An inspiring life full of transformation and courage: At the age of 46, the American Kate, mother of six biological children and nine adopted daughters from Kenya, spent 24 years in a marriage in which romantic feelings did not exist. In light of the “Pride” month, Kate Ellen Showalter tells krone.at her special story: about the search for happiness, self-acceptance and unconditional love. For three years she shared her life with a woman.
Kate Ellen Showalter walks barefoot on her property in Kenya. Sometimes she digs ditches to collect rainwater, sometimes she builds another cabin in the “Shire Project” and rides horses. She laughs with all her heart, she frolic, sings with her six-year-old daughter Starlette and kisses her partner Marit.
But the road to her happiness was rocky, as the 46-year-old mother of six biological children and nine adopted daughters had been married for 24 years to a man she had no romantic feelings for. She already loved him, but we’ve known — at least since CS Lewis’s “Four Kinds of Love” — that a satisfying romantic relationship takes more than “storge” (Greek for family love) and “philia” (Greek for friendship love). In the relationship with her – now – ex-husband, ‘eros’, or the passionate and sexual component, was missing.
Wedding night: “Then I actually knew it“
On their wedding night, she thought to herself, “Oh God, please don’t look at me and turn off all the lights.” Looking back, she already knew she was different when she married the man who was her Christian at the age of 19. lover was the community that chose them.
„I was dead inside“
During her marriage, she never had those feelings that inspired poets and musicians to create masterpieces. The romance, which her heart had long dreamed of, did not allow her for a long time. Because she was taught: “Love is a confession, a commitment. Love has less to do with feelings, feelings are frivolous, they come and go.” For Kate, it was and still is important to do the right thing. She thought to herself, “If I get into a relationship, I choose that person and I stand by it. Feelings don’t belong there.”
Even though she always chose her former husband, she broke down inside. Shortly before coming out, she weighed only 43 kilograms (at a height of 167 centimeters) and repeatedly accused herself: “Why can’t I be like everyone else?”
“No one knew about it then”
On a sunny day in March 2019, she could no longer deny herself. At that time, no one knew that she was attracted to women. She and her husband were Christian missionaries in Africa. Homosexuality is a bad thing, and Christians often view divorce as a major failure.
Four years ago, Kate released her coming-out video in tears and fear that she would lose many of the donations and no longer be able to serve as a missionary. To this day, she describes it as the bravest and most life-changing decision she’s made. The rest is history.
It’s not (only) about what happens in the bedroom
After divorcing her husband, she kept the kids – all 15 – and started her own “Shire Project”. Soon after, she met the love of her life, Marit, at an airport. Today, the CEO and founder of Shire is all about self-expression, healing, inspiration, recreating and education.
You can see the interview with Kate Ellen Showalter in the video above.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
