Less alone. A little more seen. And ready to reset with Jesus instead of powering through.
That's the gift of someone else's story. And it's one of the reasons the Hello, Freedom! Community exists. I hope you'll join us!
Chrissy Kirkman
FINDINGbalance Executive Director. Old School Food Freedom Podcast Host. Bonus Mom. Worship Leader. Animal Voice-Over Specialist. Freedom Fighter. Overcomer.
Could you relate to this story? Maybe parts of it felt familiar or reminded you that others truly understand what you're walking through. That's why we created the Hello, Freedom! Community, a safe space where women gather to find freedom from eating disorders and food and body image struggles in Christ-centered community.
Whether you're looking for connection, prayer, or ongoing encouragement, there's a place for you here.
Head here to find your place and join us!
FINDINGbalance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing non-clinical support and encouragement to those battling food issues. The contents of this blog article, including any attachments, are for educational purposes only and are not intended to diagnose, treat, or prescribe a particular course of action. If you or someone you care about is battling an eating disorder, please seek care from a licensed professional. If you are in crisis and need immediate support, please call, text, or chat 988 to speak with someone at the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 24/7.
