187. Building Community as a Mom (with Tara Edelschick and Kathy Tuan)

Guest Bio: Tara Edelschick is a teacher, a writer, mother of three, and grandmother. For three decades, she has worked as an educator, teaching public high school students in New York, graduate students at Harvard's School of Education, homeschoolers in Massachusetts, and incarcerated men taking college courses through the Emerson Prison Initiative. In her church, you can find her speaking at a women's conference or marriage retreat, teaching Sunday school, gathering mothers for prayer and Bible study, or leading retreats for families. 

 

Guest Bio: Kathy Tuan-MacLean is the national faculty ministry director for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, where she invites and resources faculty to follow Jesus together. Since joining InterVarsity in 1990, she has led numerous students and faculty in Bible study, spiritual formation, and leadership development. She is also a spiritual director who has led marriage ministry and women's retreats. Kathy is married to Scott, and they have three young adult children and an overanxious mini labradoodle. 

 

Show Summary: Did you know that 65-70% of moms struggle with feeling alone? Finding community can be hard during any part of life, but especially while you’re taking care of a child or children. Stay-at-home moms often live repetitive days at home with only their children, while working moms balance a schedule of feeling like they need to be in two places at once. How can moms find people to do life with? Tara Edelschick and Kathy Tuan-MacLean understand the struggle firsthand. Join them as they share their advice with hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy Adkins for this special Mother’s Day conversation on God Hears Her.  

 

Notes and Quotes:  

• “God did not intend us to go through life alone, gutting through it and hiding out in the pantry eating cookies. We might still go hid in the pantry to eat cookies, but God wants to give us a friend to talk to about it.” —Tara Edelschick 

• “Women want to be seen and heard by God and by each other.” —Tara Edelschick 

• “But because God loves to answer prayers that are in God's will, and that we be in community is definitely in God’s will, it is always a gift. And I believe that it’s a gift God wants to give us.” —Kathy Tuan-MacLean 

• “God invites you to share your story. God asks you to trust and obey. God transforms your pain and then invites you to be an agent of shalom.” —Tara Edelschick 

• “As long as you don’t say no [to God using your story], no matter what you’re going through as a mom, there is transformation. God can use you, and all the pain you’ve been through, to help you be an agent of shalom—in your family and in the world. “—Tara Edelschick   

Verses:  

• Hagar’s Story: Genesis 16 

• Samaritan Women: John 4 

• Racheal & Leah: Genesis 29:1–30:24 

 

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