If You Have Hope, It’s Your Duty To Share It—Jack Maher | Ep 259

In this episode of Relatable Wisdom, I’m joined by Jack Maher, an author from Colorado, who shares the quote, “If you have a chance to hope, it’s a moral duty to share it because most people don’t.” Jack’s wisdom comes from a deeply personal story of love, faith, grief, and the unexpected moments that helped him see hope in the middle of heartbreak. Jack shares the story of meeting his wife, Becky, at a school dance in 1970, the beautiful life they built together, and the night in 2019 when everything changed. Through Becky’s final moments, a stranger named Oliver, and a series of meaningful connections that followed, Jack began to see his loss through the lens of faith, love, and something larger than coincidence. His journey led him deeper into Catholic faith, pilgrimage, writing, and ultimately sharing Becky’s story through his book, You Were Chosen Just Like Mary. This conversation is about what it means to carry grief without losing hope, how strangers can become part of our healing, and why the hope we receive is not meant to stay hidden. Jack reminds us that even in painful seasons, we are not alone—and sometimes the most meaningful thing we can do is share the light we’ve been given. Every episode has more to it than what you hear. Join the Relatable Wisdom newsletter to get thoughtful reflections, behind-the-scenes extras, and personal notes that don’t make it into the show. It’s a calm space to stay inspired between listens. Sign up here: ⁠https://relatablewisdom.com/join⁠ CONNECT WITH Jack Maher Website: https://www.sandgoatmanorpublishing.com/ Book: You Were Chosen Just Like Mary CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction And Welcome 00:22 Meet Jack Maher 00:31 The Quote About Sharing Hope 00:42 The Story Behind Jack’s Hope 01:21 Meeting Becky At A School Dance 03:07 Becky’s Anxiety And Friday Night Adoration 04:28 The Stranger In The Chapel 05:54 The Night Everything Changed 06:33 Learning About Oliver 07:24 The Meaning Of Mary In Jack’s Story 09:21 Relatable Wisdom Newsletter Break 09:58 How Loss Reshaped Jack’s Faith 10:12 Pilgrimage, Mary, And A Deeper Faith 11:11 Visiting Marian Apparition Sites 11:59 Becky’s Organ Donation And Paul’s Story 13:37 Oliver’s New Ministry Of Hope 14:54 Writing You Were Chosen Just Like Mary 15:51 Sharing The Story Through Testimony 17:14 Writing As A Way To Process Grief 17:44 Learning That We Are Not Alone 18:52 Francis, Suffering, And Inner Beauty 21:21 Why We Have To Keep Sharing Hope 22:40 Jack’s Book And Where To Find It 23:05 Connect With Jack Maher 23:51 Closing Reflection