The first interview I ever did on this podcast was about how we are all connected with each other. It was episode 8 where my wife and I sat in the living room of two friends from church, Charley and Ruth. It’s where Charley shared the story of what his wife Ruth and their daughter did to help bring healing and closure to the death of Charley’s first wife, some 30 years ago.
It's a remarkable story I'm re-telling today because of the relationship lessons it illustrates.
Welcome to You Were Made for This
If you find yourself wanting more from your relationships, you’ve come to the right place. Here you’ll discover practical principles to experience the life-giving relationships you were made for. I am your host, John Certalic, your award-winning author and relationship coach, here to help you find more joy in the relationships God designed for you.
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Interview with Charley and Ruth Shirley – an Encore from episode 008
Here we go with my interview with Charley and Ruth Shirley. It’s one of my favorites.
Sorry, there’s no transcript available of the interview. Click here to listen to it.
Connected with each other: final thoughts
This interview really touched me. In reflecting on it, I came away with eight lessons I learned from my conversation with Charley and Ruth. I spoke with Carol about them and she said if I talked about them now, it would detract from the power of the interview itself, “just get off the air as quickly as you can,” was her advice. So I’m going to do just that.
That was good advice from Carol way back in episode 8. What we decided to do back then, and what we’re doing this time, is to use next week’s episode, to go over the 8 lessons I learned from Charley's story. They are practical relationship principles we can use in our own relationships. We’ll have all that for you in episode 172 next week.
So what does what you heard in this interview mean for YOU?
It raises two questions. The first is like the healing Charley experienced 30 some years after a tragedy in his life; where have you seen God care for you in unusual or mysterious ways?
It also makes me wonder if there are opportunities God is placing in front of you to honor someone, to care for another in ways that reflect the image and character of God? Similar to how Charley’s wife, Ruth, and his daughter Lucy cared for him.
Here’s the main takeaway I hope you remember from today’s episode
We are all connected with each other because we’re all created in the image of God. It’s what enables us to bring healing and comfort to each other.
Closing
In closing, I hope today's show stimulated your thinking. To put into practice what you’ve just heard about how we are connected with each other. For we are all created in the image of God and designed to reflect that image well.
Well, that’s about it for today. I’d love to hear any thoughts you have about today’s program. If you think of someone who could benefit from today’s show, please send them a link to today’s episode, JohnCertalic.com/171.
And also, don’t forget to spread a little relational sunshine around the people you meet this week. Spark some joy for them. And I’ll see you again next time.
Quote of the Week
“Often we are attached to people in ways we don’t understand.”
– Ruth Shirley, and her daughter Lucy
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