Confessional Christian "mommy blogger" Glennon Doyle Melton has not held back from sharing about her marriage problems, her alcoholism, or her eating disorder.
Now she has stunned fans by revealing that she is in love with another woman.
Writing on Facebook, Melton said she has opened up about her "new love" for retired US soccer star Abby Wambach because it "feels like the world could use all the love it can get right now."
She describes Wambach, who lost her driving licence for a DUI offence earlier this year and has confessed to years of substance abuse, as "one of the best players of all time" and "a fierce and committed advocate for women's equality for a decade". She adds that Wambach is "deeply sensitive and kind" and says her children call her an "M&M" because she looks tough on the outside but inside she's "really mushy and sweet".
Momastery blogger Melton is the author of the New York Times bestseller Love Warrior, which became an Oprah Book Club Pick. She followed this with another bestseller, Carry On, Warrior and is an activist and charity volunteer. Three years ago, she blogged: "I love gay people and I love Christians. I choose all."
She tells her 646,000 Facebook followers: "Remember in Love Warrior how hard I struggled to understand what being in love meant? I get it now. I get it. I am in love. And I'm really, deeply happy."
Washington Post reports that Glennon Doyle Melton has for years argued that same-sex marriage is not sinful.
Both women have recently split from their previous partners. Wambach divorcing her wife of three years, another soccer star, Sarah Huffman. In August Melton announced her divorce from Craig Melton, her husband of 14 years, the Daily Mail reports
Of her former husband, Melton writes: "He's his beautiful, kind, brave self. He's dating too -- and we are both supportive of each other's relationships."
Their children have the support of their relatives and their church, she adds.
"They're lucky kids, to be surrounded by so much love. We have family dinners together – all six of us -- and Abby cooks."
