Have you ever experienced the kindness of God in such a personal way that it changed how you saw Him?

I have.

After I ran away from home as a teenager and spent my junior year at an all-girl’s Christian boarding school for wayward teens, I eventually returned home. I'll never forget walking back into my home church that first Sunday. I was terrified. Everyone knew where I'd been and what I'd done. Shame told me to expect judgment.

Instead, I experienced something completely unexpected through one simple act of kindness from one of our church deacons. It was a glimpse of God's heart that planted a seed He would continue to grow for years to come.

That moment didn't erase my past overnight, but it forever changed the way I began to see God—not as someone waiting to condemn me, but as a Father whose kindness draws us to Himself.

I had the opportunity to share that story on the Fruitful Jems podcast, and it was honestly one of my favorite conversations I've had. We talked about the kindness of God, why it matters, and how experiencing His kindness has transformed my life.