Keep or Ditch: Unpacking Christian Clichés in Singleness and Dating

Sarah Latham: I Didn't Expect This to be My Story. Life to the Full After Divorce.

What happens when life doesn’t turn out the way you expected? When the future you prayed for unravels, and you find yourself completely unprepared to be single… again? How do you make sense of God’s goodness when your story takes a turn you never saw coming? Sarah Latham was living what many of us dreamed of — married young, kids in her mid-twenties, years abroad with her husband, then home to build a shared mission and business together. And then, suddenly, she wasn’t. As she entered her thirties she found herself living a life that was not what she'd planned for (or what she'd prayed for). And yet, instead of spiralling into bitterness and despair, she has forged a new life that is truly filled with grace, joy and a beautifully intimacy with Jesus.  This conversation floored us. We were so taken aback by the incredibly intentional way that Sarah has walked through divorce and heartbreak. She is vulnerable without being a victim, hopeful without being naïve, and demonstrates how powerful it is to lean into your christian community in times of challenge.  In this conversation, we unpack: * What it looks like to choose to not walk in bitterness * The challenges of 'being all the departments' as a single woman * How listening and leaning into God is the secret to keeping a soft heart * That there is hope to be found, even when your prayers don't look like they're being answered * How important it is to preach to yourself.  Whether you’ve always been single, or you find yourself single again like Sarah, you're going to leave this conversation inspired and wanting to get to know the Jesus that Sarah talks about more. We did. Pull up a chair and listen to Episode 4 of The Leftovers Table.

Esther Bentley: The 'Professional Single'

What if singleness isn’t just for a season…? Is it better to settle or stay single? What do you do with the crippling 3am loneliness? These are just some of the questions Esther Bentley has faced, and come out the other side with some pretty thoughtful answers. We jokingly called Esther “the professional single,” not because she’s given up on love, but because she’s doing inspiring job of building a full, free, genuinely joyful life as a single woman. She’s wrestled honestly with the hard questions and emerged with some wisdom worth listening to. Esther is warm, funny, and deeply compassionate. A midwife and emergency nurse who’s worked around the world, she’s delivered babies, cared for people in crisis, and flown into remote communities — all while painting, cooking, exploring the world and being the world’s best aunt to her much-loved nieces and nephews.  In this conversation, we unpack: * What it looks like to take the risk of staying single instead of settling * The power of reframing the single narrative that the world offers * How to make the most of the gift of availability * Where to find comfort when you don’t have a partner * How to shed the dread around age milestones like 30 and 40 * Tips for travelling the world (and staying safe) as a single woman * What it looks like when God meets you in the depths of grief and loss We loved this chat with Esther, and if you’ve ever felt stuck wrestling with the big questions, lonely, questioned your path, or wondered what a good single life could actually look like, this one is for you. Pull up a chair and listen to Episode 3 of The Leftovers Table.

Keep or Ditch: Unpacking Christian Clichés in Singleness and Dating

Christian clichés: helpful or harmful? In Episode 2 of The Leftovers Table, we play a game of “Keep or Ditch,” unpacking the words and phrases that seem to dominate the Christian dating conversation, exploring whether they are actually helping or just making the single journey more confusing. Plus, we answer an audience request at the start with a little peek into Taryn’s career journey. The Leftovers Table is hosted by Taryn Watson (@tarynwatson_author) and Grace Walker.  Follow The Leftovers Table on Instagram @theleftoverstable

Pull Up a Chair: Why We Started The Leftovers Table

Tired of dating advice that makes you roll your eyes? Welcome to The Leftovers Table, the unfiltered podcast where Grace Walker and Taryn Watson talk all things faith, dating, the single Christian life. In this first episode, we introduce ourselves, spill the singleness advice that makes us cringe, and share one thing each that has actually helped us survive (and maybe even enjoy?) the solo road. Pull up a chair, grab a coffee (or wine... this is a judgement-free zone) and join us for Episode 1. Your hosts are Taryn Watson (@tarynwatson_author) and Grace Walker. Follow The Leftovers table on Instagram @theleftoverstable