How Fear Mets Joy Got Started

Fear Meets Joy was born from a journey that began long before the brand had a name.


Many people live with hidden needs — whether due to health challenges, life transitions, or everyday changes in the body. Fear Meets Joy began from that experience of needing comfort, confidence, and discretion in protection. This is my story.

I was born with kidney disease, and from an early age my life included surgeries, hospital stays, and the physical toll that comes with a body that needs extra care. As a child, bladder leakage was something I quietly carried—something that made school days harder and made childhood moments like sleepovers and carefree activities feel out of reach. Beyond the physical challenges, it shaped how I saw myself. I often felt different, like I wasn’t “normal,” and that feeling stayed with me longer than I realized.

As an adult, life changed—but the need for protection didn’t disappear. It evolved. Childbirth, perimenopause, and an active lifestyle introduced new reasons to care for my body in thoughtful ways. What remained constant was the desire to feel confident, secure, and free to live fully—without shame or fear holding me back.

Fear Meets Joy was created from that space.

Although I am newer to creating cloth pads within this community, my commitment runs deep. Every product is made with intention, empathy, and a genuine desire to make a difference. This isn’t just about protection—it’s about comfort, confidence, and reclaiming joy in everyday life.

When you purchase from Fear Meets Joy, you are supporting a brand built on the belief that your body is worthy of care, respect, and compassion. However you arrived at needing our products—through medical conditions, childbirth, aging, or an active life—you are not broken. You are unique. You are wonderfully made.

Fear Meets Joy exists to remind you that life doesn’t stop because your body has changed. There is hope. There is freedom. And you can live fully—comfortably, confidently, and without apology.

    • Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. - Joshua 1:9

    • 1984-Why Me?

      . I was born with a complexed congenital form of kidney disease.

      . During my youth, I struggled physical and mental effects of bladder control issues. Limiting my chances of a "normal" life, it often left me wondering "Why Me?"

      . My Grandmother, Fannie Earle, taught me two things: "Only the Strong Survives" and how to sew.

    • Memphis, TN. Born and Raised

      Fear Meets Joy is rooted in heart, home, and legacy.

      As I look back at watching her create, I think about her hands, and the steady patient strength it took to place a single piece of thread through the needle. Long before Fear Meets Joy had a name, I did everything I could to hide a problem from the world that only my family knew.

      In My Head, I heard "Only the Strong Survives".

      For people navigating bladder leaks in silence of anxiety can become loud. What started as a skill passed down through generations became a calling to create what I knew was needed—but rarely talked about.

      Launching Fear Meets Joy required me to push through my own fear of being seen and known. Sharing this part of my story isn’t easy, but it’s honest. Just like many of our customers, this brand represents a step of courage—choosing not to hide, choosing comfort, and choosing to move forward anyway. That moment where fear meets joy is where this brand lives.

    • Fear Meets Joy (FMJ)

      Every Fear Meets Joy product is carefully handmade in small batches with intention, patience, and respect for the body. From cutting and sewing to finishing details, each piece is created with real life in mind—movement, comfort, and everyday use.

      Fear Meets Joy is a growing brand, and some offerings—our light/moderate underwear pads are part of our first-generation collection — designed with care and crafted thoughtfully with real-life use in mind.”

      We are committed to learning, listening, and refining our products over time based on real-world use and thoughtful feedback.

      What remains constant is our dedication to quality materials, honest craftsmanship, and creating products that help you feel supported, confident, and cared for in your day-to-day life.

    • Why Not Me?

      When I read about the needs of my customers, the sentimental question is: "Why me?” — but the story of Esther shows us another way. When faced with fear, she chose courage. When given a purpose, she chose service. She stepped forward not because she had all the answers, but because she knew someone needed her.

      Fear Meets Joy was born from that same kind of courage. I asked myself, “Why not me?” — not to be seen, but to turn fear into service, and pain into purpose. What began as a deeply personal need has become a mission to care for others with intention, kindness, and dignity.

      Our foundation is rooted in Christian love — a faith that expresses itself through compassion, excellence, and service. Some Fear Meets Joy products reflect that faith openly; others carry messages of courage, hope, and encouragement that speak to the heart of every person, regardless of their background or belief.

      Here, love shows up in thoughtful design, in comfort you can feel, and in a community that seeks to uplift, support, and affirm every body. Whether you share the same faith or come from a different path, you are welcome here.

      Because sometimes the most courageous choice isn’t to ask, “Why me?” — it’s to step forward, to serve, and to help others take their next step without shame, fear, or apology.