Leaning on Faith, Family, and Friends Through Adversity
Grief has a way of revealing what we are truly made of, and for Maura McGee, it became the unlikely path to peace. Jim and Meghan sit down with Maura, a mother of six and author of It Is What It Is, to hear how her family navigated miscarriage, the murder of a beloved priest uncle, her husband Dave's rare cancer diagnosis, and the loss of her mother all within a few years of one another. With honesty and quiet strength, Maura shares how leaning on faith, family, and friends carried her through the darkest seasons and ultimately led her to write a book she never planned to write.
What’s in this episode:
Maura's journey through miscarriage, loss, and her husband's rare cancer
The murder of her uncle, Father Thomas Wells, and its impact on her faith
Dave's final years and the soaring faith he modeled for their six children
A pilgrimage to Lourdes and the unexpected miracle Dave received there
The peace that comes when surrender replaces the need for control
Why going through the motions in faith still carries you during grief
The community and Catholic schools that helped her children stay rooted
How writing became both a calling and a deeply therapeutic act
Why Maura kept the book secret from her family until Palm Sunday
One resource every Catholic family should know: MassTimes.org
Book she is currently reading: A Lasting Promise: A Christian Guide to Fighting for Your Marriage by Scott Stanley
Advice to her younger self: Life is short and you are not in charge, so trust and surrender
Final wisdom for listeners: Lean on faith, family, and friends; humbly accept help when it is your turn
Resources Mentioned:
MassTimes.org – Find Catholic Mass times anywhere in the world
It Is What It Is by Maura McGee – A memoir of surviving adversity through faith, family, and friends
@mauramcgeeauthor on Instagram – Maura's Instagram for updates and outreach
A Lasting Promise: A Christian Guide for Fighting for Your Marriage by Scott Stanley – A faith-based guide for strengthening and protecting your marriage