As we begin a new year, many parents are carrying more than they expected — unresolved relationships, unanswered prayers, and the quiet weight of loving a child through pain, distance, or deep disagreement.

In this first episode of the Still Faithful series, we slow down together and begin with something essential: releasing shame.

This episode is for parents who are questioning themselves, their faith, or what faithfulness looks like after a hard year. It's a grounding invitation to look back honestly — without self-blame — and to begin moving forward with steadiness, clarity, and grace.

This is not about fixing your child or forcing outcomes.
It's about strengthening you.

• The difference between faithfulness and outcomes

• How to look back at the past year without self-condemnation

• What you may be carrying that was never meant to be yours

• Why faithfulness can coexist with heartbreak

• How to begin a new year grounded rather than striving

• Where have I been harder on myself than God has been?

• What did faithfulness look like for me this past year — even if it felt quiet or unseen?

• What responsibility or guilt do I need to release as I move forward?

You can be deeply faithful and deeply heartbroken at the same time.
Faithfulness does not require resolution — only presence.

As we move through this series, we'll continue to explore how to stay spiritually anchored, emotionally steady, and rooted in love — even when the story isn't finished.

Still Faithful is a season created for Christian parents navigating painful, unresolved parenting journeys — including estrangement, distance, and moments when a child's choices challenge deeply held beliefs.

This series is designed to help you:

• Stay grounded when parenting hurts

• Discern next faithful steps without pressure

• Love well without losing yourself

• Trust God even when outcomes are uncertain

As this year comes to a close, I want to take a moment with you — not to fix anything, not to sum it all up, but simply to pause.

Reflect on these questions:

What did this year ask of you that you didn't expect?

What did you continue to do this year, even when it hurt?

As this year closes, there may be things you're still carrying that were never meant to come with you into the next one.

For just a moment, imagine setting those things down — not forever, but for now.

They do not need to define the threshold you're crossing.

When we return in the new year, we'll be entering a slower, more intentional season together — one focused on helping you stay grounded and faithful when parenting hurts.

If you need a place to land as the new year begins, I'll be here.

For now, take care of yourself.

Rest where you can. Celebrate where you can.

And know that you are not alone.

The holidays can feel especially heavy when your child is walking a path that doesn't reflect the way you raised them — spiritually, morally, or emotionally. If you've ever felt that quiet ache, this episode is meant to bring comfort, clarity, and hope.

In today's conversation, we explore gentle, grace-filled ways to reconnect with your child during the holiday season without pressure, panic, or preaching. You'll hear why your presence matters more than "getting the words right," how to ask open, life-giving questions, and why small moments of warmth can rebuild trust over time.

This is an episode for Christian parents who love deeply, hurt quietly, and want to keep the door open — even when the relationship feels complicated.

Why the holidays magnify the distance, the grief, and the unspoken worries many parents carry.

They may be navigating more fear, shame, or uncertainty than you think — even if they don't show it.

1. Leading with presence over correction

2. Asking questions without hidden agendas

3. Sharing warm memories instead of disappointment

4. Releasing the pressure for holiday moments to "go somewhere"

5. Praying quietly, loving loudly

Simple interactions become the first seeds of reconnection.

You're not failing.
You're navigating something complicated with love and courage.
And God still moves in the places you can't reach.

Save this episode for the tender moments… and feel free to share it with someone who is walking the same road.

Do you want to know more about the January 2026 FAST or make sure you do't miss out on any new opportunities? Subscribe here to receive emails to get the latest news.

Related episodes of The Bridge Between Us to help with the holidays:

https://melindapatrick.org/2024/12/23/gretchen-stockman-help-for-the-parent-who-has-been-estranged-from-their-child-eps-78/

https://melindapatrick.org/2023/12/17/when-christmas-is-difficult-dont-let-the-enemy-rob-you-of-the-real-meaning-of-the-season-eps-47/

https://melindapatrick.org/2023/11/29/moving-from-fear-to-faith-and-taking-steps-to-have-a-trauma-less-christmas-with-jenn-hand-eps-44/

https://melindapatrick.org/2023/11/15/ways-to-thrive-this-holiday-season-when-skipping-isnt-an-option-eps-42/

Thanksgiving can be a beautiful day — but for many Christian parents of LGBTQ-identified children, it can also be complicated, emotional, or even painful. In this short, heartfelt Thanksgiving episode, Melinda offers encouragement, grounding truth, and three practical ways to prepare your heart before you prepare your home.

If you're carrying tension, uncertainty, or grief into the holiday, this episode will help you slow down, breathe, and remember that God meets you right where you are.

These simple but powerful steps can help bring calm, clarity, and connection to your holiday:

• Set Realistic Expectations

Your child may not respond the way you hope. The conversation may feel awkward. The day may not look like past Thanksgivings.
Give yourself — and them — permission to be human. Release the pressure and embrace the day as it is, not as you wish it were.

• Find the Common Denominator

Regardless of disagreements or differences, there is something true and good you both value.
Maybe it's laughter. Maybe it's family stories, food, football, games, or serving others.
Look for common ground as a way to build connection, not conflict.

• Go In with a Posture of Humility

Before you set the table, set your heart.
Before you open the door to your child, open your heart to Jesus.
Let Him shape your tone, soften your responses, and steady your emotions.
Humility doesn't mean compromise — it means choosing love over winning, and presence over pressure.

If today feels heavy or confusing, these conversations will equip and encourage you:

• Two Sides One Family

• How To Talk About LGBTQ Issues When An Older Sibling Identifies as LGBTQ

• Responding To Family Conflict

• Finding Joy When Your Kids Walk Away

• Help For Estranged Parents

• How To Support Your LGBTQ-identified Child Without Endorsing The Identity They Embrace
• Loving Your LGBTQ-identified Child with Grace & Truth
• The Loudest Roar

These episodes offer practical language and faith-filled guidance for moments just like this.

Share it with a fellow parent who may be feeling alone this holiday.
And be sure to rate the show — it helps other hurting parents find encouragement and hope.

Connect with Ken Williams: www.changedmovement.com

How do you talk to your younger kids about LGBTQ topics when an older sibling identifies as LGBTQ?

That's one of the most common—and difficult—questions parents and grandparents ask. Today on The Bridge Between Us Podcast, Melinda Patrick is joined by Elizabeth Urbanowicz, author, teacher, and host of the Foundational Worldview podcast, to discuss how to approach these conversations biblically, truthfully, and compassionately.

Together, Melinda and Elizabeth tackle three key questions:
1️⃣ How can we protect (and prepare) our younger children when an older sibling embraces an LGBTQ identity?
2️⃣ What's the best way to discuss LGBTQ topics in a way that's both biblical and filled with grace?
3️⃣ How do we teach our children to love others well—without affirming what Scripture calls sin?

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why "protecting" your children isn't the goal—and what to do instead

• Three practical steps to prepare your younger children when a sibling or family member identifies as LGBTQ

• How to overcome the fear of saying or doing the wrong thing

Whether you're a parent, grandparent, or family member seeking wisdom and peace in a divided culture, this conversation will help you walk in truth and love—right where God has placed you.

*Please share this episode with pastors and ministry leaders - they are always in search of biblically aligned resources to help those they are shepherding

*There is another family out there searching for hope and help - be a resource and share this episode with them.

Connect with Elizabeth Urbanowicz:

Foundation Worldview

Books mentioned:

Helping Your Kids Know God's Good Design by Elizabeth Urbanowicz