Sarah’s Acknowledgments
It’s not easy being a little girl who likes to talk politics. Thank you to everyone who listened and encouraged me to keep talking. I have particularly vivid memories of long conversations about JFK, FDR, and the working man with my grandfather Ollie Stewart. Thank you, Papa. Thank you to my parents—all three of them—for answering my questions and debating with me far past the requirements of good parenting. Thank you to my grandmothers Betty and Nancy for loving me wholly and completely without condition. Thank you to every teacher who taught me to think, to speak, and to write, especially Stacey Marshall, Toby Dulworth, and Kim Miller.
My childhood was shaped by many people who took the time to listen to and encourage me, but my adulthood has been shaped largely by one. Thank you to my husband Nicholas Holland, who has the sharpest mind and kindest heart of any person I know. Right after “Will you marry me?” “Why don’t you start a podcast?” has to be the best question I’ve ever been asked, and both questions were asked by him. Thank you, Nicholas, for supporting me, encouraging me, and loving me. I adore you.
Thank you to my sons Griffin, Amos, and Felix for raising the stakes on everything I do. Work only matters if I’m making the world a better place for you.
Thank you to my beloved sister friends—Elizabeth, Annie, and Laura—when things go bad, you are who I call. Thanks for always answering.
Thank you to the community of Paducah, Kentucky. My village. My tribe. My heart. Thank you for giving me the most magnificent place to practice the lessons of this book.
Thank you to our listeners for giving me grace over years of ummms, “likes”, and plain old screwups. You make me better. Thank you to Sharon—we simply wouldn’t be here without you. Thank you to Jessica and the team at Thomas Nelson for seeing our vision and believing in it.
Thank you to Beth. Thank you for saying yes to every new adventure. Thank you for listening. Thank you for being patient and wise and brave.
Beth’s Acknowledgments
When I was young and not exactly engaged by a sermon in church, my mom would grab a bulletin and jot down a writing prompt. Because of her prompts, I wrote hundreds of essays on offering envelopes and around the margins of prayer lists. Mom read every word and offered critiques, teaching me to be more persuasive, more succinct, and clearer. She did the same thing with each chapter of this book. Thank you, Sharon Thurman. You taught me how to be a writer, and you taught me that what I have to say matters.
Thank you to Kimberly Rocks and Kelly Thurman, who have been cheering me on throughout this process. When you two say you are proud of me, I know I’m succeeding by life’s most important metrics.
Thank you to Dr. Susan Ward Diamond for renewing my faith in the church and bringing nuance to my understanding of Scripture. Thank you to Tracey Puthoff, James Zimmerman, and Caitlin Felvus for your wise counsel and belief in me throughout this process. Thank you to Kelly McCallum for treating our children like they are your own so that I’m able to do the work I love. Thank you to Alise Napp for your insightful and enthusiastic review.
Sharon Pelletier has been more than an agent. She loved this book into being before the first sentence was written. Thank you, Sharon, for making this possible. Jessica Wong, Brigitta Nortker, and Karin Silver improved our writing every time they touched it. Thank you for your care and consideration at every step.
My understanding of grace and love has been infinitely expanded by the way my husband, Chad, has handled my dream of changing political conversation. Thank you for your sacrifices and support and patience and humor. Thank you to my curious, witty, exuberant daughters, Jane and Ellen, for understanding all the quiet that I request and for being the best teachers I’ve ever had.
Finally, thank you, Sarah. I adore and trust you and hope that we are only beginning to learn and create together.