by Dr. Deanna Shrodes | Dec 26, 2022 | Leadership, Ministry
A few decades ago, my husband hired a youth pastor at the church where we were serving as the lead pastors at the time. We had known this couple for several years, adored their family then, and still do now. Bart and Jen (not their real names) had felt a call to the...
by Dr. Deanna Shrodes | Dec 14, 2022 | Adoptees, Leadership, Ministry, Relationships, Weight Loss
This is me, getting ready to delve into a place that’s one of the most vulnerable for me, but I think someone needs to go there and I’m picking myself for the job. If someone doesn’t say to you, “Hey, I’m fat and need to get in shape and I could use your help…”...
by Dr. Deanna Shrodes | Dec 12, 2022 | Recovery, Leadership, Relationships, Trauma
Seven months ago I met my biological father, Gus, for the first time. Four months and fifteen days ago I brought him home to live with me, and became his full-time caregiver. It was the most amazing journey I have ever been on, and it was also one of the hardest. As...
by Dr. Deanna Shrodes | Nov 29, 2022 | Leadership
When I first began to openly share my deepest struggles, there was an immediate effort on the part of a few people to stop me. For example, when I shared from a stage that I struggled — and sometimes still struggle — with clinical depression, or that I...
by Dr. Deanna Shrodes | Nov 28, 2022 | Family
When I was younger, I fantasized about having the perfect family. Then I grew up and knocked myself out trying to have one. I have been married for thirty-five years. I believe marriage is about two people out-serving and out-forgiving each other. But for many years...
