Table Of ContentI’m so thankful for the path that Lisa Leonard has walked, from perfection and
performance toward connection and grace, and I’m thankful as well for her
vulnerability and creative storytelling. Her journey is one that will resound with
so many women.
SHAUNA NIEQUIST, New York Times
bestselling author of Present Over Perfect
I’ve been inspired by Lisa Leonard both online and off for years, and reading her
story only deepened my respect for the way she does marriage, parenthood, and
business. I cried three times while reading Brave Love.
LAURA TREMAINE, blogger and podcaster
The powerfully vulnerable voice in which Lisa Leonard pours her story onto
each page is disarming and poetic. This book will dig out all your insecurities
and doubts, and through each poem and life lesson, it will remind you of your
wholeness, your value, your beauty. An inspiration to any mom, business owner,
partner, sister, or friend, Brave Love will take you on a beautifully introspective
journey and leave a mark of gratitude and abundance in your heart.
JESSICA HONEGGER, founder and co-CEO of
Noonday Collection and author of Imperfect Courage With soulful
vulnerability, Lisa Leonard shares her story in Brave Love. Through Lisa’s prose
and storytelling, I was immediately captivated by her journey and saw pieces of
my own story. You will find yourself coming face-to-face with the doubts and
questions you hold, as well as with the bright freedom we all seek. Lisa’s words
will make you feel understood and will bring hope that you will come to know
more deeply the freedom and love that God has for each of us.
BRI MCKOY, author of Come and Eat
Brave Love is inspiring and vulnerable, and it will resonate with every mom, in
whatever season of life. I devoured it. Lisa Leonard pulls back the curtain on her
life, writing about the hard work of growing a multimillion-dollar business, the
not-so-pretty parts of her marriage, and the challenges of raising a child with
special needs. In addition to sharing the hardships she’s walked through, her
story offers readers the wisdom, grace, and joy she’s found on the journey.
JESSICA TURNER, bestselling author of
Stretched Too Thin and The Fringe Hours A must-read! Brave Love is
gripping, honest, and uplifting. Lisa Leonard’s journey is unlike most, yet
incredibly relatable as she weaves a story that may initially appear to be a
tragedy into an undeniable triumph that will touch and inspire the hearts of
many.
MEG APPERSON, blogger at Four Fine Lives
I’ve long been a fan of Lisa Leonard Designs and her gorgeous jewelry. Along
comes this shimmering jewel to add to her collection: Brave Love. Lisa does
with words what she does with her jewelry. She makes you feel beautiful when
all you had felt before was “not enough.” Each page stirred something deep in
me—a woman who suffers from the chronic condition of “not-enoughness.”
Brave Love is at once gentle and powerful, and I know it will awaken something
within you too.
JENNIFER DUKES LEE, author of It’s All
Under Control and The Happiness Dare
You were written with love, composing body and soul. Each verse fits together.
You are complete; you are whole. Brave Love is the perfect read to spur you on
toward being your bravest, truest self. Lisa Leonard’s story about embracing her
inmost desires and dreams and letting go of the idea of “perfection” will
encourage you that being fully you not only matters but will lead you toward
something more whole and beautiful than you could ever imagine for yourself.
STACIE BLOOMFIELD, founder of Gingiber The lessons Lisa Leonard
shares from her own life journey are important, meaningful, and inspiring—
giving ourselves permission to be who we really are, embracing our individual
needs in the midst of family and work demands and the mess of everyday life,
and speaking our own truth even when it’s hard. The ways she is owning her
story resonated with me on so many levels as a business owner, parent, wife, and
friend. Definitely recommended as inspiration to reconnect with ourselves.
ALI EDWARDS, storytelling advocate and
business owner at aliedwards.com
Lisa Leonard’s honest words about loving her family and herself are inspiring.
Her vulnerability is a breath of fresh air. She courageously shares her struggles
in motherhood, marriage, and career in a way that will encourage others to be
brave in their lives too. Her story is one of finding her voice to speak up for what
she needed and to believe she is worthy of love.
MEG DUERKSEN, blogger at Whatever
Lisa Leonard teaches us that brave love shows up. And she certainly showed up
for us in this page-turning memoir. Because of her vulnerability, her graceful
truth-telling, and her imperfect courage, I was able to find my own story and
truth in her words. Thank you for reminding me that I am not alone on this
journey to become brave love.
ASHLEY STOCK, blogger at Little Miss Momma This book will change
the way you give yourself grace as you—and as a mother, a wife, a sister, and a
friend. It will remind you that you can show up for you while bravely loving the
people who mean the most to you.
DANIELLE SMITH, founder of PrettyExtraordinary.com Love others, love
yourself—through Lisa Leonard’s brave truth-telling of her own imperfect
journey, she will empower you to see that you too are loved, valued, and worthy.
KRISTI QUILL, owner/artist at Barn Owl Primitives Lisa Leonard has a
gift for walking people through both her darkest and most hopeful moments with
true heart and vulnerability. Her story is one worth reading and sharing with
everyone you know.
ALLISON CZARNECKI, founder and editor
of Petit Elefant, a lifestyle blog
Lisa Leonard is a shining example of someone who bravely steps into the places
God is leading her—and learning more about herself, humanity, and God by
doing so. I’m so thankful she bravely took the steps needed to write this book so
that all of us have an opportunity to get a glimpse into her life, and in so doing
we can also choose to be brave.
HEATHER AVIS, author of The Lucky Few
ZONDERVAN
Brave Love
Copyright © 2018 by Lisa Leonard
Requests for information should be addressed to: Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr.
SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546
Epub Edition November 2018 9780310352310
ISBN 978-0-310-35230-3 (hardcover) ISBN 978-0-310-63175-0 (special
edition) ISBN 978-0-310-35239-6 (international trade paper edition) ISBN 978-
0-310-35241-9 (audio)
ISBN 978-0-31035231-0 (ebook)
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy
® ®
Bible, New International Version , NIV . Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011
®
by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved
worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version”
are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by
®
Biblica, Inc.
Any internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this
book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply
an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of
these sites and numbers for the life of this book.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic,
mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in
printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.
The author is represented by Alive Literary Agency, 7680 Goddard Street, Suite
200, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80920, www.aliveliterary.com.
Cover design: Connie Gabbert Design + Illustration Cover photo: Heather Gray
Photo insert background: PhotoDisc Interior design: Kait Lamphere
First printing October 2018 / Printed in the United States of America
To Stephen, David, and Matthias—
I am grateful for our little family.
CONTENTS
An Invitation to Brave Love
1. The Red Bowl
2. Being a Twin
3. The Ladder
4. Meeting Steve
5. We Got Engaged!
6. Forever Promises
7. Newlyweds
8. Soul Connection
9. Becoming a Mother
10. Grief and Gift
11. Coming Home
12. Trying to Find Normal
13. A Spark of Bravery
14. A Family of Four
15. Thinking Outside the Box
16. Becoming My Truest Self
17. Beauty Matters
18. Stretch and Try
19. Launching a Jewelry Business
20. Friends Gather
21. Building Lisa Leonard Designs Together
22. Inspiration and Imitation
23. The Perfect Berry Crumble
24. Meeting Jazmin
25. Alone
26. Cliff Jumping
27. Space
28. Sadness
29. A Little Bit Stronger
30. Halfway
31. Coming Home
32. A New Beginning
33. A Heartfelt Friend, a Heartfelt Gift
34. Brave Love
My Brave Love Manifesto
Acknowledgments
Photos
Description:When Lisa Leonard said her marriage vows, she was determined to be the best wife she could be. When her first son was born with a severe disability, Lisa promised herself she would always be the mother he needed. When she began her jewelry business, Lisa committed to giving it her all. Over the year
