Kathleen H.

Today, Kathleen speaks to us about writers who have helped her on her journey (with some great book recs), her French family’s adoption of Thanksgiving, and how a difficult season in her life awakened a warrior inside of her.

Kathleen H.

Tell us a bit about how you grew up and your childhood: I grew up in a Christian home, both parents Christian and loving. I almost died when I was born, and through this experience, I have developed a strong (sometimes unhealthy) relationship with my parents. Three years ago through a Christian therapy, I have learn to stabilize this relationship with both parents and my sisters, and it’s much better now. I had the chance of having both parents around and two sisters (I’m in the middle). Globally, we went through some jealousy and difficult times as teenagers, but overall, we love each other and we are pretty strong, together.

Inspiring biblical passage of the moment: My whole life, it has been Jeremiah 29:11 and Hebrew 11:1. Currently it’s Psalm 145:13: “The Lord always keeps His promises; He is gracious in all He does”.

Spiritual growth focus at the moment: For the past three years, I have focused on developing more positive thoughts and really proclaiming words of life and not death over my life. It has been my main focus for the past three years, and still today.

Profession: I am the Procurement Manager of a robotic company, based in Germany. I live in France and have a home office in France but the headquarter is based in Munich.

If you wrote a memoir, what would the title be? From Brokenness to Wholeness, Transforming Trials and Failures into Victory

When did you first encounter God and how did you encounter Him? I have always been a Christian. But I think that my real first encounter with God started three years ago, when I was so broken after my fiancé had canceled our wedding day and broken up with me. I remember that day in my room, in tears, hearing Satan’s lies in my head and standing up in my room, screaming at him, “You thought you’d kill me; you woke up a warrior,” and that’s the very moment I felt God’s presence like never before. He is silent sometimes, but since then, I am able to experience him this way in my life.

“You thought you’d kill me; you woke up a warrior”

How has your relationship with Him changed you? Well, I first had to let go and understand that I couldn’t change on my own. Then baby-steps-by-baby-steps, I don’t really know how but my mindset changed, my attitude changed and my love for Him grew. The more I connect with Him, the less I am angry and the more I learn to let go when I remember three years ago, in some situations, I could literally burn out for nothing.

What has helped you grow spiritually in this season? Besides reading the Word, what really helped me are all the contents we find outside: John C Maxwell, Terry Savelle Foy, Brian Tracy, Gary Chapman– all of these speakers and writers have taught me so much in my walk out of the darkness and through healing my heart. Jesus is the first of course, but their books have really helped.

“All of these speakers and writers have taught me so much in my walk out of the darkness and through healing my heart. Jesus is the first of course, but their books have really helped.”

Just read/currently reading (and what has it taught you?): Currently reading 25 Ways to Win With People from John C Maxwell. This book is teaching me an honest and loving way to connect with people, and it’s amazing because the more I read, the more I see how John’s teaching is based on the Bible. It’s put differently, but it’s clearly what Jesus teaches in the Bible.

Top three essentials: The Bible; Imagine Big: Unlock the Secret to Living Out Your Dreams from Terry Savelle Foy and The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth from John C Maxwell.

How did God speak to you recently? Yesterday, one of my friends from church. We were exchanging about life and difficulties and what he actually said for himself literally spoke to me. It was about the wait and how God has His own way to deal with us. When it’s by isolating us, it’s because He wants us to talk and something good will come out of it! I felt it was encouraging because this is what is happening to me at the moment.

Hobby: Learning about nutrition / Crossfit / fitness/ horseback riding.

Top three practical tips for staying spiritually strong: Practicing the same habits, every day, through discipline (waking up, opening the Bible, giving your gratitudes and saying out loud your 5 affirmations), worshiping (even when we don’t feel like it) and finding 1-2 very good friends we can share our struggles with and pray together.

Favorite person in scripture? I love Joseph, David, Ruth, Paul, Jesus. I’d say… one being perfect: Jesus. And one being imperfect: Joseph, son of Israel.

What do you want people to learn about God when they look at you? I really want them to see Jesus’ love. Through my changes, I was able to be upset pretty fast in my temper and my parents and sisters knew me like this; some friends, as well. I’d like them to see that something changed in me and me being able to tell them it’s only because of Jesus.

How do you engage with your community? I help with the Sunday School and Young Life organization; my church launches Young Life in its building once a month, and I volunteer there.

Favorite holiday? In the USA, visiting my “adopted family” in San Diego. But in general, it’s when I travel in the whole USA, meeting people and discovering more about the US culture.

A goal you have? Being found by my husband and becoming a wife and a mother. God really placed this desire on my heart, and I have to learn to wait for the right timing.

A special tradition you and your family engage in or keep: Well, as a French family, we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, but as I love it and made a point to celebrate it each year, I actually brought my French family into it, and we celebrate now Thanksgiving the very same day the Americans do.

Question you will ask when you get to heaven? God, why did you wait so long to bless me with my future husband, when it obviously took a “snap of the fingers” for some other friends of mine?

Thing you want to raise awareness about: For the young girls (I have 2 nieces – 12 and 6 y.o so it’s even more important for me), I’d like to bring awareness about what is real love. Love is not the number of likes you get on a picture or a guy telling you “you’re pretty”. But they’ll see the love of a young man by the way he respects them and the way he loves Jesus. We live in a world that is always more complicated and selfish and developing the wrong values. It’s really important to teach teenagers about what is real love.

“We live in a world that is always more complicated and selfish and developing the wrong values. It’s really important to teach teenagers about what is real love.”

What does your morning routine consist of? Waking up at 6 am. Giving my 5 gratitudes to Jesus – 5 affirmations of the day – 10 min reading the Bible – 10 min meditation – 10 min praying for my future husband and concerns – 20 min reading a book while whitening my teeth – makeup – breakfast – work.

What is on your nightstand? I have my Bible on it, a devotional to turn per day and my lamp.

Define Christianity in a sentence: Being Christian is being Christ-like in my actions, not just in my words. Following Christ and taking my cross, even when we end up at the bottom of the pit; He never said it’s easy, but He promised to be with us through it. To learn to love even when there’s nothing lovable. To learn to see with Jesus’ eyes, even when they are filled with heavy tears.

Until next time, keep witnessing!
XOXO