Episode 76 - Embracing Our Seasoned Years with Joy

Date: June 6, 2025
Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Jarm Del Boccio

 

Episode Highlights:
Welcome back to The Women Behind the Words! In today’s episode, we’re honored to sit down with author Jarm Del Boccio, who at 69 years old is embracing her silver years with joy, passion, and deep purpose. Jarm opens her heart and life story to encourage other women to view aging not as a decline but as an invitation to flourish and make a lasting Kingdom impact.

Jarm shares how the sudden loss of her beloved father at the age of four shaped much of her early life. Raised by a strong-willed, practical mother, she often felt misunderstood—but through her mother’s love of travel and missions, Jarm developed a heart for the world and a curiosity about God’s greater plan for her life.

As a deeply sensitive and shy child, she struggled with criticism until a transformative season during her teenage years, when the warmth of her best friend’s family helped her bloom. That experience gave her the glimpse of unconditional love she had longed for.

Through her young adult years, Jarm wrestled with heartbreak and a longing for connection—especially the kind of love she once had with her father. Those seasons of loss drew her closer to her Heavenly Father, where she found true comfort and security.

Marriage came later in life, bringing unexpected trials—most notably, infertility. After multiple attempts to conceive, Jarm faced the painful realization that God had closed her womb. But once again, she leaned into Him, found purpose in ministering to others, and ultimately embraced adoption and homeschooling. Though naturally drawn to solitude as an only child, the homeschooling years taught her the beauty of self-sacrifice and the joy found in unexpected places.

Jarm also speaks about her lifelong love for travel, ignited in childhood and carried with her even now, despite living with osteoarthritis. Though her mobility is limited, her desire to explore and her trust in God’s unfolding plan remain as strong as ever.

In the final portion of our conversation, Jarm introduces her upcoming book, Fragrant and Flourishing: Living Abundantly in Our Seasoned Years—a heartfelt guide for women navigating the fears and questions that come with aging. She beautifully reminds us that women like Sarah, Elizabeth, and Anna in Scripture did some of their most impactful work later in life—and that we, too, are called to continue growing, giving, and glorifying God, no matter our age.

Jarm’s story is a testament to God’s faithfulness through every trial—from childhood grief to infertility, from physical limitations to letting go of deeply held dreams. Her life overflows with wisdom, grace, and the sweet reminder that we never age out of God's purpose.

Thank you, Jarm, for your openness and encouragement. You are a radiant example of what it looks like to age with joy, trust, and unshakable faith.

 

About the Guest:
At 71, I feel like a 20-something when someone compliments my stunning silver hair—and I always tell them it’s God’s gift to me (along with my faithful hairdresser of 30 years!).

But on a deeper level, I’ve observed a hesitancy among women to leave behind the familiar comforts of the past and step into the unknowns of a new season—one that might actually bring more joy, clarity, and spiritual vibrancy than we ever imagined. The very things we fear could be the catalysts that help us age with boldness, purpose, and grace.

As a former educator and passionate advocate for women, I feel deeply called to help older women use their seasoned years for God’s glory—living joyfully and fully, right where He has them.

 

Book Spotlight:
The Heart Changer
By Jarm Del Boccio

Can an Israelite captive, wrenched from all she loves, serve the very man who destroyed her village?

Miriam is asked to do the unthinkable: serve the wife of Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army. Clinging to treasured memories of home and the roots of her faith, she enters captivity filled with worry and bitterness. But God—the true Heart Changer—is already at work, preparing her for something greater than she could ever imagine.

This powerful middle-grade historical novel offers a tender and truthful portrayal of a young refugee navigating loss, identity, and the redemptive hand of God in a foreign land.

 

Connect with Jarm Del Boccio:
Website: www.jarmdelboccio.com
Instagram: @jarmdelboccio
Facebook: facebook.com/JarmDelBoccio