Words Ground Us Together + (a Giveaway!)

Meeting internet friends IRL and blessing our time together

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Welcome to Walk & Talk, my monthly offering to share stories, inspiration, and hope. I’m Kim Knowle-Zeller, mama, pastor, and writer. I’ve lived in West Africa and one summer hiked 500 miles across Spain, and now I call Cole Camp, MO home with my husband, two children, dog, and cat. I love to walk, talk, and share stories. Thanks for being here!

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Last weekend, I flew to Denver to stay in a house with 13 other mothers — none of which I’d met in person before. But none that I felt I didn’t know already. I’ve been writing and working and praying and dreaming with these women for over five years. 

I can’t remember how I came across Coffee + Crumbs but sometime during early motherhood, the

Coffee + Crumbs

women were my companions. When I drove to Charlotte's speech therapy appointments, I listened to their podcast and felt less alone — I had friends in the car sharing motherhood's joys and challenges. I ordered books at their recommendation. I breathed a sigh of relief when they shared their doubts and questions. Over and over again their words spoke to me, our feelings in harmony as we grew in our motherhood experiences.

Fast forward a few years and I joined C+C’s creative community for mothers called Exhale Creativity. Through Exhale I met a whole host of women who were also creating in the margins. Women who were painting and writing and gardening and creating right alongside their children. In Exhale, the women cheer for one another and share work. We believe that motherhood and creativity can coexist and that we’re better when we invest in ourselves and our art. 

Fast forward a few years and I joined the Exhale team. As the Community Manager, I work alongside C+C's writers and creatives. And then this past weekend, I got to meet the women who I’ve only known through email, video calls, and voice messages. From the moment I met each woman, opening arms for a hug, a sense of knowing and familiarity emerged. 

We were among friends from the beginning.

To center one of our work sessions, I opened with a blessing for our time. Words to ground us together. Words to invite a moment to pause and give thanks. Like any blessing, the words I shared contained both joy and challenge. As the words washed over us, we shared tears and laughter. We nodded along with one another because the words spoke a truth that though life is hard, we are not alone. Whatever our hearts and minds are holding, we are also held by God’s presence and one another.

That’s the gift of offering a blessing — they are real words that meet real people in their real day-to-day lives. A blessing doesn’t sugarcoat the truth to make it more palatable. Blessings have grit and grace, they know how beautiful and terrifying the world can be. But the blessing binds us together precisely so we can face the challenges ahead. So we can link arms and walk hand in hand through heartache, loss, a diagnosis, changing relationships, or an unsettled heart. A blessing grabs your hands, looks you in the eyes and says: you are not alone.

So for right now, wherever you are and wherever your day will take you, know this blessing will go with you. Perhaps these are just the words for you, or words that you can share with someone else.

This blessing is yours
Made to make you feel safe, known
Encouraged and loved
This blessing will fight for you
It is within every breath you take
every step you take
This blessing’s words are written upon your heart:
You are a gift
You are strong
You are brave
You are worthy
You are loved
Rest in this blessing
Take deep breaths
And feel the love that pulsates through your every move.

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**GIVEAWAY**
GATHERED AT THE TABLE by Glenys Nellist

Glenys Nellist is one of my favorite Christian children’s authors! She writes such poetic stories. Many of her books are go-to’s for us to read aloud over dinner or to share with friends for new baby gifts. Her latest book, Gathered at the Table: Celebrating Communion, begins with the example set by Jesus at the Last Supper in Jerusalem and shows readers that even though there are many ways to take communion, the meaning is the same: in Communion, we remember Jesus. If you’d like to add this book to your collection or give to your church, simply leave a comment on this post! Extra entries if you share this post with someone!
This giveaway is sponsored by the publisher, Zonderkidz, and is open to entrants living in the USA. No PO boxes.

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Scenes from Denver

P.S. I have a favor for those of you who have read The Beauty of Motherhood. Would you be willing to write an Amazon review? They are so helpful for getting others to know about our book! Anyone can review on Amazon whether you’ve bought the book from them or not. Thank you!