This morning Stephen and I went on a wintry walk with Georgia. Along the trail there were a number of branches that had fallen because of the snow. It made me think about how weather is helpful to prune the weak branches off the trees. It also made me think about what it is in my life that I need pruned. What extra weight/branches am I holding onto that no longer serve me.
I share this with you today, especially in this season where we can take on more responsibilities and committments, and carry stress within that doesn’t serve us. I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we ask God what it is that we need “pruned” out of our minds, hearts and schedules. Maybe we already know some things we are holding on to that we need to let go of. May we let go of what is no longer serving us so that we are pruned of what is insignificant in God’s eyes. And by doing this, may it help us grow fuller into who God made us to be.
With love and hope,
Shawn
The Gift of Empty Spaces
Yesterday I went to renew my license. As I sat waiting to be called, there was a woman who struck up a conversation with me. A little while later, an older gentleman, who I learned will soon be 90, sat near us and joined in the conversation. The three of us spoke for a while until the woman was called. And then the man and I kept talking until I was called. It was a lovely unexpected bright spot in my day to talk with these strangers.
As I drove away, I was thinking about the conversations and realized that when the three of us were sitting there waiting, none of us had our phones out. And because of that, we saw each other. Not every moment sitting without out phones will end up in a conversation. Yet this interaction made me wonder what conversations and stories we may be missing when we engage with our phones rather than the people who are beside us?
I share this with you today as a reminder to...
pause. breathe. pray.
Let’s choose this Christmas season to give ourselves the gift of not filling empty spaces with the noise of our phones. Instead, in those empty space moments let’s choose to be still with God who will nourish our souls with His presence, or with the gift of the presence of others. And may we remember, we are called to be vessels of love. So this Christmas season, may we see our empty space moments as opportunities to draw closer to God, and to seek ways to extend His love and kindness to others. By doing this, we may find ourselves having a more joyful and less stressful Christmas season.
With love and hope,
Shawn
Different Paths Can Lead to The Same Outcome
Stephen, Matt and I went on a walk with Georgia today. What I have always loved about Matt on our family walks and hikes is he doesn’t hesitate to try a new path. Just because one path is marked, he always sees there can be a different route to get to the same destination.
I share this with you today because sometimes we see others doing things differently and think their way is wrong. Yet that’s not always the case. Something that shows this truth is something I learned this summer, the principle of 4.
0 + 4 =4
1 + 3 =4
2 + 2 =4
Here are three different equations that each get us to the same answer. And this is also true in so many areas of life. We may do things differently than others, yet it doesn’t necessarily make our way right and others wrong, or vice versa. There are different paths to the same outcome, like Matt reminded me in the walk today.
The next time we find ourself judging someone for doing something the “wrong way,” or feel judged by others for doing things differently, let’s choose to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we ask ourselves, is what they or what I am doing wrong, or is it just a different path to the same outcome? By doing this, may we gain a greater appreciation for one another and our differences, like I was able to do today when I stepped back and watched Matt take the path less traveled.
With love and hope,
Shawn
28 year dating anniversary!
28 years ago I started dating this quiet, thoughtful guy💝 I am forever grateful for who Stephen is and how he loves me and our kids so well. Life isn’t always perfect, and neither are we, yet this life together is rich in love, which is all I can ask for💝
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
“until further notice, celebrate everything!” - Gabe Grunewald
Small deposits over time add up
“Small deposits of time over time add up.”
This is a principle I’ve talked with Kate, Gavin and Matty about for years. It’s true about relationships, education, fitness, money, careers, faith and more. When I signed up for the marathon I realized that I was either going to live out this principle, or not. I was determined to practice what I teach my kids so that they may be more likely to put this principle into practice in their own lives.
When I started training on March 11, I walked for 2 minutes and jogged for 1 minute 10 times. Each week, my training built on the previous week’s deposits of time. To my amazement, over almost eight months of training, even with disruptions of scans, a biopsy, covid, and bronchitis, the small deposits of time each week added up to a marathon!
I share this with you today because this principle will benefit you in areas of your life that you’d like to grow stronger in as well. I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we ask God what area(s)of our lives we need to put small deposits of our time into consistently. Whether it’s to benefit ourselves, others or both, may we choose to set the long term goal(s)- such as to have a strong marriage, solid relationships with our kids, a certain career, to run a 5k or marathon, to donate a certain amount of money, to grow in relationship with God, etc.
Knowing our goal(s), consider getting a calendar so that you too have a visual reminder of it. Then let’s set the short term goals (aka our small deposits) and write them in. Let’s set time aside in our calendars as appointments to ourselves that we can’t cancel. There will be disruptions and distractions. Yet stick with the plan and trust the process. Over time, I pray you will see the truth of this principle in practice is your life as well.
With love and hope,
Shawn
Thank you, Veterans!
Picture one: who you see.
Picture two: part of his story.
Stephen and I were dating for about seven months when he took me out to lunch one day and told me he enlisted in the Navy. I was surprised yet it wasn’t a deal breaker.
He served for six years in the Navy, two years of schooling and four years on a submarine. He went on two six month deployments and many other cruises from a few days away to weeks at a time. We waited until he got out of the service to get married, and well, the rest is history.
I am forever grateful for Stephen’s service to our country and what that time did for us individually, and as a couple. That time also helped me gain such an appreciation for every person who chooses to serve to protect our country; our sea, our land and our air.
Everyday there are people like Stephen who we pass by during our day who we’d never know served our country. And there are others who wear their hats who we get to thank.
May we take time today to…
pause. breathe. pray.
Let’s give thanks for our veterans, and for those serving. Our freedom is a gift. May we never take it, or those who protect it, for granted.❤️🙏💙
With gratitude and appreciation,
Shawn
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. - Galatians 5:13
Speak Life
As I reflect on last Sunday, I have such gratitude for @bravelikegabe and this incredible opportunity. It was such a gift to be on this wonderful team and to help my ACC family. The experience also helped me personally in so many ways. There are many lessons this experience taught me, including to speak life to yourself.
One day on a run I said something to myself that I had never said before. It happened on a run about half way through my training.
I was running along the trail and heard myself saying “good job, Shawn, I am proud of you.”
This moment caused me to pause.
I am a very outwardly encouraging person yet my inner dialogue towards myself hasn’t always matched what I would say to others.
Yet through my training I found my words being kinder and more encouraging towards myself which surprised me.
I share this with you today in case any of you aren’t as kind and encouraging to yourself as you are to others. I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
I’m not saying you need to train for a marathon. I am saying that we need to be mindful of the words we speak to ourselves. Words have power. They can build up or tear down. God wants us to speak life to others, AND ourselves. Not in a prideful way but with a humble, grateful heart, acknowledging who He made us to be and the gifts and abilities He’s given us.
This week, let’s practice speaking words of life towards ourselves as we would to others. And by doing this may we experience greater contentment within, as I did that day on the trail, and through this wonderful couch to marathon journey.
With love and hope,
Shawn
Follow Where God Leads
What I thought I’d put on my car if I ever had one of these stickers and what I now get to put on my car. I share this as it’s not about the number of miles run but about the refinement of character within that happens in order to do the run.
Having never been a runner, I have grown much respect for runners, not for the physical ability but the mental fortitude it takes to do it.
I share this with you in case you find God leading you to a path that seems completely different from one you’d take and the goal seems insurmountable. I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we follow where God leads trusting He will provide what we need. And in the process may we give thanks for the refinement within that takes place and helps us live stronger, from the inside out.
With love and hope,
Shawn
This is 46!
🥳This is 46🥳
And my birthday wish is this,
that we choose to…
…seek what is good.
…listen to one another.
…use our voices to build others up not tear down.
…be a helper.
…be a bridge to peace.
…be an anchor of hope.
…be a light in dark spaces.
…have more faith than fear.
…live out love above all else.
💕🙏🎂
With love and hope,
Shawn
A Glimpse of What Life Can Be
LINK TO LISTEN HERE