The Seed | Promise Hill--Where Stories Heal and Hope is Redeemed

Description

In our first episode, you’ll step into Mira’s world at the exact moment everything she’s built comes crashing down—then watch what happens when loss becomes the doorway to something unexpected.

Through her story, you’ll uncover how to steady yourself when life blindsides you, why the smallest conversations can spark real clarity, and how to recognize quiet signs of hope even in dark seasons. If you’re facing change, feeling stuck, or just need a reminder that buried isn’t the same as finished, this chapter will give you perspective, encouragement, and a spark to take your next step forward.

Join me as the journey unfolds.

This is entertainment only. If you are struggling, please seek professional support. You are worth it.

✨ New here? Be sure to start with Episode 1—every chapter in Promise Hill builds on the last.

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*Disclaimer: All the characters in Promise Hill are AI. The storyline is mine, but the videos, photos, and voices are AI (except mine, I'm real :-) ). I understand some people want nothing to do with AI and even feel it's evil, and I respect that, and I encourage you to stick to your boundaries. What that means for us is that this podcast is not for you. There are lots of great podcasts out there that do not use AI. Support them. Bless you!

For those who do not mind AI, I use AI as voice and performing actors to illustrate a story. The storyline is mine, and I developed the characters as I saw them in my head. As a Christian, I have complete peace using AI in this way

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

Transcription

Speaker #0
There's a place where stories whisper truth, where faith meets the journey, and where every step leads to something greater. In each episode, we're going to step into an unfolding story, uncover wisdom, take action, and pray. After this chapter, I'll meet you on the other side. Hello, I'm Kimberly Herman, and welcome to Promise Hill. Season 1, Chapter 1, The Seed. Let's get started.
Speaker #1
For the first time in a long time, Mira let herself breathe. Promise Hill had started to feel like home. A place where the past didn't haunt her and the future felt open, full of possibility. She woke to sunlight spilling through her window, the hum of a quiet town settling into her bones. After months of uncertainty, she had begun to believe that maybe, just maybe, things were finally okay. Then, with a single email, it all unraveled. Company update. Workforce reduction. The words blurred as she read them again, and again. Ten years of work gone in a moment. They said it wasn't personal, but it felt personal. It felt like the universe had taken a look at the life she was trying to build, and decided she didn't deserve steady ground just yet. Now, she wandered through the town square. Her jacket pulled tight against the early spring chill. The cobblestone streets, once filled with quiet charm, felt distant again. unfamiliar. She didn't remember walking toward Promise Hill Park, but here she was, standing at its edge. Families strolled past, laughter dancing through the air. Children ran, their world still whole and bright. Mira sat on a bench, pressing her palms against her face. She had come here searching for a new beginning, but what if she was just lost all over again? A young girl skipping by noticed Mira.
Speaker #2
Grown-ups always look so sad.
Speaker #1
Mira looked up to see a girl, no older than seven, her brown curly hair bouncing as she skipped past. 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
Oh, hello. What do you mean grown-ups always look so sad?
Speaker #1
The girl sat on the edge of the bed, swinging her legs.
Speaker #2
I don't know. Grownups just always seem like they've lost something.
Speaker #1
Mira smiled faintly, her heart stinging at the truth of the child's words. She recognized her as Hope Meadowlark. Hope is Shay's daughter, who works at the old-time gas station off of Main Street.
Speaker #3
Sometimes we have lost something. Sometimes it's hard to find the way forward when you don't know where you're going.
Speaker #2
Have you asked Grandma Eden about where to go? She knows everything.
Speaker #3
Grandma Eden?
Speaker #1
Hope nodded enthusiastically.
Speaker #2
She lives in the little blue house at the end of the street. She helps people. 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 and ran off to join her friends. Mira sat in silence for a while, turning the conversation over in her mind. She had heard of Grandma Eden. The older woman was something of a legend in the small town of Promise Hill. People whispered about her wisdom, her knack for saying just the right thing to untangle a problem. 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 budding wildflowers, herbs, and a gentle chaos of life. Grandma Eden answered the door almost as if she had been expecting Mira. Her silver wavy hair framed a face lined with kindness and years of listening.
Speaker #3
Hi, Grandma Eden. I'm Mira, and I'm kind of new in town. Hope told me that you help people when they're lost. Can you help me?
Speaker #1
Grandma Eden smiled and gestured for Mira to come inside. The small living room smelled of peppermint and patchouli. 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.
Speaker #4
Lost is a hard place to be, but not a bad one. The best discoveries happen when you're not alone. when we feel most unsure.
Speaker #3
I've lost my job, my marriage, and my sense of purpose. How can anything good come from this?
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 #1
Mira frowned, shaking her head.
Speaker #4
Because only then can it grow. into something new. It feels like the end for the seed, but it's really the beginning of its purpose. You're in the ground now, Mira. 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 #3
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, dear. Just focus on the next step and then the one after that. Let yourself grow into the answer.
Speaker #1
Mira stayed a while longer, talking with Eden about her fears, her dreams and her doubts. Then she 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. 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, she noticed Hope Meadowlark from the park skipping along the sidewalk. The girl waved, her bright smile as radiant as ever.
Speaker #2
Did she help you?
Speaker #3
She did.
Speaker #1
As Mira replied, she felt herself smiling for the first time in what felt like forever.
Speaker #2
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, a memory from years ago that brought her to tears. She wasn't sure of the recollection, but the people in it were crying, and there was a heaviness that came over her.
Speaker #3
What in the world is happening?
Speaker #1
She mumbled as she walked home.
Speaker #3
Grandma Eden brought me hope. Now this?
Speaker #1
And so, as the sun sets over Promise Hill, a piece of the story unfolds. Life here, like anywhere, is filled with questions, struggles, and moments of quiet revelation. Mira may not have all the answers yet, but each step brings her closer to the truth about herself. 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 challenge is an opportunity to learn, to heal, and to trust that the pieces will come together in time. Thank you for joining me on this journey. Until next time, may you walk in faith, hold on to hope, and remember, there is always more to the story. Take it away, Kimberly.
Speaker #0
Sometimes the greatest lessons are hidden in the smallest details. Let's take a closer look at what this story is really teaching us. I'll cover four practical reflections and five live it out action steps for you. After that, I want to send you off covered in prayer. Will you join me? 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. Jobs disappear, 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. Too much, really. 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 isn't the end of her 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? Number two, 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 happened when Hope Meadowlark pointed 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 and guides, those who have walked the road before us and can help us see where 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 gave her money, that would not have been the same to lift her spirits of hope. Reflection number three. Growth happens in the dark places. Grandma Eden says something to Mira that stops her in her tracks. Do you know why a seed has to fall into the ground and be buried? Because only then can it grow into something new. How often do we feel like we're being buried, like life is pressing down on us and we don't see a way out? God does his greatest work in the dark and uncertain places. Not when life is easy, but when we're struggling, questioning, and desperate for answers. He's not after our comfort. He's after our hearts. A pastor once said, God isn't shaping us when we're sipping a Mai Tai on the beach. He's working on us in the storms, in the waiting, in the moments when we wonder if he's even there. Mira doesn't see it yet, but she's in the middle of something bigger than she realizes. And maybe so are you. Hear it and hold it. Matthew 11, 28 through 30. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Maybe you're in that buried, weary season right now. Maybe you feel lost, but take heart. This isn't the end. It's the beginning of something new. Reflection number four, taking the next step, even when you can't see the whole path. Mira asked 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 right now. 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 out all at once. He just asks us to trust him with the next step, and then the next and 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, take a breath. 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 what's the next step? Sometimes we're not sure and sometimes we just know. This takes faith and sometimes pulling back if it ends up not feeling right, but movement is important. Next, I want to cover some live it out action steps and I have five for you today. Number one, reflect on your season of transition. What changes are happening in your life right now? Write them down and acknowledge them and know that there's always transition happening. There's always movement happening in your life. Number two, seek wise counsel. Reach out to someone who can offer wisdom and encouragement for things that are difficult that you're going through. 3. Practice small steps of faith. Instead of trying to solve everything at once, ask God, what is my next step? See if you can listen in and get a glimpse of what he's trying to show you. 4. Spend time in scripture. Pick one of today's verses to meditate on this week. Number five, look for God's signs. Just like Mirab 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 to live out the 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, even when you can't see it yet. Let me lift you up in prayer. Heavenly Father, I come to you today with a heart burdened for those who feel lost, uncertain, and unsure of what's next. Lord, you see them. You know their fears, their exhaustion, 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, the firm foundation when everything else feels shaky. When their hearts are restless, fill them with your peace. When they feel like they've lost their purpose, remind them that you have plans for them. Good plans, plans for a future and a hope. 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 let them feel your presence whisper to their hearts that they are not alone you are walking beside them gently forward 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 Kimberly Herman cheering you on from Promise Hill.