97. Not a Throw-away Kid, with Amy Watson, host of Wednesdays with Watson

Amy Watson, host of Wednesdays with Watson, shares her story of trauma and healing, and shows leaders how to care for those who have experienced deep trauma.I'm also joined by guest co-hosts Shea and Michelle Watson from The Pantry Podcast.  Yes, all four of us have the same last name and none of us are related to each other!  This podcast is part of what we are affectionately calling "The Watson Takeover"!We're all interviewing each other this week.  Please check out all our shows!THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Amy Watson is the host of the Wednesdays with Watson podcast.  Shea and Michelle Watson host The Pantry Podcast.Amy Watson shares the story of being sexually and physically abused as a child.At the age of fourteen, Amy was abandoned by her mom.Amy Watson was soon taken in temporarily by a pastor and his wife.Eventually, Amy was placed in a children’s home.  She remembers these as the best years of her life.In her young adulthood, Amy entered into an abusive marriage.Amy’s pastor’s wife helped her get out of her marriage.Amy Watson reminds herself often that she is not a throw-away kid.  She is a precious daughter of the Most High God.Amy Watson’s passion is to help people know that they don’t have to live in the darkness, even if they are trauma survivors.For Amy, “love” always referred to something for which she would owe something in return.Pastors need to know that when they meet someone who has been abused and traumatized, they simply want to be loved without expecting anything in return.Pastors need to look for the "Amy Watsons" in our churches.Churches need to take the stigma away from mental health and PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).According to Amy Watson, “Me too” are two of the most powerful words in the English language.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Podcasts:Wednesdays with Watson, with Amy WatsonThe Pantry Podcast, with Shea and Michelle WatsonWebsites:Amywatsonauthor.comthirtyone25.comBooks:A Church Called Tov, by Scot McKnight and Laura BarringerWe Too, by Mary DeMuthInstructions to leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership:Click HERE.Click on the link that says, "Listen on Apple Podcasts."In the window that opens, click the button that says, "Open Link."  This will open iTunes.To the right of the Spiritual Life and Leadership logo, click "Ratings and Reviews."Under the heading, "Customer Reviews," click on the button that says, "Write a Review."Select the number of stars and write your review.Click submit.I'd be so grateful if you did this.  Thank you!— Links to Amazon are affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through any of these links, I’ll receive a small commission–which will help pay for the Spiritual Life and Leadership podcast!Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.