#160 Hijacked Words: Love, Hope and Joy

Have you ever noticed how some of the most sacred words of our faith love, hope, and joy have been hijacked by our culture? They show up on coffee mugs, t-shirts, and Instagram captions, but somewhere along the way, their true, life-changing meaning got watered down.

In this episode, we dive deeper into these three words, peeling back layers of cultural noise to rediscover their biblical and Catholic roots. Through Scripture, Church teaching, and the wisdom of the saints, I show you how these virtues aren’t fluffy slogans, but anchors that can sustain Catholic women especially in midlife through seasons of change, loss, and new beginnings.

✨ What You’ll Hear in This Episode: Why love is more than just an emotion or consumer slogan it's a choice, a sacrifice, and the very nature of God Himself. The four kinds of love in Scripture (eros, philia, storge, agape) and how they shape your relationships.

How to recognize when “hope” has been reduced to wishful thinking and reclaim it as an anchor in Christ. Why joy is not the same as happiness, and how the saints teach us to rejoice even in suffering.

Practical ways to bring these virtues into your daily life as a Catholic woman navigating midlife transitions.

Jennie Guinn is a Catholic life coach, retreat leader, and founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. With over 26 years of experience as an educator, administrator, and Director of Religious Education, she is passionate about walking with midlife women through life’s transitions—especially those that come from unexpected changes in relationships, identity, or purpose. A devoted mother of three grown sons and proud grandmother of two, Jennie creates sacred spaces where women can encounter the love of the Father, be transformed by the Holy Spirit, so they can magnify Christ in their everyday lives. Jennie is the host of the Catholic Moms in the Middle podcast and a featured voice on Nashville Catholic Radio and Radio Maria USA, where she shares encouragement and faith-filled wisdom with women navigating the twists and turns of midlife.