Brief Summary
This episode of The Hope Pandemic features Debbie Simmons, the founder and CEO of Anchorpoint, a nonprofit that supports families through counseling, education, and spiritual development. Debbie shares her personal journey of loss, grief, and eventual purpose, emphasizing the importance of faith and resilience. She discusses her experiences with infertility, the loss of her quadruplet sons, and the subsequent adoption of nine children. Debbie highlights the significance of shifting from asking "why" to asking "how" in times of adversity, and focusing on the next best step. The conversation explores themes of hope, legacy, and trusting in God's plan, even when it diverges from personal expectations.
- Debbie's journey from loss to legacy, emphasizing the importance of faith and resilience.
- Shifting from asking "why" to asking "how" in times of adversity.
- The significance of living intentionally and trusting in God's plan.
Introduction
Debbie Simmons, the founder and CEO of Anchorpoint, is introduced. Anchorpoint is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving families through counseling, education, and spiritual development. Debbie is also a mother to nine adopted children and grandmother to fifteen grandchildren. Her journey to motherhood took an unexpected turn when she experienced the loss of her quadruplet sons, leading to a period of grief, burnout, and doubt. Debbie's story is one of resilience and faith, as she shares how she questioned everything and how God transformed her "why" questions into a different perspective.
Anchored in Jesus
Debbie defines being "anchored" as keeping one's focus on Jesus, remaining present, and striving to become who God intends. She emphasizes that focusing on the present and trusting in God is the only way to move forward. Debbie applies this principle in her role as CEO of Anchorpoint, where she supports families from the decision to choose life through their children's adulthood. She believes that staying focused on God allows everything else to fall into place.
Hope as Keeping Eyes on Jesus
Debbie reflects on what she wishes she had known about hope during her darkest times, emphasizing that true hope lies in Jesus and the restoration of relationships. She wishes she had learned earlier to trust God daily, a practice she now teaches her grandchildren. Debbie encourages them to turn to Jesus for help in difficult situations, reinforcing the idea that faith should be the default response. She acknowledges that while it took her time to fully grasp this concept, she now ministers to her children and grandchildren by equipping them with this understanding.
From Engineering to Motherhood
Debbie discusses her background as an engineer in the oil and gas industry and how her analytical mindset translates into motherhood and ministry. She shares a story about adopting a sibling group of five and realizing the need for structured systems to manage her new role as a mother. Debbie explains that her engineering and organizational management skills are now used in her work at Anchorpoint, where she applies project management principles to helping people. She notes that God uses all of her experiences and skills in different ways, highlighting the importance of being open to how God can use one's diverse background.
Loss of Quadruplets
Debbie shares her personal story of loss, detailing her dream of being a young grandma and the challenges she faced with infertility. After years of struggling to conceive, she became pregnant with quadruplets. The pregnancy was high-risk, and at 26 weeks, one of the babies' sacs ruptured, leading to premature labor. Debbie recounts the heartbreaking experience of holding each of her sons, Zach, Josh, Nate, and Chris, as they passed away shortly after birth. She describes the grief as overwhelming, rearranging her life and challenging her ability to keep breathing.
From Why to How
Debbie explains how she questioned God's plan after the loss of her sons, constantly asking "why." She realized that the "why" questions kept her stuck and focused inward. God taught her to shift her focus to "how," asking questions like "How do I survive?" and "How do I go on?" This shift allowed her to receive wisdom and take the next best step, even if it was as simple as getting out of bed. Debbie emphasizes the importance of having supportive people in one's life to encourage movement and prevent stagnation in grief.
Adopting Nine Children
Debbie discusses her journey into adopting nine children and building programs through Anchorpoint to serve thousands of families. After the loss of her sons, she pursued seminary and felt a calling to fulfill her love for children through adoption. She and her husband adopted a sibling group of five, followed by another group of two, and later another group of two. Debbie shares that adopting children taught her about her own wounded spots that needed healing. She emphasizes that God redeemed the day of her sons' birth by bringing the first sibling group into her home seven years later.
Balancing Life
Debbie discusses how she balances her roles as a CEO, speaker, author, and mother/grandmother. She emphasizes the importance of getting her inner self right so that her outer self can lead well. Debbie's focus is on introspection and ensuring she remains centered on God. Her word for the year is "fly," which represents keeping her eye on God, doing what she believes she is called to do, and building in time to stay centered. She acknowledges the challenges of raising children with trauma backgrounds and the need to trust that God loves them more than she does.
Advice for the "Marthas"
Debbie, a self-proclaimed "Martha," shares advice for those who tend to be doers and managers. She recounts a health crisis caused by neglecting her nutritional needs due to stress. Debbie advises listeners to willingly submit to slowing down or risk a situation that forces them to do so. She emphasizes the importance of making adjustments for the second phase of life to avoid burnout and shortened lifespan. Debbie encourages learning to love peace and balance, rather than waiting for a crisis to enforce it.
Vision of Flying
Debbie shares her vision of "flying" for the year, explaining that she initially wanted the word "soar" but received "fly" instead. She describes the process of breaking out of a cocoon, spreading wings, and taking her message to the world. Debbie emphasizes that she was not made to carry the sky but to fly, releasing burdens to be free. She connects this to keeping her eye on God and trusting in His guidance.
Final Thoughts and Contact Information
Debbie shares that she is working on sharing her story on a greater scale. She can be contacted through her website, thedebbiesimmons.com, for speaking engagements and coaching. Her book, "The Heart of Legacy," is available at theheartoflegacy.com as a free gift to the audience, offering guidance on walking through life with faithfulness, focus, and fearlessness. Debbie expresses excitement about Anchorpoint's growth and her ability to pursue coaching and travel, sharing her experiences and God's work in her life.
Final Pearl of Hope
Debbie offers a final pearl of hope, encouraging those struggling to trust in God's love and plan. She reminds listeners that God is not surprised by their circumstances and sees their preciousness. Debbie emphasizes that even if today looks difficult, tomorrow is a new day. She advises leaning in, trusting God, and asking "how" to figure things out, promising that He will faithfully provide wisdom.
Conclusion
The host reflects on the conversation with Debbie, highlighting the importance of shifting from "why" to "how" and recognizing that healing is about being shaped by God. She emphasizes that choosing hope is a daily decision and encourages listeners to carry faith, hope, and love. The host reminds listeners that God's promises still stand, even if circumstances look bleak, and encourages them to check their understanding of what God has spoken to them. She concludes by encouraging listeners to connect with Debbie and immerse themselves in her book to discover God's vision for their lives. The host leaves listeners with the image of God writing their story with a golden pen, encouraging them to give Him the pen and let Him keep writing.
