124. Celebrating Mother’s Day (with Mary Jo Clark)

Guest Bio: After years of working in bakeries, coffee shops, and food trucks, Mary Jo Clark returned to her love of audio production and sharing stories. She is now a podcast producer and engineer for Our Daily Bread Ministries. Outside of her passion for creating excellent podcasts to encourage women, she is a talented baker. Her cookies and cupcakes are described by many as “legendary.” She’s married to her husband Russ, and they are proud parents of a beautiful one-year-old boy named Milo.

Show Summary: Motherhood is a hard journey full of joys and sorrows. If you’re a mother, what does your motherhood journey look like? If you’re not a mom, do you wish to be one? On this episode of God Hears Her, no matter if you have kids or not, we want to invite you to join a vulnerable conversation with Elisa Morgan (mother-through-adoption and grandmother), Eryn Eddy Adkins (new bonus mom), and Mary Jo Clark (mother to a one-year-old boy). Join these three women as they discuss the different types of mothers and mentors and rest in the truth that no matter what your experience looks like, you are not alone. Happy Mother’s Day! 

Notes and Quotes: 

• “There are so many ways to become a mother: adopting, fostering, becoming a stepmom or what I like to say “bonus mom,” and we want to make space for each experience.”—Eryn Eddy Adkins

• “I felt sad. I was mourning the loss of my old life. And then feeling immense guilt and shame because I loved this new baby so much, and I didn’t want to feel sad.”—Mary Jo Clark

• “If I had to put my finger on something that expresses the struggle or surprise of motherhood, it’s the lack of control.”—Elisa Morgan

• “The Lord is bringing me back to learning how to trust and depend on Him with the choices I make.”—Eryn Eddy Adkins

• “Sacrifice is an enormous part of motherhood.”—Elisa Morgan

• “It’s such an honor to be an influence on these girls’ lives. God trusts me to steward my influence on their lives and empower them in their voices and their own individuality.”—Eryn Eddy Adkins

• “Talk to people about the joys and the sorrows because it’s a rollercoaster of a job (motherhood), but it’s so beautiful.”—Mary Jo Clark

• “Your identity is not found in their emotional response.”—Eryn Eddy Adkins

• “I’m not responsible for my children’s choices. I’m responsible for my responses to their choices.”—Elisa Morgan

• “God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. And we’re not going to be. God can use our “Swiss cheese holes” to reveal our kids’ needs for Himself.”—Elisa Morgan

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author

• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

• Mary Jo’s Instagram: sugarcoated.bymj

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