Learning to live has been the hardest lesson to learn, but the greatest.
You might be wondering, “Who’s Peri?” Well, Peridot can be a mouthful and most people respond with “Pera what?” So, feel free to call me Peri. Where did Peridot come from? My mom told me she found it in a book, but I was born in August. Coincidence? Maybe, but who knows!
Meet Peri
The seventies photos were something! Big hair and awesome colored outfits!
There are not a lot of pictures to show throughout my childhood. My father died when I was nine due to cancer. This catapulted my life in a direction I could not have fathomed. For my mother, it was no easier. Unfortunately, there were not many reasons we found to smile, especially together. This is one picture from my college graduation. What is not noticable is all the pain behind the smile.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Sometimes a picture is lacking the thousand words. I was in ministry at this point struggling with severe depression and an unhealthy environment. After leaving and finding healing, God gave me the passion for understanding and researching spiritual bypass as well as helping others heal from religious trauma and spiritual abuse.
But there is more to the story!
The first thirty years of my life may have been riddled with pain, anger, depression, and more, but that was not the end of the story. God showed himself to me as he knew I could receive him and his truths. From that point foward, I have experiened a healthy and healing faith that I love to share!
Another part of the redemption story is this man of mine! I did not think it was possible to find love like this, but he is a living breathing example of what it is to love like Christ!
Redemption is amazing, and this is just one picture that captures it! God has redeemed my sorrow and turned it into a beautiful love story that I could not have dreamed on my own! While I have no biological children, I gained three amazing grown children and their families. (An updated picture with all of us in one place with all the grands will be coming soon!)
I am a Disney loving fool! My first trip was for my fortieth birthday, and I look forward to going back for all the fun as much as I can!
I am a life-learner! I absolutely love school, but per my husband, I’m done with school! But I am not done helping others find a healthy and healing faith. I finished my doctorate in 2023. I completed my dissertation on spiritual bypass and desire to use that knowledge to help others heal their religious trauma and strengthen their faith.
Worth a thousand words
No worries! I’m not writing a thousand words to explain this picture!
I chose these pictures because they represent my journey. A lighthouse is known for its everlasting light. If it goes out, ships run the risk of crashing. I was running that risk. But as Jesus states, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). No matter how far or hard I ran his light still shown. And I felt (and still feel) as though I was the one he left the ninety-nine to rescue.
These pictures may represent your journey too. And know, just as Jesus did for me, He will do for you!