We Didn’t Know What We Didn’t Know

by Mary Beth Chapman, Co-founder, Show Hope

Steven and I have been on the adoption journey since 2000. That’s when our fourth child came home through the miracle of adoption … Shaohannah Hope Chapman. I know every story is different, but for us, Love took us in, and everything changed. We honestly thought, All you need is love, and all will be well. We truly had no clue or idea of what all we, as a family, and our sweet little Shaoey fully needed. 

Trauma-informed care was foreign to me back then, and our family had much to absorb, learn, and change to create a healthy home in the years to come. As the saying goes, We didn’t know what we didn’t know. We had plenty of challenges trying to wrap our arms around the need, and so, we began to pray—seriously pray about anything that could help us navigate well and express our longing to offer hope and healing. 

Longing to align our faith with our parenting, we began to learn, though. From others on the same journey, we realized that trauma-informed care is a compassionate approach that recognizes the deep impact of past wounds; understands the paths to healing; and prioritizes safety, trust, and empowerment. When combined with a home rooted in love, care, the healing power of Jesus, and a commitment to restoration, it creates an environment where true transformation can take place.  

The more people we engaged during those early years of our journey and the early years of Show Hope, the more apparent it became that a need for exploration and education existed. We are so grateful that all those years ago, we were introduced to Dr. Karyn Purvis and Dr. David Cross and their beautiful research and work that is Trust-Based Relational Intervention^® (TBRI^®). It is a proven work—one that offers hope in seemingly hopeless situations—and it has proven to align with the heart of God, our Father. 

Steven and I believe true healing is the heart and love of Jesus. The Bible teaches us in Psalm 147:3, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Jesus modeled perfect compassion … reaching out to the hurting, the outcast, and the broken. By embracing His example, could we, using the tools of TBRI, begin to cultivate a home where grace abounds and hearts could be restored? We were hopeful then, and again, it has proven to be true. 

In a world where pain and brokenness often find their way into our homes, the need for compassion, empathy, and gospel-centered care has never been greater. Steven and I know this well. Trauma-informed care is not just a strategy—it is a commitment to seeing people through the eyes of Jesus. By embracing love, care, and the redemptive power of Christ, we can transform our homes into places of restoration. Whether we are parents, caregivers, mentors, or friends, we have the privilege of being vessels of God’s healing grace. 

May our homes be places where the wounded find refuge, the broken discover healing, and the love of Jesus reigns supreme. For in His love, all things are made new. her life. And I hope I have.