To my podcast friends and those listening today, this episode was never scheduled to exist.

But for the last three weeks since recording Lisa's episode, I knew I needed to say something.

If not for you, then for at the very least me.

In the beginning of the podcast episode entitled This Is Me, I mentioned that back in the day, I had a blog and I loved it.

I got to connect from people from all around and we had

great conversations and I loved meeting new people. But the thing that I think I loved the most

about it was that it was personal but distant. Like I could be totally vulnerable but not have to

feel the way of someone staring back at me and judging me. And if they did judge me,

I couldn't see it. The blog is long gone. But now I feel with this podcast and community of people

who listen, they do so because they want to. And even if y'all judge me, I don't see it. I started this

podcast so we could have hard conversations that will shape us and change us.

I guess I underestimated how much I'd have to practice that principle.

In episode three of We're Going There, Lisa Turkers spoke very simply and plainly about the complicated topic of forgiveness.

This week on Instagram, she posted some great content that I want to

share before we dive into this podcast. She wrote, when someone is hurting, please,

one, don't ask for details. You can love and help and pray without knowing the full story.

Just pray for what you know. Two, don't make assumptions. This will only add to the burden that's already

too heavy to bear and avoid assumptions because they're just another way to fish for facts

that still aren't our business. Three, don't offer unsolicited advice. If they haven't invited

you be part of the solution, then inserting ourselves will cause us to become part of the problem.

And lastly, number four, don't accuse them of keeping secrets. There's a big difference between

keeping secrets and holding some things private. If and when they're ready to share, they will.

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