Dear friends,

This month, The Redbud Post tackles a scary topic: vulnerability. Think about a country building a defense against invaders. It wants to make itself invulnerable, doesn’t it? Don’t let anyone in who might hurt us. Where are we vulnerable? Shore it up.

Well, with a country, that’s a good idea, but with relationships, it’s detrimental.

When my husband and I found out that our 20-year-old unmarried son’s live-in girlfriend was pregnant, we were devastated. We had been in full time ministry for 30 years. We had raised our family in the church and with biblical values. Stuff like this wasn’t supposed to happen to families like ours. We have a team of people who support us financially and are invested in our family. How were we going to tell them?

So with great trepidation I wrote the letter letting them know our circumstances, and that in order for our son and his girlfriend to keep the baby, we were going to be providing day care to help them financially. It was a scary letter to write. We really didn’t know anyone else in our situation. What would they think of us? What would our church family think of us?

Let me tell you, the response was overwhelming. We got letters from people we rarely hear from telling us their own family stories, most of them heartbreaking. We entered a level of relationship we had never experienced with them before.

And our church family rallied around our son to gift them with everything they would need to take care of this baby. A like-new crib for less than $50, clothes, a changing table, a car seat, a stroller in great condition, and many cash gifts. It was overwhelming. And it was God’s grace. But if we hadn’t been willing to let people know what was going on in our lives, we would have missed out on all of that.

Now, almost 4 years from learning about the impending birth of our grandson, we have been able to listen to the stories of others’ struggles with their kids and assure them of the grace of God in their lives.

So realize as you read the following articles, that each writer has chosen to step out in vulnerability with you. Hold their words gently. Let them know how they spoke to you.

Thanks for reading!

Stephanie Reeves
Senior Editor

Photos by KehauClassics Photography