How Fasting Can Help Your Marriage (with Colleen Duggan)

Author Colleen Duggan joins us for today’s show, sharing about some of the surprising ways that the practice of fasting has blessed her marriage. We have talked about some of the spiritual benefits of fasting before, but Colleen is passionate about its strength as a spiritual tool specifically for marriage. 

Connect with Colleen Duggan:
Colleen’s website
Colleen’s book: Good Enough Is Good Enough
Colleen’s contributions at CatholicMom

Snippet from the Show
“The emptying makes us realize the abundant life that we have.”


Listener Feedback

At the end of today’s show, I shared a little bit of feedback from Katherine, a listener who has a son who was born without an immune system. She shares these quick tips for social distancing as a family:

Prayer
No matter how choppy the waves are, we are safe with Him. 

Routine
The sense of order in the home is calming.

Laughter
There is a lot of heaviness and anxiety with this lifestyle. Laughter helps a lot! 

Stay connected
Every Friday Jeff has a guys night and Saturdays are all mine to connect with friends.

Be Gentle with Yourself
If you need to sit and look outside instead of do another load of laundry or push pause on discussing a difficult decision, listen to yourself!

Be a Team 
In some ways we are like plants, each in need of varying amounts of water and sunlight. Learning what kind of plant the other person is makes for many more smiles.

Gratitude 
Especially when I catch my mind spiraling, stopping and naming moments to be grateful for puts wind back in the sails.

Live in the Moment 
The present moment is where God’s grace meets us. Sometimes it’s one day at a time and some days it’s one minute at a time.

Simplicity
The less I own, the more time I have for other things. Looking at a clean room isn’t always possible, but oh it is nice!

Exercise 
Those endorphins are gold! 

Know that I am praying for you and your family in the days and weeks that lie ahead!


I have received so much feedback from all of you about my newest book and the first chapter that I shared with you at the end of episode 210Giving Thanks and Letting Go: Reflections on the Gift of Motherhood is a book in which I share from my heart about the very real changes, challenges, triumphs, and joys of being a mom in an “emptying nest.” You can read that sample chapter at Ave Maria Press. (Use the coupon code BEAN20 to get 20% off your order!)

Please join me on Thursdays at 1:00 pm ET for a book club based on themes in the book. See you over at Facebook!

My book, You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth, is available for order! Use the code, GIRLFRIENDS to receive ten percent off your order. Don’t miss out on this special available exclusively to listeners of the Girlfriends podcast. 

Have feedback or an idea to share? I would love to hear from you!


ANNOUNCEMENTS
Join our all-new Girlfriends Podcast Facebook group!
Check out the Catholic Momcast featuring Lisa Hendey and me, available on iTunes!

RETREAT
The You’re Worth It! Retreat for Women
Find out more about bringing this unique event for women to your parish, group, or community. Read more and request more information here.

Or find out more about having me come speak at your parish or conference.

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