How Do You Survive the Loss of a Child? Finding Grace in Grief with Jody Hudson

How Do You Survive the Loss of a Child? Finding Grace in Grief with Jody Hudson

Get a copy of the chapter “Grace: God’s Power to Crush the Impossible” from Thriving in Grace: Unleashing Wellness from a Biblical Perspective at karenadittman.com  Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb]  Connect with Jody at https://alexhudsonlymefoundation.com [https://alexhudsonlymefoundation.com/]  How do you go on after losing a child?  Where is God in prolonged suffering—and in the moment of goodbye?  And what does faith look like when healing doesn’t come the way you prayed for?  In this episode of The Grace Cycle Show, Karen Dittman talks with Jody Hudson, who shares the story of her daughter Alex’s 10-year battle with undiagnosed Lyme disease—and the grief, faith, and surrender that followed her passing at age 22.  Jody opens up about:  * Alex’s long and difficult journey to diagnosis, including treatment efforts across the country   * The emotional and spiritual toll of watching a child suffer without clear answers   * A sacred final moment when Jody gave Alex permission to let go—and Alex passed peacefully   She also shares her own life story:  * Growing up in foster care and being adopted into a home marked by alcoholism   * Walking through divorce and financial loss   * And how learning to release control and trust God reshaped her faith over time   Out of her grief, Jody chose to build something that helps others:  * Founding the Alex Hudson Lyme Foundation to support research, treatment access, and education   * Creating a Lyme disease awareness patch for Girl Scouts   * Writing her book, My Promise to Alex, with proceeds supporting the foundation   This episode is for anyone asking:  * “How do I live with grief that never fully goes away?”   * “Can I still trust God after losing someone I love?”   * “What does surrender actually look like in real life?”   * “How can I honor someone I’ve lost in a meaningful way?”   If you’re carrying grief—or walking closely with someone who is—this conversation offers a quiet but powerful reminder: grace doesn’t remove the pain, but it can hold you through it and help you keep loving, even after loss.  00:00 Suffering and Grace  00:38 Jody Story Begins  02:13 Choosing to Show Up  03:49 Surrendering Control  08:44 Alex Lyme Journey  11:41 Diagnosis and Final Year  14:35 Parting Gift and Hope  19:28 Foundation and Legacy  22:29 Writing the Book  26:13 Get Involved and Resources  27:32 Key Takeaway and Closing  28:54 Host Wrap Up Grace  Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

Can Dyslexia Be an Advantage? What Actually Helps Kids Learn to Read with Russell Van Brocklen

Get a copy of the chapter “Grace: God’s Power to Crush the Impossible” from Thriving in Grace: Unleashing Wellness from a Biblical Perspective at karenadittman.com  Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb]  Connect with Russel at https://dyslexiaclasses.com/ [https://dyslexiaclasses.com/]  Why is my child struggling to read—and what actually helps?  Is dyslexia a lifelong limitation, or can it become a strength?  And how do you keep hope when learning feels impossible?  In this episode of The Grace Cycle Show, Karen Dittman talks with Russell Van Brocklen, who shares his personal journey with dyslexia, the setbacks he faced in higher education, and the breakthroughs he now attributes to God’s grace.  Russell explains:  * What’s happening in the brain with dyslexia—including differences in reading activation and word processing  * Why many traditional approaches fall short  * And how dyslexia can become an advantage when taught the right way  He also demonstrates a practical, structured method that helps students build:  * Reading, spelling, and grammar through typing-based sentence work  * Confidence by using topics tied to a child’s interests (“specialty”)  * Accuracy through reading aloud and self-correction  * Mastery through intentional repetition and rewriting  Russell shares real-world outcomes from:  * A low-cost education program with measurable improvement  * A homeschool case where a student’s reading and writing scores increased dramatically in under a year  The conversation also explores:  * How to move into more advanced writing using themes, quotes, and structured reasoning (“warrants”)  * Why persistence, encouragement, and the right tools matter more than labels  * And how faith shapes resilience when learning feels discouraging  This episode is for anyone asking:  * “What actually works for dyslexia?”  * “Can my child catch up in reading and writing?”  * “How do I help a struggling learner without frustration or shame?”  * “Is there hope when school isn’t working?”  Russell’s message is both practical and hopeful: with the right approach, what once felt impossible can become a pathway to strength—and grace meets us in the process.  Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

How Do You Stop Feeling “Not Enough”? Finding Courage and Starting Over with Bernice McDonald

Get a copy of the chapter “Grace: God’s Power to Crush the Impossible” from Thriving in Grace: Unleashing Wellness from a Biblical Perspective at karenadittman.com  Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb]  Connect with Bernice at tinybravesteps.com  What if the voice telling you you’re “not enough” has been shaping your entire life?  How do you start over after a major life change—especially in midlife?  And how do you move forward when fear feels louder than faith?  In this episode of The Grace Cycle Show, Karen Dittman talks with Berniece McDonald, who shares her journey from striving and self-doubt into a life marked by courage, clarity, and God’s grace.  Berniece opens up about:  * Growing up with a deep belief that she was “not enough”  * How that belief shaped her identity, relationships, and first marriage  * The turning point of leaving that marriage after 24 years and starting over in a new city  During six years of singleness, Berniece began doing the deeper work of transformation:  * Facing fear instead of avoiding it  * Asking, “Who gets to define who I am?”  * Training in healthy relationships and coaching practices  * Using tools like externalizing fear and keeping a strengths journal  She now helps midlife women move from “not enough” to “brave enough” through what she calls tiny brave steps—small, consistent choices that build real courage over time.  Berniece also shares:  * How she met her current husband in an unexpected, ordinary moment  * Practical ways to take your next step—even when you feel afraid  * And how grace creates space for growth without shame  This episode is for anyone asking:  * “Why do I always feel like I’m falling short?”  * “Is it too late for me to change my life?”  * “How do I rebuild after divorce or a major transition?”  * “How do I become someone who is brave, not just trying to survive?”  If you’re ready to stop living under the weight of “not enough,” this conversation offers a powerful truth: courage doesn’t come from eliminating fear—it grows one small, brave step at a time, grounded in grace.  00:00 Fear of Not Enough  00:17 Welcome to Grace Cycle  00:48 Weighed and Wanting  02:41 Divorce and Aftermath  05:44 Six Years of Becoming  09:19 Not Enough to Brave Enough  11:12 Childhood Messages  13:01 God Meets Her in Fear  15:00 Dating and Fear Fred  18:22 Healthy Love and Remarriage  23:56 Tiny Brave Steps Bridge  27:47 Journaling for Strength  28:54 Books and Brave Tool  30:37 Courage Quote Takeaway  31:42 Final Wrap and Next Steps  Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

What Do You Do After a Life-Altering Accident? Faith, Health, and Purpose with Rob Rene

Get a copy of the chapter “Grace: God’s Power to Crush the Impossible” from Thriving in Grace: Unleashing Wellness from a Biblical Perspective at karenadittman.com  Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb]  Connect with Rob at exodusstrong.com  What happens when your life changes in an instant?  How do you rebuild your purpose after a devastating accident?  And how can faith reshape the way you approach health, healing, and hope?  In this episode of The Grace Cycle Show, Karen Dittman talks with Rob Rene, who shares his remarkable journey of surviving a devastating accident in college after being struck by a truck—and how that moment became the beginning of a deeper search for truth, health, and faith.  Rob reflects on:  * The long road of recovery and how the experience reshaped his priorities  * A second major life disruption during the COVID-era pandemic  * His growing frustration with aspects of the healthcare system and desire to explore alternative approaches to wellness  Through that search, Rob began reading the Bible daily, which he says transformed his faith and clarified his calling. He now focuses on encouraging others to pursue a mind–body–spirit approach to health, grounded in biblical principles and personal responsibility.  Rob also shares about his wellness initiative, Exodus Strong, and how his work blends faith practices with natural health strategies, including:  * Biblical herbs traditionally associated with wellness  * Prayer and spiritual discipline  * Lifestyle tools such as light therapy and other wellness practices  The conversation also highlights the role of community—especially a men’s group in Texas that encouraged Rob to speak more openly about faith and purpose.  This episode is for anyone asking:  * “How do I rebuild after a life-changing accident?”  * “What role does faith play in physical and emotional healing?”  * “How can I find purpose after major disruption?”  * “How do I live with hope when life doesn’t go as planned?”  Rob’s story points to a simple but powerful truth: if you still have breath, God still has a purpose for your life.  00:00 Miracle Survival Story  01:18 Runner Hit by Truck  02:29 Pandemic Wake Up Call  04:38 Research and Bible Revival  06:01 Health Solutions by Faith  07:49 Flexner Report Corruption  09:51 Mighty Men Brotherhood  12:48 Bible Meets Body Science  13:40 Frequencies and Healing Patches  17:33 Hydrogen and Biblical Herbs  19:20 Frequencies and Faith  20:09 Prayer and Physical Impact  21:57 Crystals Without Idolatry  23:12 Patches and Stored Information  24:40 Oils Herbs and Sound  26:02 Molecular Hydrogen Explained  27:12 Biblical Herbs and Inflammation  30:37 Gluten Free Clarification  31:15 Where to Find Exodus  33:16 Hope Filled Takeaway  34:37 Host Reflection and Next Steps  Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

Surviving the Killing Fields: Sarah Im on Faith, Escape, and Hope After Genocide

Get a copy of the chapter “Grace: God’s Power to Crush the Impossible” from Thriving in Grace: Unleashing Wellness from a Biblical Perspective at karenadittman.com  Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb]  Connect with Sara and find her book How I Survived the Killing Fields at https://www.saraim.com/  How do you keep going when you’re sent away to die?  Where is God in genocide, forced labor, and starvation?  And how can hope survive when almost no one does?  In this episode of The Grace Cycle Show, Karen Dittman speaks with Sarah Im, who shares her harrowing true story of survival during the communist takeover of Cambodia in the mid-1970s.  Sarah recounts:  * Being trapped in a forced labor camp during the Killing Fields  * Becoming gravely ill and being sent to a doctorless “hospital” to die  * How prayer preceded an unexpected transfer to kitchen work that saved her life  * Four more years of forced labor as camp populations dropped dramatically  When remaining survivors were moved into the jungle, Sarah escaped at night with three friends—only to discover her hometown destroyed, her country already liberated, and her family scattered. Her journey continued through a dangerous escape across the Thailand border, a United Nations refugee camp, and finally to the United States with the help of her uncle and a church women’s ministry.  Sarah also shares:  * How faith sustained her when survival felt impossible  * Why love and hope still matter after mass trauma  * And her call to compassion and advocacy for today’s refugees  She reflects on her memoir, How I Survived the Killing Fields, and the responsibility we share to remember, to care, and to act.  This episode is for anyone asking:  * “How do people survive unimaginable suffering?”  * “Where is God when evil seems to win?”  * “What does faith look like after genocide?”  * “How can I help refugees in meaningful ways?”  If you’ve ever wondered whether hope can endure the worst humanity can inflict, Sarah’s story is a powerful reminder: grace can survive even the killing fields—and love can still carry the story forward.  00:00 Survival Question Intro  00:56 Life Before the Regime  01:57 City Takeover Evacuation  04:49 Forced Labor and Illness  06:12 Prayer and Kitchen Rescue  09:12 Four Years of Hope  10:47 Escape Into Freedom  13:59 Homecoming and Recovery  17:27 Border Crossing to America  19:26 Gods Timing Reflections  22:54 Church Help for Refugees  27:03 Book and Key Takeaway  30:41 Closing Grace Reflection  Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb