{"id":314771,"date":"2025-05-19T03:28:24","date_gmt":"2025-05-19T07:28:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/who-am-i-again-benjamin-and-kirsten-watson\/"},"modified":"2025-06-17T10:56:15","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T14:56:15","slug":"who-am-i-again-benjamin-and-kirsten-watson","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/who-am-i-again-benjamin-and-kirsten-watson\/","title":{"rendered":"Who am I again? &#8211; Benjamin and Kirsten Watson"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Kirsten Watson and NFL Super Bowl champ Benjamin Watson know well the scrabble for identity apart from connections, accomplishments, and best-laid plans.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kirsten Watson and NFL Super Bowl champ Benjamin Watson know well the scrabble for identity apart from connections, accomplishments, and best-laid plans.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47000,"featured_media":312569,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"https:\/\/traffic.omny.fm\/d\/clips\/cbd16f10-ac60-4f09-b4df-b15400ce35aa\/33aaac7e-3581-4e21-a3df-b154011ba58c\/05ff0fb3-adce-48f2-8d0c-b2d100ea9d42\/audio.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:27:10","filesize":"24.91M","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"2025-05-19 03:28:24","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2809],"tags":[],"podcast_series":[10998],"cwp_profile":[9830],"series":[2101],"class_list":["post-314771","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commitment","podcast_series-sis-take-a-breath-kirsten-and-benjamin-watson","cwp_profile-kirsten-and-benjamin-watson","series-familylife-today"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2025\/02\/image_bbee74.jpg?w=1024","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/02\/image-scaled.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/314771\/who-am-i-again-benjamin-and-kirsten-watson","player_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/314771\/who-am-i-again-benjamin-and-kirsten-watson","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303?mt=2&app=podcast","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-today","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"OUU5UVwYoY\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/who-am-i-again-benjamin-and-kirsten-watson\/\">Who am I again? &#8211; Benjamin and Kirsten Watson<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/who-am-i-again-benjamin-and-kirsten-watson\/embed\/#?secret=OUU5UVwYoY\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Who am I again? &#8211; Benjamin and Kirsten Watson&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"OUU5UVwYoY\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2025\/02\/image_bbee74.jpg",1024,1024,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Margaret","author_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/author\/margaret-coylefamilylife-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Kirsten Watson and NFL Super Bowl champ Benjamin Watson know well the scrabble for identity apart from connections, accomplishments, and best-laid plans.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=n8P7TSJLN84\">Ann's plant Illustration<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shop.familylife.com\/product\/sis-take-a-breath\/\">Get Kirsten's book Sis, Take a Breath: Encouragement for the Woman Who\u2019s Trying to Live and Love Well (but Secretly Just Wants to Take a Nap) on our shop.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Every donation to FamilyLife in May will be matched. <a href=\"https:\/\/donate.familylife.com\/may-2025\/?cru_source=D0002408AT&amp;cru_medium=podcast&amp;cru_campaign=May2025\">Donate today on our website<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<ul>\n<li>Find resources from this podcast at <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.familylife.com\/product-category\/radio-resources\/\">shop.familylife.com<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shop.familylife.com\/product-category\/past-radio-resources\/\">See resources from our past podcasts.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Find more content and resources on the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/app\/\">FamilyLife's app<\/a>!<\/li>\n<li>Help others find FamilyLife. Leave a review on <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303\">Apple Podcast<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm?si=d6dfa8d2415f4750\">Spotify<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Check out all the FamilyLife's podcasts on the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/familylife-podcast-network\/\">FamilyLife Podcast Network<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylife.com\/fl2025-05-19.pdf","transcript_content":"<p><strong><em>FamilyLife Today<\/em><\/strong><strong><sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/strong> <strong>with Dave and Ann Wilson - Web Version Transcript<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>This content has been generated by an artificial intelligence language model. While we strive for accuracy and quality, please note that the information provided will most likely not be entirely error-free or up-to-date. We recommend independently verifying the content with the originally-released audio. This transcript is provided for your personal use and general information purposes only. References to conferences, resources, or other special promotions may be obsolete. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the use or interpretation of this content.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Who Am I Again?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Guests:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kirsten and Benjamin Watson<\/p>\n<p>From the series:\u00a0 Sis, Take a Breath (Day 1 of 3)<\/p>\n<p>Air date:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 May 19, 2025<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> There was one guy\u2014a guy named David Patton\u2014he was in the locker next to me in New England. He was a veteran player, so I looked up to him. His family wasn\u2019t with him in New England; they were in South Carolina. But he would always talk about his wife, talk about his kids. I get engaged my rookie year. I remember God placed me next to D.P. so that I would have a veteran player, who was actually speaking positivity into the decision that I was making, that I was very scared to make.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann: <\/strong>Welcome to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>, where we want to help you pursue the<\/p>\n<p>relationships that matter most. I'm Ann Wilson.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> And I'm Dave Wilson. And you can find us at FamilyLifeToday.com. This is<\/p>\n<p><em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> Okay, do you remember the first time we met Ben and Kirsten Watson at PAO, at the NFL Christian Conference? Do you remember?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> We remember the first time we met you guys!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> I\u2019m not going to lie; I just remember this lady up on a stage, chopping leaves off a plant. [Laughter] I was like, \u201cIs this staged? Did she really just go to Home Depot<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> and get this plant and get these shears?\u201d What a great illustration\u2014but this is really\u2014and I\u2019ll always remember it. I think that was probably the first time\u2014Dave, you were important, too\u2014but I really just remember that poor plant.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> We all know that Ann is the superstar; I just follow her around. Do you know what I do, Benjamin? I go buy the plants at Home Depot; that\u2019s what I do! [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann:<\/strong> You did? You did.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> Everyone is important.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann:<\/strong> You know what I remember is: I knew you guys, and I kind of had you on this pedestal. I was super excited to get to meet you, because some people said that you were there. And then, when I was going to do that plant illustration\u2014I don\u2019t know if you remember this, Benjamin\u2014but I used your <em>name<\/em> in it, as a comparison, like, \u201cEverybody wishes their husband was like Ben Watson.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> I do remember; I do remember that. [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> That was not the first time, but\u2014<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> That wasn\u2019t the first\/that wasn\u2019t the first time we met you.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann:<\/strong> Ooohhh.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> That wasn\u2019t the first time that we met y\u2019all or we saw you guys on stage. But I do specifically remember you using my name in one of the illustrations.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> Oh, man.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> And I\u2019m not going to lie\u2014the pride in me was like\u2014\u201cMan, my name got mentioned on stage!\u201d\u2014<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> And I was like, \u201cAre you kidding me right now? Seriously?!\u201d [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> \u2014like: \u201cThis is awesome!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> That\u2019s crazy, because the first time, Benjamin, we saw that\u2014and you [chopping off leaves]\u2014I think that posed a huge turn in our marriage. For me, Ann, I always tell you this story: the first time that we saw you do that\u2014and I was like: \u201cI am a boo-er, and I am chopping off leaves,\u201d\u2014I remember thinking, \u201cI don\u2019t want to do that anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>So every single time you do it, it brings me back to that was just such a <em>great<\/em> visualization. For someone, who learns that way, it was just awesome; because I was like, \u201cI have to find a different way to boo.\u201d [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> No, you\u2019re not supposed to boo!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> Yes\u2014no, I\u2019m kidding\u2014I mean, I\u2019m <em>not<\/em> supposed to boo. [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave: <\/strong>I <em>know<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> You\u2019ve let my branches grow\u2014<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> Aww. Look at that!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> \u2014since we met y\u2019all.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann:<\/strong> I guess we should even explain what we\u2019re talking about.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> Well, I would just say this: if you\u2019re a listener, and you don\u2019t\u2019 know what they\u2019re talking about, we\u2019ll post it in the show notes. You can go click on that link and watch Ann do her visual of how often she was chopping my flaws\u2014seeing weaknesses and cutting them out\u2014and how that sort of destroys a guy. Anyway, there\u2019s no one that can do it like Ann Wilson, and it\u2019s awesome. Everywhere we go around the country, we have to bring plants on stage and do that. But now, we just show the video; so you can watch that video and know what they\u2019re talking about.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>But let me introduce: we have Benjamin and Kirsten Watson, a 16-year NFL player veteran couple, with <em>7<\/em>\u2014did I say 7?\u2014<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann:<\/strong> You did.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> \u2014\u201c7 children.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> You said, \u201c7.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> Kirsten has just released a book, which is awesome. I <em>love<\/em> your title: Sis, <em>Take a Breath: Encouragement for the Woman Who\u2019s Trying to Live and Love Well (but Secretly Just Wants to Take a Nap).<\/em> What a <em>perfect<\/em> title.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann:<\/strong> You guys, welcome to <em>FamilyLife Today.<\/em> We haven\u2019t had you on before, and it\u2019s <em>great<\/em> to have you with us.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> Thanks for having us.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> Yes.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> We\u2019re excited. Like I said, we see you once a year, so this feels really natural.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann:<\/strong> It feels good.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> Let\u2019s jump into your story. I think our listeners would <em>love<\/em> to hear: \u201cHow\u2019d you guys meet? How\u2019d you fall in love?\u201d Give us a little background.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> I\u2019ll start off and give my version first, because my version is usually correct. [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> Or we <em>say<\/em> it\u2019s correct; go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> We actually met at University of Georgia; we both went to school there. I transferred over after my freshman season at Duke University. We actually met for the first time in FCA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes; but I saw Kirsten for the first time at the beginning of the school year.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> [Laughing]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> Why are you Laughing?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> Because I love when you tell this story.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> At the beginning of the school year, there was kind of a block party; everybody gets to know everybody\u2014you know, kind of jump off the school year\u2014make you excited about going to school, that sort of thing, and see all the new people.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As I recall, I saw her at the student center\u2014in front of the student center\u2014all of the other students. It was almost like\u2014have you ever seen\u2014do you remember the movie <em>E.T.<\/em>?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> Oh, yes.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann:<\/strong> <em>Yes<\/em>. [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> And like the light shines down on E.T.? [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> Yes.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> I felt like there was a light shining on Kirsten, amongst all these other people. She had on these <em>red<\/em> pants,\u2014<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> Wow.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> \u2014white crisp shirt; she looked like this perfect combination of sexy and classy. I was like, \u201cAlright, Lord. Maybe this is why You brought me to the University of Georgia.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> \u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann:<\/strong> Come on!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> Didn\u2019t talk to her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> You didn\u2019t talk to her?!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> No!\u2014none of that stuff.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> No.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> I\u2019m still trying to reconcile exactly why I didn\u2019t know what happened there, but I ended up meeting her later on in FCA.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> \u2014in FCA, yes. I don\u2019t know that story; that\u2019s why it\u2019s funny. He could be totally\u2014I\u2019m thinking that\u2019s a truthful story\u2014I like the light thing, the light thing.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin: <\/strong>That just came to me.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten: <\/strong>That\u2019s good.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann:<\/strong> Do you remember your red pants?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten: <\/strong>I do! Because\u2014you have to say why I was wearing\u2014Georgia is black and red, so I was in school colors. You don\u2019t just pop out in red pants; that sounds super\u2014I don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> Sounds super what? What\u2019s wrong with wearing red?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> \u2014un-Christian; I don\u2019t know! [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> Don\u2019t be discriminating against the color red.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> You wear red pants because you go to Georgia. That\u2019s why I was white\u2014<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> Jesus\u2019 blood was red, and that\u2019s a good thing.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> Okay; that\u2019s good. [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>We met at FCA, so that\u2019s good. He got up\u2014we were talking about having a dating relationship that was godly\u2014and Benjamin stood up. He said, \u201cWell, my dad said, \u2018In order for you to have a good relationship, you have to be on one side; the girl\u2019s on the other side; and God\u2019s in the middle. And you\u2019re going up the triangle sides\u2014and the closer you get to God\u2014the closer you will get to the person that you\u2019re dating or married.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I remember thinking, leaning over to my friend, Michelle Tyrie; I said, \u201cWhat is his name again?\u201d [Laughter] That was my first time recognizing Benjamin.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> She recognized me for some spiritual thing. [Laughter] I recognized her because she looked good. [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> Yes, right.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> She said to Michelle, \u201cHe\u2019s wearing red pants. It\u2019s made in heaven.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann:<\/strong> But you both came from a Christian background and homes that were following Jesus?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> I was raised Catholic, in the Catholic church; and went to a Christian school, so I was saved in seventh grade. I was trying to reconcile that, growing up, like the differences and what that meant. But the understanding of the gospel, and who Jesus was, was always something that was definitely taught and talked about throughout my upbringing.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> Yes, and my parents both were believers, way before I was born; so I was definitely raised in a home that taught us right from wrong. We were in church multiple times a week. My father was an assistant pastor; he\u2019s actually a full-time pastor now. We were both raised in church; we definitely had that background.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s kind of crazy that we met in FCA because, growing up, our family vacations were FCA camps. I remember being a little kid\u2014like the FCA mascot\u2014and going to these camps across the country. My dad would be the platform speaker for the week, so that\u2019s how we grew up in the summertime.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten: <\/strong>Yeah, it\u2019s even crazier because I didn\u2019t start to know about FCA until I was in high school; and then, was president my senior year in high school. When I went to Georgia, I didn\u2019t play sports. At Georgia, FCA is strictly for the athletes. So there was no way I was stepping into that room, not being an athlete. And then, the summer after my freshman year, I was asked to come on as a preferred walk-on to the softball team. I remember getting in the car, after meeting the coach with my parents, and saying, \u201cI can finally go back to FCA.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> Wow!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> FCA was important to me after skipping that year at Georgia. That was like the biggest thing to me\u2014not knowing Benjamin, obviously\u2014but it\u2019s like, \u201cI get to reconnect in this club that meant so much to me through high school.\u201d It\u2019s kind of crazy that we met there, and the only reason I would have met him is because of the one year that I played softball at Georgia.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann: <\/strong>That\u2019s amazing.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave: <\/strong>Wow.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten: <\/strong>It\u2019s crazy.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> Did you guys start dating right away? Benjamin, did you go, \u201cHey, I have to ask that red-pants girl out?\u201d What happened? [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> Well, I would have; but she was dating some clown.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> Oh, stop! [Laughter] And he was dating someone else, too! We were both dating people.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> Yes, we were both dating people; we were. My situation was long distance, and my parents didn\u2019t really feel that great about the situation; I guess I\u2019ll just leave it there. [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>But Kirsten, however, was actually dating somebody on campus\u2014that I would see, and just shake my head, and be like,\u2014<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> Oh, stop it!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> \u2014\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>We didn\u2019t date immediately; but then, through a series of events, we ended up breaking up. I did take her on a date, though, Dave.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> \u2014while she was still with the other guy?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> No! No, no, no, no, no, no.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> No; <em>although<\/em> I would have\u2014and I could have\u2014because I wasn\u2019t scared of this chump.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> Oh, listen! [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave: <\/strong>Benjamin, you don\u2019t know this; but I got in a fight with Ann\u2019s boyfriend when we started dating\u2014<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann: <\/strong>You did NOT.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave: <\/strong>\u2014in her driveway.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann: <\/strong>Oh, you did not.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave: <\/strong>I ended up playing in the NFL, too; but I took him\/took him out.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann: <\/strong>I can\u2019t remember.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> I ended up taking her on a date\u2014the first date\u2014we went somewhere really nice. It had all the food options possible; it was called Snelling Dining Hall on campus. I told her: \u201cYou can get whatever she wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten: <\/strong>Stop it!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin: <\/strong>It was on my meal plan.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten: <\/strong>It was on my meal plan! What do you mean?!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin: <\/strong>I made that up. It was on her meal plan. That was our first date. And then, we actually, officially, started dating, probably our junior year.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> \u2014our junior year.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>We were spending a lot of time together, but we weren\u2019t really officially dating. I think we got\u2014going into the second semester of our junior year\u2014we were like, \u201cWait; what are we doing? Are we going to just <em>still<\/em> be friends? Are we going to make this official and date?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I think that was what was crazy\u2014because I remember the conversation\u2014I remember where we were; I remember us deciding that we were going to officially date. And then, we called our parents. I was like, \u201cWhat is wrong with us?!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin: <\/strong>It sounded like signing a contract or something.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten: <\/strong>It\u2019s crazy! Yes, we told them because it was like it doesn\u2019t make sense to get into something serious, going into our senior year of college.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave: <\/strong>Wow.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten: <\/strong>We could just stay friends, and still hang out, or decide that we were going to be in a relationship. From the beginning, we were very intentional. But looking back, I don\u2019t really think we were trying to be; but it just was at that moment.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> Now, was Christ\u2014was He the center?\u2014 was it a different type of dating relationship?\u2014or did that come later?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> I would say it was that from the beginning\u2014because even before we were dating; and then, definitely <em>as<\/em> we were dating\u2014we were doing a lot of community service at this one particular church, where we would take the boys and the girls, once a week, and just talk to them about life; talk to them about abstinence; talk to them about dating; talk to them about\u2014have fun with them\u2014answer their questions.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>So from the very beginning, we were trying to live a life that would be acceptable in God\u2019s eyes. I think that made all the difference because a lot of younger people, without, were looking up to our dating relationship. We\u2019re also the oldest in our families, so he had five other brothers and sisters that were looking up to him. I have a brother, who is younger; so we always felt that. We were going to church together; we were doing a lot of things.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>For us, it was just really important that what we were doing on the outside was actually what was happening on the inside. So yes, a lot of that was just according to how God would have it; and there was a lot of people around us who were helping to make sure we stayed in check, if that makes sense.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann:<\/strong> And were you guys talking about the future, and the possibility of getting married, and the NFL? What did that look like?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> I really think, at one point, very early on, I would say I felt like Kirsten was going to be my wife. Now, that was a scary thing to think; and I think I actually uttered those words, maybe once; she probably looked at me like I was crazy. [Laughter] But I did have this feeling\u2014I think, partially\u2014because when you\u2019re in your early 20s, you start thinking about the possibility of marriage. Many people advise you, \u201cOkay, if you\u2019re going to do this thing, and think about marriage, how about just make a checklist about the things that you want and don\u2019t want? Where is God leading you?\u2014so that way you don\u2019t get distracted by the nonsense.\u201d I felt like Kirsten lined up, literally, with everything that I had been thinking about.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>When I transferred, moving over to Georgia, I started getting into a stage, where it\u2019s like: \u201cOkay; am I just going to date?\u201d or \u201cAm I looking for somebody who might possibly be a spouse?\u201d So when I met her, and we started getting to know each other, I really felt like that was going to be it. Now, we didn\u2019t really talk about that that often. I think that, for both of us, we had aspirations. Kirsten ended up\u2014we ended up graduating in 2003\u2014sat beside each other in graduation. Kirsten ended up going to work in corporate America for a year. She had her goals of getting the corner office, and being very business-oriented\/business-minded; that\u2019s what she always wanted to do. I ended up getting drafted and going to New England, so we were separate for a year-plus. But I think our conversations were kind of like she said\u2014at some point, it was\/after we graduated\u2014it became: \u201cOkay, are we going to take the next step and get married?\u201d or \u201cAre we just going to break up because this long-distance thing doesn\u2019t make any sense? I\u2019ve got a lot of stuff I could be doing instead of waiting for you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten: <\/strong>Well, not even that; we just realized our lives could go in a very different direction. I moved to L.A.; I was working out there. He was training for the combine. We were going very separate directions, naturally. So to keep that together\u2014I think a long-distance relationship\u2014that takes extra work. And then, we were arguing\u2014and we were long distance\u2014it was like: \u201cThis doesn\u2019t even make any sense. What are we doing? I would gladly like to go and do my thing, and you can do your thing.\u201d We talked about marriage; but we were like, \u201cWe have to make a decision: \u2018What are we going to do?\u2019\u201d I think that\u2019s how the conversation\/it doesn\u2019t sound romantic at all!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin: <\/strong>Yes, not at all. But the romance thing about it was that we both <em>knew<\/em> the importance of marriage; we both understood the power of a relationship. We understood\u2014we understand it in a much better way now\u2014but even at that point, I think we understood how God had created marriage, and its purpose, and how there is so much kingdom advancement and kingdom power that comes from a couple that is aligned for His purposes.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I think we also understood that there is going to be so many attacks that come against a marriage. There are going to be so many excuses: \u201cI\u2019m not ready,\u201d \u201cShe\u2019s not ready,\u201d \u201cI want to go do this,\u201d \u201cI want to do that,\u201d \u201cIs there somebody else that\u2019s better?\u201d There are always going to be these things that Satan would throw at us, and I think that we both realized that. We realized that we had something that could be very, very special; but it was going to take us surrendering to what God had for us to do. God had really impressed upon me that this was my wife\u2014either I was infatuated with lust at the time and wasn\u2019t hearing Him correctly or He changed His mind\u2014I knew He didn\u2019t change His mind, and so it was following through with what I felt from the very beginning,\u2014<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> Yes.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> \u2014and that\u2019s <em>scary<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann: <\/strong>So you guys\u2014you end up getting married.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> Were you married before your rookie year or\u2014<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> \u2014after. Yeah, so I got drafted. I go to Rookie Mini-camp\u2014know how crazy that is\u2014in New England, it was 50-something degrees. I'm graduating from University of Georgia; I\u2019ve never been further north than Washington DC. I end up, in May, at Rookie Mini-camp in Boston\u2014well, Foxborough\u2014and I can see my breath.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann:<\/strong> \u2014in May.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin: <\/strong>I'm totally\u2014I'm flabbergasted\u2014I do not understand what is happening. So after that off-season, Kirsten was actually living in L.A. at the time. I flew out to L.A.; we got engaged. We were engaged my entire rookie year; then, we got married after my rookie year in July of that year.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> You know, I\u2019ve always wanted to ask somebody\u2014because being with the Detroit Lions for 33 seasons, we never got to a Super Bowl. I actually went to one at Ford Field to see the Steelers and Seahawks, but I\u2019ve never been there [as a player]. I mean, your <em>rookie year<\/em>, you go to the Super Bowl and win it! Tell me: \u201cWas it everything you thought it would be?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> <em>No<\/em>, it wasn\u2019t [Laughter]\u2014a couple of things\u2014while I did think that was just the norm. I thought that you just go to the NFL, and you\u2019re supposed to go to the Super Bowl every single year. [Laughter] I soon found out that that wasn\u2019t the case, especially later in my career. But that was a difficult year, because I tore my ACL early in my rookie season. I missed most of that year; I was rehabbing. There were 84 inches of snow in Boston; I\u2019d never seen more than maybe 8 centimeters of snow. It\u2019s a difficult place to play, and to be, especially for a rookie.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Kirsten was on the other side of the country. We get to the Super Bowl, and it\u2019s really great that we go to the Super Bowl; but I couldn\u2019t play, and I had a <em>horrible<\/em> attitude. I was a jerk\u2014Kirsten\u2019s over here, nodding her head\u2014I was a jerk to everybody, who was there to support me\u2014even though she came\/my family came. It was a very tough time for me, even though it was great to be a part of a Super Bowl team.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> It's interesting when you say that\u2014because you know this better than anybody\u2014<\/p>\n<p>so many people outside the NFL think it's all great\u2014the money, the fame\u2014it's just<\/p>\n<p>awesome; they don't understand. Yeah, you went to the Super Bowl, and you were<\/p>\n<p>watching\u2014your ALC\u2014it's often a very difficult life to live. People don't understand that<\/p>\n<p>there's normal people, living a normal life with real struggles and real pain; and the<\/p>\n<p>money in the flash does not take all that away, right?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> I think you realize, even looking back\u2014you make a great point; many people<\/p>\n<p>don't realize that\u2014I think that could go for any occupation, but especially when it comes<\/p>\n<p>to something like the NFL, that these are men\u2014and the women who are connected to<\/p>\n<p>them: their spouses, girlfriends, their families\u2014are going through emotional roller<\/p>\n<p>coasters. Money and fame: all it does is exacerbate issues that are already there.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>One thing I can say is that it also shows you who is truly in your corner. As I look<\/p>\n<p>back at that rookie year, who was there\u2014it was Kirsten, who was my fianc\u00e9 at the<\/p>\n<p>time, and it was my family\u2014you realize that those are the people you can lean on at any<\/p>\n<p>point.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann:<\/strong> I think, too, Kirsten\u2014here you are: you\u2019re in L.A., living the dream life that you thought that you would pursue your whole life\u2014and then, you leave all of that to follow Ben to a whole different lifestyle; and now, you\u2019re known as So-and-so\u2019s wife. I worked with the Lions\u2019 wives for 35 years\u2014they are some of the most gifted, talented, incredible women, who have dreams, and educations, and training\u2014often, they leave all of that to follow their men. What was that like for <em>you<\/em>?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> It was <em>really<\/em> tough. I didn\u2019t realize how prideful I was, and how my identity had been tied up, for so long, in what I had accomplished or thought I would accomplish in the future. I tried to stay with the corporation in Boston, so that way I could keep my job. But there was nothing there that transferred over that was equivalent, so I had to quit. That was my first job out of college\u2014I just felt successful\u2014and then, to have to leave that. There was a little seed of bitterness that tried to be nestled into what was going to be fertile ground for our marriage; because we were moving away from our family, to a place that we had never been, either one of us even visited.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>So then, it was just really challenging\u2014and I think, like you said, I think a lot of women go through that\u2014when they feel as though they\u2019re going to go a particular way; and the Lord says, \u201cEh, eh,\u201d\/like, \u201cNo, you\u2019re going to follow <em>him<\/em>.\u201d You kind of alluded to it\u2014it\u2019s like everyone around you is like\u2014\u201cMust be so awesome to be married to Benjamin.\u201d I\u2019m like, \u201cReally? It\u2019s the <em>same<\/em> as married to your husband. Does he do\u2026\u201d [Laughter] \u201cLet me tell you how awesome it is!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> \u201cExcept his body is better though\u2014<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> Stop it!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> \u2014\"because he works out.\u201d [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kirsten:<\/strong> So he works out; [Laughter] whatever.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>So just the life that everybody <em>assumes<\/em> how awesome it is, and it was just really tough to be away from everything you knew. I knew no one. Benjamin had been there a year, so he had friends and people that he knew; and then, I just come; and now, I know no one. So having to start over, and then not working, it\u2019s like: \u201cYou\u2019ve taken everything that was my identity away. Now, my new \u2018identity\u2019\u201d\u2014which I know it\u2019s not now; but then\u2014\u201cMy new identity is Mrs. Watson,\u201d\u2014not even that\u2014it was: \u201cBen\u2019s wife.\u201d It didn\u2019t even have the \u201cMrs.\u201d I was like, \u201cGood Lord, you have just stripped everything into <em>that<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>It was a process of learning my true identity, and that took a while. It\u2019s just amazing how, when you do surrender, finally\u2014and that was not overnight by any means\u2014but just learning that it can\u2019t be in Benjamin; my identity can\u2019t be in my work\u2014it has to be in something that is true; that is steadfast; that is a firm foundation; and that does not mean anything that I can see, touch, feel, hear on this earth. That started the process of being stripped away, and having to be rebuilt\u2014all 24; we were 24\u201424 years of what I had thought was important\u2014and realizing that it really wasn\u2019t as important as I thought it was.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> How did you guys discover your identity, because I\u2019m sure it\u2019s the same thing for you, Benjamin\u2014both husband and wife have their identify often in what we\u2019re doing and success in that area\u2014so it wasn\u2019t just Kirsten. It was <em>both<\/em> of you have to find: \u201cIs Christ really my foundation\/my identity?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann:<\/strong> \u2014especially when football is over.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> Yes; you\u2019re living that now. Whether you\u2019re winning in New England or losing in Cleveland, it\u2019s like: \u201cIs that my identity?\u201d So how did you two find that, and how did that impact your marriage?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> I think that\u2014kind of going back to that whole marriage conversation we had about the fears of getting married\u2014when we got married\u2014a side note: there was one guy\u2014a guy named David Patton\u2014you probably know him.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> Yes.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> He was a wide receiver; he passed away a couple years ago. He was in the locker next to me in New England. I didn\u2019t know him personally; he was a veteran player, much older than me, so I looked up to him. His family wasn\u2019t with him in New England; they were in South Carolina, but he would always talk about his wife\/he would talk about his wife, talk about his kids. His wife would send him flowers; he would send his wife flowers. They had, at least outwardly, they had this positive relationship when it came to marriage.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I get engaged my rookie year; and literally, to a man, everybody was like: \u201c<em>What<\/em> are you doing? [Laughter] You just got to the NFL. Are you serious? You can\u2019t marry her.\u201d \u201cOh, really?\u2014why?\u2014what?\u201d I remember God placed me next to D.P.\u2014\u201cChief\u201d what they called him\u2014so that I would have a veteran player, who was actually speaking positivity into the decision that I was making\u2014that I was very scared to make.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>So then, fast forward, a few years later, you talk about identity. I believe it\u2019s Gary Thomas, who writes the book, <em>Sacred Marriage<\/em>,<em>\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> Right.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benjamin:<\/strong> \u2014talking about marriage is made, not necessarily to make you happy, but to make you holy. I think that I would not have realized my identity in what I professed it to be, which is in Christ, if it had not been for my wife. So if it had not been for Kirsten:<\/p>\n<p>realizing the perfectionism that was within me, and how I struggled tremendously with the successes and failures of daily practice, as well as weekly games\u2014how I was kind of on a roller coaster; how I would act differently if things were going poorly.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She was the one, who actually said, \u201cYou need to go get some help.\u201d I had to go get some clinical help for the perfectionism and the borderline depression that I was dealing with. It\u2019s amazing how God uses a spouse, and that\u2019s why God created marriage, as a helpmeet, so that together we can become this reflection of Him. Those things wouldn\u2019t have happened if I wouldn\u2019t have committed to following His plan and engaging in marriage, specifically with Kirsten.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>So that was part of my realizing my identity, to answer your question, was going through a process of releasing some of that performance-related value system that I had. Even though I was a believer, even though I talked about God\u2019s grace, I still struggled with that; and I still struggle with that to this day. But I can identify it, and I think that\/I know that the reason why was because of her pushing me, and also having someone who sees my value, and speaks life into my value, outside of my performance.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann:<\/strong> We love Kirsten and Benjamin Watson. They've been talking about their book, <em>Sis,<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Take a Breath<\/em>, which Kirsten wrote.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave: <\/strong>With all those kids running around their house, they need to take a breath.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe, you need to take a breath as well; you can order your copy of their book at<\/p>\n<p>FamilyLifeToday.com. We will put a link in the show notes as well. I think it's a great<\/p>\n<p>book, and everybody needs this book.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann:<\/strong> And we just love them as friends.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dave:<\/strong> Yeah, and I tell you what: if you like our podcast, we would love you to leave us a<\/p>\n<p>review for <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. That helps us, and it helps us share this with the people<\/p>\n<p>you love.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann:<\/strong> Thanks for listening; see you next time on <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> is a donor-supported production of FamilyLife<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>, a Cru<sup>\u00ae <\/sup>Ministry.<\/p>\n<p>Helping you pursue the relationships that matter most.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve benefited from the <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> transcripts, would you consider <a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/donate\">donating today<\/a> to help defray the costs of producing them and making them available online?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Copyright <sup>\u00a9<\/sup> 2025 FamilyLife. 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