Sweet Like Jasmine takes readers on Gray’s heart-breaking journey of faith after, at age 39, finding her long-forgotten birth certificate that sparked something that could not be ignored. She set out and uncovered family secrets found her childhood home and the father who left her when she was seven years old. As she returned to the places, culture, and stories that shaped her life, Gray realized that it’s only when we learn to embrace the truth of our past that we can finally make sense of our present and celebrate what truly matters.
I was following everyone else’s journey, except my own. I gave up on myself,” writes Gray. “But God didn’t give up on me. He tenderly gathered all the broken fragments I tried to throw away.” He whispered, ‘What no one wants, I cherish. You are worth loving. You are My beloved.’”
Unhurried in Order to Heal our Hearts
In this powerful episode, “Unhurried to Heal our Hearts,” author Bonnie Gray shares her powerful story.
I was introduced to Bonnie way back in the day when she wrote, “Finding Spiritual Whitespace.” Just take a look here and drink in the peace.
So you can imagine my ecstatic response when Bonnie said, “YES,” to be on the podcast. She is a jewel and I am so excited to share her story and presence with you all.
In this episode, you will:
- Hear Bonnie’s story and hopefully her story will inform your story.
- Recognize that you don’t have to “hide” your mental health challenges.
- Understand the powerful influence a mother has on your formation.
- Be inspired to trace God’s hand in your own life story.
- Be invited to unfold like the beautiful jasmine flower.
- Realize your value, worth, and dignity, despite the negative, limiting beliefs that have been spoken over you.
- Start your HEARTLIFTING JOURNEY today.
This week’s resources
Welcome to The Heartlifter Way—a gentle path back to yourself.
Hosted by award-winning author Janell Rardon, this podcast is a calm, reflective space where healing begins not with pressure or perfection, but with presence, awareness, and grace. Rooted in a somatic, mind-body approach, each episode invites you to reconnect your thoughts, feelings, and body—learning to move from overwhelm and anxiety into a steadier, more grounded way of living. Through gentle teachings on nervous system regulation, emotional healing, and embodied awareness, you’ll begin to live The Heartlifter Way.
How much can one heart hold? And how do we recognize when we're carrying more than we have the emotional capacity to manage?
In this episode of The Heartlifter Way, we explore the meaning of emotional capacity—our ability to experience difficult emotions, navigate uncertainty, and remain grounded without losing ourselves in the process.
Drawing inspiration from Chris M. Courey's What to Do with What You Feel, we'll consider the difference between emotional strength and emotional overfunctioning, the wisdom of listening to our nervous systems, and why growing our capacity doesn't always mean learning to carry more.
Through personal reflections, practical tools, and the beautiful invitation of Luke 13:10–17, we'll discover what it means to become women who can love deeply, honor their limits, and make room for joy—even in life's most uncertain seasons.
What You'll Take Away:
You'll learn how to recognize when you're approaching your emotional limits, distinguish healthy compassion from carrying other people's emotions, and practice five gentle ways to strengthen your emotional capacity. Most importantly, you'll discover how to remain fully yourself in difficult relationships and uncertain circumstances—without sacrificing your peace or joy.
A question to carry: What if emotional maturity isn't measured by how much we can carry, but by how faithfully we remain connected to ourselves, others, and God?
There is a gentler way of carrying life. And you were never meant to carry it alone.
This is literally the best podcast on ITunes . Healing Strength and wholistic mind-body-Spirit ministry. You’ll want to get out the serving spoon and dig deep into the richness of this. Unhurried Holiday series is Phenomenal and what I need to infuse into my everyday life. I love you @ Janell Rardon . You are a gift to my ears and a voice that needs to be heard beyond church walls #heartlifters
Oh dear Amber, after a long week, your words lift my heart and spirits. Sending you BIG HUGS and a BIGGER HEARTLIFT this holiday season.