Promise Hill, S1 Ep 1, The Seed | Promise Hill--A Christian Soul-Care Podcast

Description

From Grandma Eden’s Journal…

Today, I met Mira at the edge of what she believes is the end.

She came to me carrying that particular kind of loss that doesn’t always have words—when life has unraveled all at once. Divorce. Moving. Her mom. And now, the job she depended on… gone. To her, it feels like a burial. Like everything she built has been taken and placed in the dark.

But I’ve lived long enough to know something she cannot yet see: Sometimes what feels like being buried… is actually being planted.

Hope rarely arrives loudly. More often, it comes like a whisper. A small light. A gentle hand reaching through the soil. This is the start of Mira’s journey… the beginning of her learning that what feels like being buried may, in fact, be the very place where something new will take root.

And I will walk with her, as someone once walked with me...if she lets me.

*******************************

This is the first chapter in an unfolding story.

About: Promise Hill is a Christian soul-care podcast offering a gentle story told through dynamic storytelling (aka sound effects and character voices) and guided reflections for anyone who feels the struggle of life or just wants to escape the noise of the world and needs a quiet place to rest.

The story is written by a Christian counselor or over 22 years of experience. Character voices and visuals (on YouTube) are created using AI to support the storytelling experience, while the reflections and guidance are fully human and personal.

The story you’ll hear in Promise Hill is fiction—but the heart behind it is real. It reflects the honest, messy, and beautiful experiences so many of us share: loss, starting over, painful breakups, losing yourself, and the intentional work of healing.

Each episode includes a chapter of an unfolding story, a reflective pause, and a few gentle action steps—simple invitations, not pressure.

Take what speaks to you, and feel free to leave the rest. I'm glad you are here.

Important note: This podcast is for inspiration and storytelling purposes only. If you are struggling emotionally or mentally, please seek professional support. You are worth it.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Transcription

Speaker #0
You don't need to have it all figured out. Actually, none of us do. That's where the real stories begin. Welcome to Promise Hill, a quiet town with a gentle voice that speaks to the heavy places we carry. Hello, I'm Kimberlee Herman, your host. I'm here to walk with you through stories stitched with hope and honesty, especially when life feels noisy, too much, or like you've been strong for way too long. Each episode offers a soft landing, an unfolding mystery to sit with, and afterwards a few thoughtful reflections, practical soul care ideas, and a quiet prayer just for you. No expectations, just a place to breathe. You can listen while folding laundry or as you settle in for the night. However you show up, it matters. Because even in a small town like this, soul care runs deep. Some stories don't entertain you, they recognize you. I'll meet you on the other side. Let's listen in.
Speaker #1
For the first time in a long while, Mira let herself breathe. Morning sunlight spilled through the window of her small bedroom, settling softly across the floor. Promise Hill was waking up, slow, unhurried, as if the town itself understood that rushing rarely fixed anything. Somewhere outside, birds sang, their rhythms steady and unconcerned.
Speaker #2
This is why I moved here. To rest and start again. I'm beginning to remember who I was before everything fell apart.
Speaker #1
And for a month, it had been working. She'd found her footing. Her job allowed her to relocate to Promise Hill and work from home.
Speaker #2
"I'm so grateful to be here and finally moving on from my divorce. I'm now closer to mom to help her since she is only an hour away. Even the neighbors smile when they pass. Life feels pretty good."
Speaker #1
She had begun to imagine a future again, not a grand one, just a steady one. Then her laptop chimed.
Speaker #2
"Company update: workforce reduction? What?" You have got to be kidding me.
Speaker #1
The words were professional and calm. Mira stared at the screen as the room seemed to close in around her.
Speaker #2
I've given them ten years of dedication. I can't believe they closed my whole department.
Speaker #1
The job had been more than income. It had been proof that something in her life had survived, something stable and certain. Mira closed the laptop and reached for her jacket.
Speaker #2
Okay, I need to get out of here and clear my head.
Speaker #1
She stepped outside into the cool early spring air.
Speaker #2
At least walking always helps.
Speaker #1
Movement gave her thoughts somewhere to go. She found herself in the town square, which greeted her with familiar charm. Promise Hill was still itself, even if Mira wasn't sure she was. She found an empty bench and sat down with her thoughts. Her heart caught between gratitude and grief.
Speaker #2
I moved to Promise Hill, searching for a new beginning after my divorce, and to be closer to Mom after moving her into assisted living. I'm so lost right now Everything is crashing down on me God doesn't seem to be around, if he even exists.
Speaker #1
She began to tear up. A young girl skipping by noticed. Mira looked up to see a child around eight years old, her brown curly hair bouncing as she skipped. She stopped and turned back to Mira, tilting her head like a curious bird. Her bright blue eyes studied Mira as though she might find the answer hidden in her expression.
Speaker #3
Hi. Why do grown-ups always look so serious?
Speaker #2
Oh, hi there. Do we always look serious?
Speaker #1
Mira was holding back her tears. The girl sat on the edge of the bench, swinging her legs.
Speaker #3
Maybe. Grown-ups just always seem like they've lost something.
Speaker #1
Mira smiled faintly, her heart stinging at the truth of the child's words.
Speaker #2
Hmm. Interesting. What's your name?
Speaker #3
Hope Meadowlark. My mom works at the old-time gas station. Her name is Shay.
Speaker #2
Nice to meet you, Hope. Sometimes we have lost something. Sometimes it's hard to find the way forward when you don't know where you're going.
Speaker #3
Have you asked Grandma Eden how to find what you lost? She knows everything.
Speaker #2
I haven't met her yet. Do you think she can help me?
Speaker #1
Hope nodded enthusiastically.
Speaker #3
Yes, I do She lives in the little blue house at the end of the street. My mom talks to her all the time and she always feels better afterwards.
Speaker #1
Before Mira could respond, Hope jumped off the bench, waved, and ran off to join her friends. Mira sat in silence for a while, turning the conversation over in her mind.
Speaker #2
I've heard of Grandma Eden. She sounds like something of a legend in this small town. Something about her wisdom and her knack for saying just the right thing to untangle a problem.
Speaker #1
With nothing to lose, Mira decided to find the little blue house. The house was quaint, surrounded by a garden that seemed to spill over with wildflowers, herbs, and a gentle chaos of life. Before Mira could knock, Grandma Eden opened the door almost as if she had been expecting Mira. She smiled as her silver wavy hair framed a face lined with kindness and years of listening.
Speaker #2
Oh, hello there dear. Hi, I didn't mean to startle you Grandma Eden. I'm Mira. I'm sorry to just show up. Hope Metalark suggested I see you because you help people, and I'm pretty desperate. Can you help me?
Speaker #1
Grandma Eden smiled.
Speaker #2
"It's nice to meet you, Mira. I'm happy to listen and help if I can. Please come inside."
Speaker #1
The small living room smelled of patchouli and peppermint. Her home had a cozy and welcoming feel. A black-and-white cat graced them with her presence and slid her furry side against Mira's leg as she purred. Grandma Eden poured two cups of tea and sat across from Mira.
Speaker #4
Meet Penelope. She's usually shy, but extends her love to those she feels are a good sort of folk. She likes you, Mira.
Speaker #1
This warmed Mira's heart. She felt seen and valued. Over tea, Mira shared her story, the job, her marriage, her mom's dementia, and the other losses in her life. Grandma Eden listened, fully present, as if nothing else in the world required her attention.
Speaker #4
Lost is a hard place to be, but not a bad one. The best discoveries happen when we feel most unsure.
Speaker #1
Grandma Eden sipped her tea, her gaze steady on Mira as if she was reading her on the inside.
Speaker #4
Do you know why a seed has to fall into the ground and be buried?
Speaker #2
That's the only way it can begin to grow, right?
Speaker #4
Yes, because only then can it transform into something new. It feels like the end for the seed, but it's really the beginning of its purpose. It sounds like you're in the ground now, dear. It's dark and uncertain, but that's where new life takes root.
Speaker #1
The words settled into Mira's heart like warm embers.
Speaker #2
But what if I don't know what I'm meant to grow into?
Speaker #4
Well, you don't have to know right now. Just focus on the next step. Let yourself grow into the answer.
Speaker #1
Mira let that wisdom sit and settle in. She began to feel a little hope starting to grow. Then Mira noticed a big black book on the end of the table. The title was almost completely worn off, and it looked well used. She had seen similar books before but was not sure where. She decided to keep that curiosity to herself - for now. As she left, Grandma Eden told her:
Speaker #4
It takes a brave soul to ask for help. I'm proud of you, Mira. I have a feeling this town will give you what you need.
Speaker #1
By the time she left, the fog in her mind had lifted just enough for her to see a glimmer of light ahead. As Mira walked home through the park, she noticed Hope Meadowlark skipping along the sidewalk. The girl waved, her bright smile as radiant as ever.
Speaker #3
Did she help you?
Speaker #2
She really did. Thank you, Hope.
Speaker #1
As Mira replied, she felt herself smiling for the first time in what felt like forever.
Speaker #3
Good I knew Grandma Eden could help
Speaker #1
And with that, she disappeared around the corner, leaving Mira to walk forward into her new beginning. And ponder where she saw the big black book she noticed resting on Grandma Eden's table. Then suddenly, Mira had a glimpse of a memory from when she was very young. She wasn't sure of the recollection, but the people in it were whispering around her. Someone was crying and the black book that looked like Grandma Eden's was given from one woman to the other. She noticed a wind chime was singing outside. The wind chime brought a hug of peace, but the rest was so unsettling.
Speaker #2
I have the weight of the world on me, and now this?
Speaker #1
Whatever the black book held, whatever those women had been grieving, it had been part of her story from the very beginning. And so, as the sun sets over Promise Hill, a piece of the story unfolds. Life here, like anywhere, is filled with struggles and moments of quiet revelation. Maybe you too are facing something that feels uncertain, a past that whispers or a future that feels unclear. But just like Mira, you're not alone. Every struggle is a chance to learn, to heal and to trust that the pieces of your life will come together in time. Thank you for joining us on this journey. Until our next chapter, may you walk in faith, hold onto hope, and remember: there's always more to the story Take it away, Kimberlee
Speaker #0
Now it's time to walk that story home. Sometimes the greatest lessons are hidden in the smallest details. I want to take a closer look at what this story might be teaching us together. I'll share three reflections, three Live It Out action steps And then I'll send you off covered in prayer. Reflection number one, seasons of loss and transitions. Life has a way of shaking us up when we least expect it. One minute we think we're on solid ground and the next everything shifts. Job disappears, relationships fall apart, the life we thought we were building suddenly feels uncertain. And in those moments, it's easy to feel lost, unanchored, unsure of what comes next. Mira knows that feeling all too well. Losing her marriage, her job, and trying to find her place in a new town? It's a lot. No, it's too much. And she has no idea what to do next. But here's the thing. Just because we can't see the way forward doesn't mean God isn't working. Mira may not realize it yet, but God is already moving in her story. And through the gentle wisdom of Grandma Eden, she's beginning to understand something important. Where she is right now is not the end of the story. Hear it and hold it. Psalm 34, 18. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. God sent Grandma Eden to share wisdom with Mira. I wonder as you look over your own life, how often has a Grandma Eden shown up in a person, a song, an article, or even a bumper sticker that got your attention and helped you? 2. Seeking Wisdom in Uncertain Times When life feels uncertain, it's easy to get stuck in our own heads, turning over the same worries again and again. But sometimes what we really need is someone who's been there, someone who sees things differently and can speak truth into our situation. That's exactly what happens when Hope Meadowlark points Mira toward Grandma Eden. She's the kind of person people go to when they don't know what to do next, a woman full of wisdom, the kind that comes from years of listening, learning, and leaning on God. We all need people like that in our lives. Mentors, helpers, those who have walked the road before us and can help us see what we can't yet see for ourselves. Mira doesn't know it yet, but this conversation with Grandma Eden? It's about to change everything. Hear it and hold it. Proverbs 16, 16 How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver. Wisdom is more precious than anything. We see Mira seeking help, and it comes through the wise words of Eden. If Eden had just given her money, that would not have been the same to lift her spirits of hope. 3. Taking the next step even when you can't see the whole path Mira asks the question we've all wrestled with, but what if I don't know what I'm meant to grow into? And Grandma Eden, in her gentle, steady way, reminds her, You don't have to know. Just focus on the next step. How often do we get stuck because we want the whole picture before we move forward? We want the plan, the guarantee, the certainty. But that's not how faith works. God doesn't ask us to figure it all out at once. He just asks us to trust Him with the next step. And then the next. Maybe that's where you are today, standing at the edge of something new, unsure of what's ahead. If that's you, let's take a breath together. You don't have to have it all mapped out. Just take the next step. God will meet you there. Hear it and hold it. Psalm 119. verse 105 your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path a lamp doesn't light the whole road it only gives enough light for the next step and that's all we need i think the question is how do we know the next step sometimes we're not sure and sometimes we just know this takes faith and sometimes it means pulling back if it ends up not feeling right but movement is important. All right, let's move on to the live it out action steps. Number one, reflect on your season of transition. What changes are happening in your life right now? Write them down, acknowledge them, invite God into them, ask for his help. 2. Seek wise counsel. Reach out to someone who can offer wisdom and encouragement if that's needed at this season in your life. 3. Look for God signs. Just like Mira noticed small things, a cat's affection, a little girl's wisdom, an old book, what small signs is God placing in your life? If today's episode spoke to you, I encourage you to take some time this week to really sit with these scriptures, hear them, hold them in your heart and let them settle deep. Then take a step and try the live it out action steps. And remember this just because you feel lost doesn't mean you are. God is right there with you working, planting and growing something new if you allow him. Even when you can't see it. Let me lift you up in prayer, friend. Heavenly Father, I come to you today with a heart burdened for those who feel lost and unsure of what's next. Lord, you see them. You know their fears and the questions that keep them up at night. You know the weight of the unknown pressing on their hearts. Father, when they can't see the way forward, remind them that you already do. You are the light in the darkness, the steady hand in the storm, when everything else feels shaky. When their hearts are restless, fill them with your peace. Help them, Lord, to take just one step forward even when they don't know where it leads. Give them faith to trust you even when nothing makes sense. Surround them with voices of encouragement, people who will speak life over them and remind them of your truth And more than anything, Lord, whisper to their hearts that they are not alone. You are walking beside them gently step by step. Thank you, God, for a love that never leaves us where we are but always calls us deeper into your purpose. I pray that everyone who feels lost today would find their hope in you. In Jesus' holy name, amen. Friends, may you find peace in the presence and hope on the hilltop. Until next time, this is Kimberlee Herman, cheering you on from Promise Hill.