The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast 1KHO 698: Out of the Flower Chair | Bart and Shannon Millard, MercyMe
Feb 2, 2026
Bart Millard, lead singer of MercyMe and songwriter of I Can Only Imagine, and his wife Shannon, a mother and co-author, share their story. They discuss the “flower chair” season of grief and disconnection, navigating a child’s type 1 diabetes, the slow work of counseling and community, and how their book and film grew from these family struggles.
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The Year That Changed Everything
- Bart and Shannon split their life into pre-2004 and post-2004 after a cascade of tragedies and a toddler's type 1 diabetes diagnosis.
- That long season reshaped their family rhythms, faith, and future creative projects.
Ask For Help And Take Breaks
- Surround yourself with a trusted community and explicitly ask for practical help.
- Take deliberate breaks from caregiving responsibilities to refuel when supporting a child with chronic illness.
Counseling Ambush That Began Healing
- Bart describes hitting
