we're so glad that you've tuned in to pardon the mess we're parents just like you doing our

best to raise kids who will love and follow christ we hope you will join us and our guests each week

for honest conversations about the good bad and ugly of raising kids. There's no perfect parents, just a perfect God

who stands ready to pardon our mess and guide us on the most challenging yet rewarding journey,

parenting. Hey guys, this is Cynthia Yanoff, host a Pardon the Mess. I'm so glad that you are

with us today. Today we get the privilege of talking with Mary Demuth. She is an author,

a speaker, and a podcaster who is passionate about helping people live a re-storied life.

I love that. She's a survivor of neglect and sexual abuse, and Mary says she was gloriously

rescued by Jesus when she was 15. She loves to cook, garden, decorate, and design,

and she enjoys running and is passionate

about the underdog, the oppressed, and those who don't have a voice. She's written over 30 books,

and that's a feat in and of itself. We're going to talk about that. And you're also going to love what she

has to say today about breaking up with toxic friendships in our lives and how that applies also in

our parenting

walk. Mary talks candidly about the need for our churches to rise up and face the evil of

sexual abuse and harassment with candor and empathy. And she has a book out the We Too, Me Too.

It's how the church can respond redemptively to the sexual abuse crisis. And it's a hard topic, but it's one as the church that we need to address and talk about.

I'm so glad she's willing to share her story and her past, but also give us ways to move forward.

So I'm so glad that you are with us today, and we are going to hit it with Mary right now.

Hey, Mary, so glad to have you on Pardon the Mess.

Thanks for joining us today.

Thanks for having me.

...