As I have listened to the stories of friends’ prodigals and prayed for my son and many others, God took me on a journey back into the wilderness.

Gratefully I was reminded over and over of the transforming truths that I have learned on that path. And I am still learning.

These truths are gifts! Let me remind us all of some of the gifts we receive on a prodigal journey.

Judy’s Resources:

• Read God's Birthday Gifts to Me: https://bit.ly/3UCFo3c
• Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ
• Sign up for Judy’s monthly newsletter here: https://bit.ly/39TBlYt
• Purchase a copy of the When You Love a Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• Twitter: twitter.com/judydouglass417
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/judyddouglass/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass

Today, October 29, 2024, marks two years since my wonderful husband, Steve, was called home to Heaven.

He was a wise, loving man, and had much to offer everyone he encountered. Today’s podcast is a gift from Steve, telling of his walk with God and his discovery of true peace. I believe you will be blessed by it.

Judy’s Resources:

• Read How to Live and Love Like Jesus by Steve Douglass: https://bit.ly/3C5YgB5
• Read Living Under Pressure by Steve Douglass: https://bit.ly/3O3UN93
• Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ
• Sign up for Judy’s monthly newsletter here: https://bit.ly/39TBlYt
• Purchase a copy of the When You Love a Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• Twitter: twitter.com/judydouglass417
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/judyddouglass/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass

In all my years of loving a prodigal and seeking to help others love their prodigal, one word has been the key, the difference, the change agent: GRACE

Early in my journey with my prodigal, God gave me a guiding word. He said, “When you make mistakes with this boy, and you will, (and I did), make them on the side of grace.”

There is so much grace for you and your prodigal in this episode.

Judy’s Resources:

• Read Amazing Grace! blog: https://bit.ly/3C32JnT
• Free Ebook, Embracing Grace: https://judydouglass.com/embracinggrace
• Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ
• Sign up for Judy’s monthly newsletter here: https://bit.ly/39TBlYt
• Purchase a copy of the When You Love a Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• Twitter: twitter.com/judydouglass417
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/judyddouglass/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass

About 10 years ago we went through a scary time with our adopted son.

Josh had twice, in response to great disappointments, threatened to take his life. We reasoned with him, assured him of our love, stayed with him. Gratefully, he backed down, but we were on alert.

Josh’s birth grandfather—Papa—was the most important person in his life. Papa was slowly failing, with various ailments claiming more and more of his 88-year-old body. We were holding our breath.

Have you been in that place with your prodigal—fearful of what the next steps might be? Don’t miss this episode.

Judy’s Resources:

• Read When Life Gets Scary: https://bit.ly/489RAh3
• Read Words of Hope: https://bit.ly/484KjPP
• Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ
• Sign up for Judy’s monthly newsletter here: https://bit.ly/39TBlYt
• Purchase a copy of the When You Love a Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• Twitter: twitter.com/judydouglass417
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/judyddouglass/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass

Does that title entice you? In your journey with a prodigal, would you like to be moving from guilt to grace? Our guest today is Dawn Ward, a life and mental health coach, writer, speaker, and one of us. Her ministry is Faith to Flourish and her brand new book is From Guilt to Grace. After a long family journey of prodigalness, addiction and guilt, an “aha” moment marked the turning point.

Dawn’s Resources:

• Website: https://www.thefaithtoflourish.com
• Buy From Guilt to Grace: https://a.co/d/3quYWbP
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/thefaithtoflourishwithdawnward
• Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefaithtoflourishblog
• Follow on FB: https://www.facebook.com/thefaithtoflourish
• Enter to win a copy of From Guilt to Grace: https://judydouglass.com/bookgiveaway

Judy’s Resources:

• Read The Dust of Our Lives: https://bit.ly/47ZA13x
• Read Grace Stoops: https://bit.ly/3XVwYoi
• Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ
• Sign up for Judy’s monthly newsletter here: https://bit.ly/39TBlYt
• Purchase a copy of the When You Love a Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass

It’s noisy out there, isn’t it? Online, at school, in the neighborhood. And certainly in your home when you have a prodigal. So many strong but differing opinions!

We often seem to be more committed to making our point and hopefully getting others to agree. We don’t always listen to what others are saying.

If you think about it, asking questions implies something so critical to relating to others: a willingness to listen.

Judy’s Resources:

• Read Jesus on Leading: Be an Advocate: https://bit.ly/3zuF2UZ
• Read Listen to Someone You Love: https://bit.ly/4eLQDxO
• Read How’s Your Heart: Questions from Michelle Beckman: https://bit.ly/4eKZwYw
• Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ
• Sign up for Judy’s monthly newsletter here: https://bit.ly/39TBlYt
• Purchase a copy of the When You Love a Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• Twitter: twitter.com/judydouglass417
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/judyddouglass/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass

Today, I am chatting with Nancy Squires, and she's a new friend. And she has a ministry called the Just Be Held Retreats, and we're going to get to learn what those are, how they came about, and how you might engage.

Nancy’s Resources:

• Website: https://justbeheldministries.org
• Follow on Instagram: instagram.com/justbeheldretreats

On the website, you can find information regarding their retreats, extra resources and ways to make a tax-deductible donation.

Judy’s Resources:

• Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ
• Sign up for Judy’s monthly newsletter here: https://bit.ly/39TBlYt
• Purchase a copy of the When You Love a Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass

It’s the five year anniversary of my book, When You Love a Prodigal, the inspiration for this podcast! So I thought we should take it back to the beginning of the podcast and revisit the core question of “what is a prodigal?”.

People ask me what “prodigal” means—there are several definitions out there. We will define what we are meaning on this podcast and the how, when and why a person might become a prodigal. Some are rebellious or "bad," but many begin to make destructive choices because of the challenges in their lives, because of many levels of trauma.

Judy’s Resources:

• Turning Curses into Blessings blog post
• Restoring Prodigals blog post
• Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ
• Sign up for Judy’s monthly newsletter here: https://bit.ly/39TBlYt
• Purchase a copy of the When You Love a Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• Twitter: twitter.com/judydouglass417
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/judyddouglass/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass