Motherhood is sacred — and it is also complicated.

In this deeply personal episode of Grit & Grace Podcast, I open my heart and invite listeners into a conversation shaped by decades of motherhood, loss, faith, and God’s sustaining grace.

For 33 years, I raised children in my home. I am the mother of seven living children and one precious baby in heaven, who passed away at three months old on Mother’s Day in 1997. I also raised children with chronic illness, navigated years as a young and often single mother with little support, and carried the weight of generational mental health struggles.

For many years, Mother’s Day was painful for me — filled with grief, resentment, and unanswered prayers. But through journaling prayers, pouring out my heart to God, and walking daily through uncertainty, I encountered the unbelievable grace of God in ways I never expected.

As Scripture reminds us:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
— 2 Corinthians 12:7–10

In this episode, I share how God gave me enough grace to mother children with vastly different needs — and how humility before Him (James 4:6) became a lifeline.

At 23:15, my husband Josh joins the conversation as we reflect on our journey raising triplets, walking through postpartum depression, and my first mental health diagnosis of bipolar disorder — and how God remained faithful through it all.

This episode is for anyone who loves motherhood, struggles with it, grieves through it, or feels unseen within it.

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In this episode of the Grit & Grace Podcast, Tonya shares a specially curated January Mental Health Toolkit, offering practical strategies and insights to help you navigate the winter blues and maintain your mental wellness. Then, join host Tonya Bruton and special guest Julie Rebboah as they explore the themes of faith and resilience. Discover how Julie’s personal journey of overcoming trauma and adversity can inspire you to find your own strength.In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Practical tips for maintaining mental health during the winter months. How to use faith-based tools and practical resources for emotional well-being.Julie Rebboah’s inspiring story of resilience and faith.Download Your Free January Mental Health Toolkit! [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mkzHPlaDs-xBfBmuC93gSksmMRO4V6Y7/view]Connect With Us:Subscribe for more episodes and updates.Comment below and let us know how you’re using the toolkit!

Recovery programs can save lives — but only when they honor the whole person.In this episode of Grit & Grace Podcast with Tonya Bruton, we explore recovery programs through the lens of faith, mental health, trauma, and personal dignity. Not every recovery path fits every person, and healing should never require you to lose yourself in order to belong.Tonya breaks down different recovery options, including 12-step programs, SMART Recovery, mindfulness and yoga-based recovery, and faith-centered approaches. She also discusses why some programs help people heal while others leave them feeling ashamed, silenced, or stuck in survival mode.This episode is for anyone navigating addiction recovery, relapse, mental health challenges, trauma, or faith-based healing — and for those trying to find a recovery path that actually supports long-term growth.Topics include:• Recovery programs• Addiction recovery• Mental health and recovery• Trauma-informed healing• Faith and recovery• 12-step recovery• SMART Recovery• Mindfulness and yoga for healing• Grace over shame• Choosing the right recovery pathA free Recovery Program Reflection Guide is available in the show notes to help listeners evaluate recovery spaces with wisdom, not shame.New episodes of Grit & Grace Podcast release every Thursday.#podcast #recovery

In this episode, I define bipolar disorder and explain it's phases, how it affects those we love and what helps us cope.

Free Worksheet:👉 Download it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfL4wBU17fqE1kW1U-Z_pjE7qMfqdPj-Fjop8NanWd97wp57Q/viewform?usp=header When you download the worksheet, you’ll also be added to my email list so you’ll get a notification every Friday when a new blog post goes live. This week on Grit & Grace, we’re talking honestly about relapse — the kind that brings shame, self-doubt, and the feeling that you’ve undone all your progress. Whether the relapse is emotional, mental, or behavioral, this episode is about separating who you are from what you did, and learning how to rebuild without punishment, perfectionism, or fear. We talk about: Why relapse doesn’t erase your growth, The difference between conviction and shame, How faith meets us in the messy middle, What it looks like to begin again with grace. Thank you for showing up honestly, staying in the process, and choosing grace — even on the hard days.#podcast #recovery #relapse

In this episode, we dive into the world of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), previously known as Multiple Personality Disorder. I share my own journey of living with DID, introduce you to one of my alters, Rory, and explain what it means to navigate relationships and healing with this condition. We also define key terms like alters, fronting, and switching, and discuss the challenges in finding proper support. Join us for an honest conversation about mental health, inner healing, and spiritual encouragement along the way. #mentalhealth #podcast #did

Joe Gallagher Jr. is living proof that rock bottom can be the foundation for something beautiful. As the founder of Apastioli and author of From Bars to Jars, he turned years of addiction and jail tie ito a life of purpose and impact. His sobriety story is raw and redemptive. From street fights to recovery meetings, he built a thriving Italian food brand now stocked on grocery shelves across the Southeast. Faith, community, and honest storytelling is his foundation. Welcome to a hopeful, real conversation to remind you that freedom is possible and transformation is real. #recovery #podcast #faith

Luis Colón is a former gang member (founding member of the Latin Kings) who came to know Christ while incarcerated. By the grace of God, he was released in March 2024 after serving 14 years of what was originally a 28-year sentence. Since then, Luis has devoted himself to sharing how Jesus has transformed his life and encouraging others with the hope he's found in Him. A real, raw story of transformation, grace and recovery in the face of insurmountable obstacles. Luis's captivating story can be found in his griping book R.I.C.O Acts: From Kingism to the Kingdom AVAILABLE now on Amazon. For more info go to luiscolon.org or CompoundforChrist.com.

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