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When the Holidays Feel Tender: Connecting With A Child Who's Chosen A Different Path {Eps. 115}

The Bridge Between Us: A Guide For Christian Parents Navigating the LGBTQ Conversation

Release Date: 12/11/2025

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When the Holidays Feel Tender: Connecting With A Child Who's Chosen A Different Path {Eps. 115} show art When the Holidays Feel Tender: Connecting With A Child Who's Chosen A Different Path {Eps. 115}

The Bridge Between Us: A Guide For Christian Parents Navigating the LGBTQ Conversation

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How to Pray For and Build Connection With Your LGBTQ-Identified Child  - Part Two with Ken Williams {Eps 113) show art How to Pray For and Build Connection With Your LGBTQ-Identified Child - Part Two with Ken Williams {Eps 113)

The Bridge Between Us: A Guide For Christian Parents Navigating the LGBTQ Conversation

Connect with Ken Williams:

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Four Ways To Show Up Well For Your LGBTQ-Identified Child wth Love and Truth with Ken Williams {Eps 112} show art Four Ways To Show Up Well For Your LGBTQ-Identified Child wth Love and Truth with Ken Williams {Eps 112}

The Bridge Between Us: A Guide For Christian Parents Navigating the LGBTQ Conversation

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The holidays can feel especially heavy when your child is walking a path that doesn’t reflect the way you raised them — spiritually, morally, or emotionally. If you’ve ever felt that quiet ache, this episode is meant to bring comfort, clarity, and hope.

In today’s conversation, we explore gentle, grace-filled ways to reconnect with your child during the holiday season without pressure, panic, or preaching. You’ll hear why your presence matters more than “getting the words right,” how to ask open, life-giving questions, and why small moments of warmth can rebuild trust over time.

This is an episode for Christian parents who love deeply, hurt quietly, and want to keep the door open — even when the relationship feels complicated.

What We Cover in This Episode:

❤️ Naming the Heartache

Why the holidays magnify the distance, the grief, and the unspoken worries many parents carry.

🧠 Understanding Your Child’s Internal World

They may be navigating more fear, shame, or uncertainty than you think — even if they don’t show it.

🌿 Five Gentle Ways to Reconnect This Season

  1. Leading with presence over correction

  2. Asking questions without hidden agendas

  3. Sharing warm memories instead of disappointment

  4. Releasing the pressure for holiday moments to “go somewhere”

  5. Praying quietly, loving loudly

 

Simple interactions become the first seeds of reconnection.

A Gentle Reminder:

You’re not failing.
You’re navigating something complicated with love and courage.
And God still moves in the places you can’t reach.

For Parents Who Need This Today:

Save this episode for the tender moments… and feel free to share it with someone who is walking the same road.

 

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Related episodes of The Bridge Between Us to help with the holidays:

https://melindapatrick.org/2024/12/23/gretchen-stockman-help-for-the-parent-who-has-been-estranged-from-their-child-eps-78/

 

https://melindapatrick.org/2023/12/17/when-christmas-is-difficult-dont-let-the-enemy-rob-you-of-the-real-meaning-of-the-season-eps-47/

 

https://melindapatrick.org/2023/11/29/moving-from-fear-to-faith-and-taking-steps-to-have-a-trauma-less-christmas-with-jenn-hand-eps-44/

 

https://melindapatrick.org/2023/11/15/ways-to-thrive-this-holiday-season-when-skipping-isnt-an-option-eps-42/