#221 | Waiting on Grace: 8 Years of Family Estrangement, Faith & Forgiveness with Rachel and Grace

How do a mother and daughter reconnect after eight years of family estrangement? Rachel Inouye and her daughter, Grace Roetman, join John Gallagher on Talks with Gallagher to share the story behind their book, Waiting on Grace—and the faith, forgiveness, and vulnerability that helped them rebuild their relationship. Rachel, an author, speaker, and host of the real deal podcast, reflects on holding on to hope without knowing when she would hear from her daughter again. Grace shares her experience of isolation and emotional abuse, the turning point that helped her recognize controlling behavior, and the process of reclaiming her identity after divorce. Together, they recount the letter that reopened communication, their emotional reunion in Chicago, and the ongoing work of rebuilding trust. They also discuss how journaling, prayer, supportive community, and honest conversations shaped their healing. Plus, Grace shares an update on her recent marriage and what a loving, supportive relationship looks like in this new chapter of her life. At the heart of this conversation is hope: not only celebrating reconciliation, but also finding strength during the years when the outcome remains unknown. In this episode

• Experiencing family estrangement from a mother’s and daughter’s perspectives
• Recognizing manipulation, gaslighting, and isolation in a relationship
• Rediscovering identity, autonomy, and joy after emotional abuse
• Finding the courage to contact family after years apart
• Extending forgiveness and rebuilding trust through vulnerability
• The role of Christian faith, prayer, and community during difficult seasons

Timestamps
00:00 — Welcome and introducing Rachel and Grace
01:55 — How Waiting on Grace began as a journal
04:15 — “Meanwhile in Michigan”: Bringing two perspectives together
08:35 — Unexpected reminders of home: “Thank you so much, Rachel”
11:31 — Holding on to faith without knowing the outcome
14:42 — Prayer, identity, and hope during family estrangement
20:03 — Grace on isolation, fear, and struggling to recognize hope
29:18 — The missed wedding that became a turning point
35:34 — Writing the letter that reopened communication
39:12 — A recorded prayer and the “heart surgery” connection
43:27 — Reclaiming identity and autonomy after emotional abuse
51:03 — Rachel remembers their reunion in Chicago
56:21 — Grace remembers hugging her parents again
1:00:20 — Rebuilding trust, acknowledging pain, and extending grace
1:08:09 — Encouragement for strained and estranged families
1:12:00 — Vulnerability and starting difficult conversations
1:18:08 — Grace’s life today: Marriage and a new beginning
1:24:38 — A wedding promise and her father’s role
1:27:25 — Closing prayer for hope, healing, and reconciliation

Connect with Rachel and explore Waiting on Gracehttps://rachelinouye.org/

Watch the video interview
https://youtube.com/live/QpoCILTP__A?feature=share

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