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Stories, Articles, and Resources by Adriel Booker

Adriel Booker - Author, Speaker, Advocate, Community Builder

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Adriel Booker

Would you describe yourself as a courageous person

Would you describe yourself as a courageous person? Chances are—like me—it’s not one the traits that first comes to mind when asked to describe yourself. But I’m willing to bet you’ve done lots of things that took enormous courage. Perhaps some were obvious but others were more hidden (albeit no less important).

Today I’m asking you to name them, celebrate them even. Here are a few of mine:

• Initiating a romantic relationship with the man that would later become my husband.

• Trying to conceive after losing a baby. More than once.

• Starting piano lessons and being willing to endure the “humiliation” of learning how to play basic children’s sheet music at 43 years old.

• Making a pitch to request funding in front of an audience of academics, failing the presentation miserably, and then deciding not to devalue my own work or ability even though I *felt* humiliated.

• Granting a child freedoms that I know he is ready for but I am not.

• Writing from the middle and not the end of the story. (Yes—lots of metaphor there to unpack. I dare you to have a go with your own story.)

• Speaking up about things that matter to me and to those I care about, even when I know it will cost me in tangible ways.

Your turn.

Tell me something courageous you have done recently or a long time ago. You may not think of yourself as a “brave person,” but I guarantee you’ve acted with courage. That’s *not nothing* and it’s surely worth celebrating.

p.s. @kjramseywrites is one of the best writers I know who’s examining courage right now. If you’re not already, you should listen to her insight and read her work. A few others who I consistently see acting (and writing) with courage: @idelettemcvicker @oshetamoore @mollclarissa @drmekel. ✨

Want one? If everyone knew how hard this week and

Want one? If everyone knew how hard this week and weekend is for women after fertility complications or baby loss, we’d all be buying a few copies to give away. 🖤

If you’d like one, please let me know below and I’ll see how many I’m able to mail out. (Please tell me your country so I can consider shipping costs.) No need to follow me or do anything fancy. This is just a gift that I *wish* I could give to anyone who asks.

((Also: For those who would like to donate a copy or two, let me know and I’ll send you our pay it forward page or I’ll send you someone’s address directly. 🙏 The price is the lowest I’ve ever seen on Amazon at the moment! And of course you can also find at any local bookstore including @koorongbooks))

Friends, Mother’s Day is hard and that’s okay. There are ways to soften the edges. This is one small way and I’m grateful for it.

Please send this to a friend or share in your Stories or tag someone who would be blessed by a copy. I’ll give away as many as I possibly can. 🖤

Stay tethered to hope.

Love,
Adriel & Ryan
(& @ourscarlettstories team) xx

p.s. Please let me know if you’re a care worker—hospital chaplain, pastor, therapist, pregnancy resource center, doula, nurse, OBGYN, midwife, grief support ministry, etc. I *love* to resource those who will walk alongside bereaved mums and their families. 🖤

#gracelikescarlett #ourscarlettstories #tetheredtohope

“Union with God is neither acquired nor received

“Union with God is neither acquired nor received: it is realized, and in that sense it is something that can be yearned for, sought after, and—with God’s Grace—found.” -Gerald May

By God’s grace may we come into greater realization of union with God today. Amen.

One of the most common questions that lands in my

One of the most common questions that lands in my inbox is: What should I do for my friend/sister/daughter/co-worker who lost a baby? There’s no “right” answer here, but I usually suggest a meal delivered or flowers or a care package. Think of her heart and her body—both. Don’t forget she is postpartum as well as grieving. What would you do for a new mom? Bring the casserole. Say her baby’s name (if they’ve named it). Include her husband or partner and acknowledge they’re hurting too. Don’t just text; send a hand written card.

Mother’s Day is hugely triggering for so many categories of women. If you know someone who’s lost a baby please remember her next weekend. I hope these ideas help. I could give you many more (a special jewelry item, a small fruit tree, a wind chime), but I specifically wanted to assemble things that can be found at your local grocery store. Don’t over complicate this. Just turn up. It will mean the world to her.

@ourscarlettstories #ourscarlettstories #gracelikescarlett

“Mom, I will always love you. Like ever.” -Mic

“Mom, I will always love you. Like ever.” -Micah, age 4

These are the days I never want to get out of bed if he’s in there too. How did we get blessed with such an affectionate, generous child? He’s the actual best. 😍

Sometimes I have this very real, mixed up (false)

Sometimes I have this very real, mixed up (false) guilt about posting good stuff on social media. I want to share the joy and I want to record my personal highlights on my own timeline for memory-keeping’s sake... but then I feel like I have to make a million excuses or justify or give explanation as to how someone on a ministry paycheck can enjoy such things. (This reveals some poverty and scarcity mindset, I’m aware. It’s not healthy and I’m working on it. We all have our issues right? This is one of mine.)

Anyway, the reality is it’s no one’s business how my family receives opportunity. BUT when your income is dependent on donations this can *really* mess with you and make you think every penny must be given account for to those who donate. Or every gift we’re given needs to be pronounced as a gift rather than allow someone to assume it was an expense we chose. We wonder things like: Am I allowed to take a vacation and post about it? Can I be both in need of support to pay the bills and also thrilled to share a deal I found or an extravagance that was gifted to us or what I was given as a Christmas gift? It’s complicated. I don’t expect everyone to understand. (But some will.) We all have our own baggage around money. And hopefully we’re actively pursuing growth in our own souls and mindsets and belief systems and, yes, theology.

And then there’s the other part of social media posting complications: I don’t like how social media can give the impression that peoples lives are just the highlight reels. I mean we all know this, but it’s convoluted right? Every single one of us does a lot of things like phone calls to insurance agents and folding laundry and screening movies for our kids and comparing deodorant brands that never make it to squares. Real life, friends.

My point is, we went to Hamilton when it premiered in Sydney and I’m not mad about it. This is real life too. 🙌 And I want to share because joy shared is joy multiplied. And sometimes things just work out in really awesome ways. Like going to Hamilton with some of the people I love best.

If you’re a fan, I hope you get to go one day too.

“I’m not giving away my shot.” ✌️

#hamiltonsydney

Strength is not the opposite of weakness. Strength

Strength is not the opposite of weakness. Strength is grit, resilience, vulnerability, a hundred “will you forgive me’s?,” a willingness to ask for help, and the recognition of hope in moments of despair.

Brave is not the absence of fear. Brave means sharing the load, trusting my instincts, admitting “I don’t know,” saying the uncomfortable no to save room for the right yes, trying again when I fail, and forging ahead despite my doubts and unanswered questions.

Beauty is not being well put together. Beauty is being undone and remade in the image of our Creator. It is humility to confess our strengths when our weaknesses are much easier to articulate. It is the ongoing work of God’s hand—the through line of faithfulness to disciple us as we disciple those who come along behind us.

___

The paragraphs above are part of the foreword I wrote for the book Strong, Brave & Beautiful by @emily_sue_allen and several others from the @kindred_mom team. You’ll have to pick up a copy to read the rest. ☺️

Honestly? Becoming a mom has been the most transformative thing in my life. The hardest for sure. The most rewarding for sure. The most confusing. Most desired. Most frustrating. Most heartbreaking. Most joyous. Most… a lot of things.

Emily’s new book is a collection of essays from moms of young kids. I imagine these women and their stories to be a bit like “the village” every mom wants but doesn’t always have. If you’re in the season of mothering littles under 10 or so, may I gently suggest you go ahead and buy your own Mother’s Day gift this year? It’s funny, endearing, heart-warming, wise. I think you’ll really enjoy it. (Find it in all the regular places of course.)

Do you buy yourself Mother’s Day gifts? Do tell.

We’re growing our ministry team for @ourscarlett

We’re growing our ministry team for @ourscarlettstories so we can care for people better. Want to join us? Team members can live anywhere in the world. Let me know if you’d like more info or check out my Stories. 🖤

© 2021 - Adriel Booker. All Rights Reserved.

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