This week, I’m closing out the Stories That Shaped Me series with one of the most transformative chapters of my life — the story of writing and publishing my second book, To Help You Heal.

But this isn’t just about writing a book.

It’s about what happens when we stop waiting for permission and finally say yes to what’s on our heart — even when it doesn’t unfold the way we thought it would.

In this episode, I share how what started as a reluctant walk and a quiet complaint to God became a bold, five-week sprint toward obedience, healing, and freedom.

I talk about what it taught me about courage, momentum, and how one decision can shift everything.

This week’s reflection:

Good things don’t come to those who wait — they come to those who go after them.

So what dream or desire have you been waiting for permission to pursue?

And what’s one small step you could take toward it this week?

I can't wait to hear what's stirring! Send me an email (marie@mariemonville.com) or DM me on Instagram.

Some moments never really leave us.

In this week’s episode, I’m talking about grief, healing, and what it looks like to walk through those tender anniversary dates — the ones that still carry weight, even years later.

I’m sharing my own experience of what this season has looked like for me, the unexpected emotions that surfaced, and how I’m learning (again) to let go of control and invite God into the ache.

Because the truth is… grief doesn’t have an expiration date. It shows up in waves — sometimes quietly, sometimes not — and that’s okay.

My hope is that this episode reminds you that it’s possible to hold both joy and sorrow at the same time, and that even when the ache revisits us, God meets us there.

💜 You’re not walking through it alone.

This week on To Help You Heal, I’m sharing one of the most significant stories of my life—the forgiveness I experienced from the Amish community in the aftermath of the schoolhouse shooting.

On the very day of the tragedy, members of the Amish community walked to my parents’ home. I’ll never forget watching them arrive, unsure of what they might say. Instead of judgment, they came with compassion. They wanted me to know they had forgiven Charlie and were extending grace to my family.

That moment—and the many that followed, including at Charlie’s funeral when they literally shielded us from the media—forever changed how I understand forgiveness. It’s not just a private decision we make inside. True forgiveness carries grace. It releases us from the weight we can’t hold and often moves us to action.

In this episode, I also clear up a common misconception: while the movie Amish Grace introduced many people to the idea of Amish forgiveness, it is not an accurate portrayal of my story or the depth of grace I actually experienced. What I lived was far more profound than any script could capture.

Forgiveness doesn’t excuse wrongdoing or erase pain—but it brings freedom. The Amish showed me that even in the darkest places, God’s grace can create light. And if He helped us forgive Charlie, He can help you forgive in your own story too.

As you listen, I invite you to reflect:

• Where might you need the freedom forgiveness brings?

• What step could you take to begin releasing the weight you’ve been carrying?

I pray this story shapes you as much as it shaped me.

This week on To Help You Heal, we continue the Stories That Shaped Me series with a vulnerable reflection on disappointment, grief, and the ruts our minds can fall into.

After my dad passed away, I stopped dreaming with God. Every morning, I told Him: “Don’t ask me to dream, because dreams only lead to disappointment.” It felt safer not to hope. But while I thought I was protecting myself, God revealed a different way to see dreaming with Him—and helped me uncover what was really at the root of my disappointment.

In this episode, I share:

• How grief led me to shut down hope and faith in certain seasons

• Why our brains are wired to return to “worst case scenario” thinking

• The importance of creating new mental and spiritual pathways

• How God invites us to trust Him with the journey, not just the ending

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in discouragement, waiting for the next bad thing, or afraid to dream with God again—you are not alone. And you don’t have to stay there.

I’d love to help you walk this path more intentionally. You can always book a free clarity call with me, or step into a deeper one-on-one coaching journey. I have a few spaces open this month, and it would be an honor to walk alongside you.

I hope this episode encourages you to see your own story differently—and to believe that God is still writing good things in your life.

This week on To Help You Heal, we’re continuing the Stories That Shaped Me series with a story that has deeply influenced how I live today.

When my first husband and I got married, my greatest dream was to be a wife and a mom. In our first year, we found out we were expecting a baby girl, Elise. But at just 26 weeks, she was born premature and lived only 20 minutes in our arms. The loss was devastating—not only in that moment, but in the way it carried forward into every part of life.

In that season of grief, I began to find God as a healer. I discovered I could be completely honest with Him about how I felt, and I started to believe He really did want to speak to me. In time, I sensed Him giving me a promise: that I would one day have a daughter, and her name would be Abigail.

Holding on to that promise brought me to a daily choice—was I going to lean into fear, or lean into faith? That choice didn’t erase the pain, but it gave me a way forward. And it’s a lesson I’ve carried into so many other seasons since then.

In this episode, I share how God met me in loss, what it looked like to trust His promise, and how choosing faith over fear can change the way we live our everyday lives.

Maybe you’re in a place right now where fear feels louder than faith. If so, I’d love to walk with you through that. My book To Help You Heal was written for moments just like these. You can find it here: https://mariemonville.com/product/to-help-you-heal/

Reflection prompts for your week:

• Where are you leaning into fear?

• What would it mean to lean into faith instead?

• How is God inviting you to trust Him today?

Come back next week for another story that shaped me!

This week on To Help You Heal, we’re starting a brand-new series: Stories That Shaped Me. Over the next four weeks, I’ll be sharing stories from my own life — not just to look back, but to help you find hope, perspective, and healing in your own story too.

As we move toward the 19th anniversary of the Amish schoolhouse shooting, a tragedy that forever changed my life, I find myself reflecting more deeply than usual. Anniversaries have a way of doing that, don’t they? They invite us to look back, to remember, and sometimes to see our lives in terms of “before” and “after.”

This week, I’m sharing a story that surprised even me as I chose to begin here: the power of other people’s words — and the freedom that comes when we decide not to let them define us. In the aftermath of October 2, 2006, there were so many voices, so many judgments, so many opinions about me and my life. But I learned something that has carried me through every season since: I get to choose which voices I let in. And so do you.

We all know what it feels like to be misunderstood, judged, or talked about unfairly. But their words don’t get to be the loudest in your mind or your heart. You get to choose.

In this episode, I’ll share:

• How I began letting go of what people said about me.

• The lesson I learned about where real truth comes from.

• An invitation for you to consider what story you might need to replace in your own life.

✨ Reflection questions for you:

• Where have you let someone else’s words shape the way you see yourself?

• What story have you been carrying that doesn’t belong to you?

• What new truth could you choose instead?

Friend, you don’t have to live under someone else’s judgment. You get to choose the voice you believe.

I hope this week’s story encourages you — and I’d love to hear your reflections. Send me a message, or share this episode with a friend who may need the reminder that their story isn’t over, and their voice matters.

This week, we’re wrapping up our four-part series with the final step: creating.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve practiced stacking small but powerful rhythms:

Week 1: Relax — giving ourselves permission to breathe and let go of tension.

Week 2: Listen — making space to hear our own hearts and God’s voice.

Week 3: Clarity — beginning to make sense of what we’ve heard.

Now, it’s time to create.

Creating isn’t about perfection or a big gesture. It’s simply the expression of what’s stirring in you — a way to turn clarity into something tangible. Just like a child painting without worrying about the outcome, creation is about joy, exploration, and the willingness to begin.

In this episode, I share:

• Why creation is the natural next step after clarity.

• Why it doesn’t have to be "art" — creation can be a habit, a boundary, a new rhythm, or even a conversation.

• How to take one small step toward what you noticed in clarity.

• The common barriers to creating (perfectionism, overwhelm, waiting for the “right” time) and how to move past them.

• A gentle reminder that imperfect action is better than perfectly planned inaction.

Reflection questions for you this week:

• What is one thing you feel invited to create in this season?

• What small step could you take this week to bring it into being?

• How will you stay open and flexible as the process unfolds?

Your life is the canvas where healing shows up — not necessarily in a grand masterpiece, but in small, intentional moments of creating with God.

And as we close this series, I want to thank you for walking with me through all four weeks. I hope you’ll continue using these steps together — relax, listen, clarity, create — as a tool you can return to again and again.

Next week, we’ll begin a new series called Stories That Shaped Me. I’ll be sharing some of the personal stories from my life, especially as we near the 19th anniversary of the Amish schoolhouse shooting. These episodes will be personal, yes, but also invitational — offering you encouragement and reflection for your own journey of healing.

We’ve reached week three of our four-part series on creating space for healing and growth. In week one, we focused on relaxation—building small moments of rest into our everyday lives. Last week, we talked about listening—to ourselves, to God, and to what rises up when we give space for quiet.

This week is all about clarity.

Clarity is simply making sense of what we’ve heard. It’s not about perfection or having a ten-year plan—it’s about identifying our next right step. Without clarity, we can get stuck in confusion, overthinking, and indecision. But when we pause to notice patterns, ask gentle questions, and trust what God is highlighting, we begin to see the path forward more clearly.

In this episode, I share:

• Why clarity matters and what it really looks like.

• Common barriers to clarity: overthinking, negativity, fear, and outside noise.

• How to use your listening practice to notice themes and nudges.

• Simple reflection questions to help you recognize what feels heavy, what feels life-giving, and where God may be leading.

• Why clarity is layered and often comes one step at a time.

Reflection prompts for this week:

• What repeated themes or nudges have you noticed as you’ve practiced listening?

• What feels heavy right now—something you might need less of?

• What feels life-giving—something God may be inviting you into more deeply?

Clarity doesn’t come from striving—it comes from slowing down, listening, and trusting God to highlight what’s next. Practice noticing, stay gentle with yourself, and remember that clarity is a compass, not a detailed map.

Next week, we’ll wrap up the series by talking about how to create—taking the clarity we’ve gained and shaping it into something meaningful in our lives.

If this episode encouraged you, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Connect with me on Instagram @MarieMonville, or email me at Marie@MarieMonville.com.