Volume One, Issue Eight May 24, 2021

We desire to see everyone living in a healthy relationship with the Lord.

A blog from Joanna:

Emotional atrophy

I remember when our son broke his leg when he was younger. It was broken so severely that he was off his feet for quite some time. The pain of the process developed a fear in him when he began walking again after recovery. Because of the pain and mental block, it became a struggle for him to get back up again. He had so many mental blocks to plow through. There were many moments of exhaustion as he started to walk again. He had to retrain his brain to make all the needed connections for movement. The moment in the whole process that shocked me the most were the tears shed when they removed the cast. He cried for them to keep it on. That cast had become a form of protection to prevent any more pain. The removal was a reminder of the risks now involved. Would the leg be okay? I'm sure the pain of the break was etched in his brain. How could it not be?

I want to take this visual and apply it to emotional needs. Each one of us is created for deep connection with each other, but that requires us to tap into our emotions, the full spectrum of them. This process is scary. Probably at some point in our lives, someone did not meet our needs expressed through tears and hugs. We might not have been given the attention needed, or we experienced significant loss, so we closed ourselves off, placing our emotions of vulnerability in a cast to stay safe. 

Read more here

If you have considered checking out the Membership Community section of JoannaSnow.com, we have an event you will want to take advantage of! Our Membership Community meeting place is where Members can connect over blogs, discussions, and courses. One of the most popular courses is on marriage. Joanna and her husband, Ben, share experiences and insights on several topics including friendship, vulnerability, teamwork, and communication. They look at elements that can cause struggles and discuss the best way to address touchy subjects.

On Memorial Day, May 31, JoannaSnow.com will be hosting a live online marriage event discussing the topic of Creating A Safe Space In Your Relationship. There will be a time of Q&A at the end. You can submit your questions when you sign up for the event!

This event is only $9.99, and it’s a great way to see what kinds of information the videos provide. For more information on the event, including how to join, go to JoannaSnow.com/events or JoannaSnow.com/marriage-event.

Consider joining our community and adding to the discussion!

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Joanna Snow Ministries is located in Downtown Mobile, Alabama, and we love it!

I caught a picture of the Ketchum Fountain in Bienville Square without the water flowing over it. The city was getting ready to host a nighttime event, and they cut the water off to set up speakers around the area. I loved looking at the details of the cast-iron fountain, which was placed in the center of the square in the 1890s.

Here is a description from the Downtown Mobile Coloring Book made available by the Downtown Mobile Alliance:

“The Ketchum Fountain in the center of Bienville Square is the most beloved feature of the historic public space and has become an icon for the City of Mobile. The “Acanthus Fountain” was placed in honor of Dr. George A. Ketchum, a prominent physician, civic leader and president of the Bienville Water Works. One hundred years later, its much-needed restoration was undertaken by Main Street Mobile and completed in 1993.”

In the coloring book drawing, the water is flowing through and over the fountain as it should be. Even though the details are beautiful, without water, it is just a sculpture. It isn’t doing what it was designed to do.

I looked up the acanthus flower to see what it symbolizes. One of the main symbols I found is long life and even eternal life.

What a reminder this fountain is! And I hope that every time you see a fountain, you will ask yourself if you are allowing the Spirit to flow. I know I will.

Whosoever drinks of the water which I shall give him shall never thirst for ever, but the water which I shall give him shall become in him a fountain of water, springing up into eternal life.

John 4:14