How to Smooth Out the Edges

I was skipping rocks with my kids yesterday. As I searched for the smoothest rocks, I thought about how the beautiful smooth stones didn’t start out this way. They became this way over time. Their sharp edges have been refined by pressure and time in the ocean.

Life has its edges and naturally I want to ask God to take them away as quickly as possible. I’d like life to be smooth all the time but you and I both know that’s not reality.

As I was praying about the edgy parts of my life, I was humbly reminded that every edgy season I have had has, in time, refined me within and has grown my faith in God. I wholeheartedly believe if you let Him, God will take the edges of your life and do the same for you.

If you too are meeting some edges in life, I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

Whatever the edges are we may be experiencing in life, may we invite God in to help us lighten the heavy.

May we recognize that the smoothness we are seeking in our lives isn’t something that happens externally, like with the rocks. Instead it’s an internal smoothness we are seeking that will come from our relationship with God as He refines us from the inside out. God we will give us the peace we are seeking and perspective we need to meet our edges with more grace and clarity. So even with edges in our life we will be able to be present in our day with who we are with and enjoy the beautiful moments before us, like skipping rocks with our children.

With love and hope,

Shawn

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart! I have overcome the world. - John 16:33

Don't Answer Before Listening

Yesterday I was in the kitchen getting breakfast ready before bringing Matt to camp. Matt came up from the basement and said, “Mom, I found a fan.”

I simply smiled at him and said, “nice,” before putting my head back down to the meal I was making.

He came beside me and said, “it needs 4 batteries.”

I said, “okay” thinking we would find those later on.

He continued, “Mom, it needs 4 aa batteries.”

I paused and opened the cabinet nearby where the batteries were.

We put them quickly in the fan and I went back to making breakfast.

When I looked up, I saw that Matt had taken the fan and had attached it to his camp backpack. He had created a way for him to stay cool at camp on a day it was suppose to feel like 100+ degrees.

I share this with you in case you too find yourself brushing aside people when they say something to you. I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we take the time to pause and listen. When we pause long enough to listen to others, they may open our eyes to a new way of seeing things and we may just learn something from them.

With love and hope,

Shawn

“If one gives an answer before he hears,

it is his folly and shame.”

- Proverbs 18:13

Wholeheartedly Trust God

Friday was scan day for me. I am grateful to share that all is well, thank God! As I have shared before, some of my scan days I am fighting off anxiety, and other days, like Friday, I have a peace that’s beyond understanding. I am able to lay, pray and rest trusting God with whatever the outcome is. This is the MRI machine I was in on Friday. It’s a unique one because when you open your eyes it has a mirror that reflects a video image that’s on the wall behind you. It is meant to make you feel as though you are not enclosed in the machine. Usually I close my eyes yet on Friday at one point I opened them. When I did there was a video playing of the ocean.

The video showed a fish that looked like an oversized stingray with a little fish swimming under its belly. I immediately thought how the little fish was me and the stingray was like God, covering and protecting me. Yet as I looked at the fish more closely, I asked myself, is the little fish swimming to find cover under the stingray or is the stingray swimming to keep the little fish covered?

When the video continued the next shot was of the little fish upside down having somehow attached itself under the stingray. It laid there at rest is was guarded and protected as the stingray took it for a journey.

After seeing those two videos, it made me realize how often I am the little fish in the first video, going on my way, doing life and God is following me trying to keep me under his cover and care.

Yet as I laid there on the MRI table I realized why I had rest in my soul. It was because I had attach myself fully to God that day and trusted God, no matter the outcome.

I share this with you today for whatever journey you are on. If you are like me, most of the time trying to get through things on your own strength, I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we be like the little fish who attached itself to the large stingray who was able to have rest on the journey. One of the gifts of a relationship with God is when we truly are able to trust him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, we can receive rest within, even while on a crazy journey, like waiting for test results.

I would not share this if I didn’t experience it myself and know it is possible. I won’t pretend I stay in this space all the time, yet having experienced it again during these scans was a reminder to stop trying to do life on my own and to wholeheartedly trust God, with the big and little things we face everyday.

With love and hope,

Shawn

PS What made the moment even more beautiful was the song that was being played at the time I saw this video is called “Hold On To Me” by Lauren Daigle

“God is my refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble…” - Psalm 46:1

Something Beautiful Is Waiting For You On the Other Side of the Storm

Recently I was driving to see some girlfriends. The drive was about three hours. An hour in a storm rolled through and I could barely see in front of me. My anxiety ramped up and I thought how it would be easier to just turn around and go home where I felt safe and secure.

Yet I was driving to see four of my soul sisters, two of whom no longer live nearby, and one of them I hadn’t seen in two years.

As my heart pounded I knew turning around was safe and comfortable, but if I didn’t drive through the storm, I wouldn’t get to visit with my friends for the day.

So I prayed to try and release my angst as I white knuckled it through the storm.

Eventually the sky cleared up and the sun shined through. I got to have an amazing day with my dear friends.

I am sharing this with you today because this story parallels with so many of our lives. If you can relate with wanting to avoid the storm and retreat to what is safe and comfortable, I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

Whatever storm we may be facing, if God hasn’t directed us to stay in our comfort zone, than it must be a storm we need to move through. May we pray to let go of what is comfortable and secure and trust that God will be with us through the storm. And although we don’t know how long we will have to endure the storm, may we trust that in time the sky will clear and there will be something beautiful waiting for us on the other side.

With love and hope,

Shawn

…you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. - James 1:3-4

Pause to Listen

Yesterday I was with Gavin and Matt and I asked them a question. Before they responded to my initial question I asked them another one, and then another one.

After the third question I just stopped speaking because I recognized that I was talking at them, not with them. I asked them questions but didn’t give space for them to reply and listen to what they had to say.

I share this with you today because my prayer life can be a lot like this moment I had with my kids. Often I will talk to God but I don’t always give room to listen to God.

Can you relate in any of your relationships?

If so, I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

In our relationships, including ours with God, may we remember a productive conversation requires us to talk and listen to one another. May we be quick to listen and slow to speak, so we can deepen our relationships by giving room to hear what others have to say, especially God.

With love and hope,

Shawn

“Be quick to listen and slow to speak…” - James 1:19

Box of Sunshine

Four years ago a couple of dear friends showed up at my door with this box of sunshine for me. It was filled with letters and well wishes from them, and others.

One of the people who gifted this to me is needing a box of sunshine her way today. If you would say a prayer, and/or write an encouraging note below to wish this person well, I’d sincerely appreciate it. Although you don’t know who it is, God does and He will hear every prayer and encouraging word you send their way. And if you choose to send a written prayer/well wish, I will pass those along her way.

Thank you

I am a Hypocrite

I am a hypocrite.

If your first response is to tell me I am not, just pause to hear me out.

A couple of years ago God started showing me that as soon as I pass judgement on someone, within 24 hours or so He shows me how I am doing the same thing in a different way.

For example, a couple of years ago I told Matt to clean his room. Later on when I went to check on how he was doing his room was still messy but he had two cardboard rectangles he was using as skis. I was upset & told him to stop playing & to clean his room. As soon as I walked downstairs my eyes were opened to see the space I was working in was a mess, but I was sitting there writing, my form of “playing.”

This happens over & over again including this weekend. Yesterday I was with my family & my sister was getting frustrated with our kids for leaving half opened seltzer cans. I told her it wasn’t a big deal & to not get so frustrated about it. Well, when I arrived home last night we were eating in the kitchen & I glanced over at the coffee pot & saw a bunch of coffee left over. I asked Stephen why he makes so much if he isn’t going to drink it all. As soon as I the words flowed from my mouth I laughed & said, “oh my gosh I am my sister!” Gavin nodded in agreement.

I share this with you today because we all at times can pass judgement on someone else, yet as God is showing me, we often do something similar in a different way.

I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we take the log out of our own eye before pointing out the speck in someone else’s (Luke 6:42). I will say it’s not easy to start seeing ourselves in this light yet it gives us more grace and compassion for others which ends up bridging hearts more than dividing them.

So in both these situations, & in the many others I have experienced, I have humbled myself to go back to apologize and let the people know, including Matt and my sister, how we are more similar than different - as we all are.

With love and hope,

Shawn

The Best Moments

Recently I was in the kitchen with Stephen and the sunrise out our window was stunning. I caught myself going to grab my phone to take a picture of it to use for a post at some point.

In that moment I paused.

I realized I had a choice before me, to take the picture for a future post, or to put my phone down and watch the sunrise with my husband.

I chose the latter.

I share this with you today because I am imperfect at this practice, yet I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we continue to take pictures to capture moments in our lives. Yet may we recognize that sometimes the best moments we can capture, is a memory made with a loved one that no one else ever sees but the two of you.

With love and hope,

Shawn

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time.”

- Ephesians 5:15

Matt is 9!

Today is Matt’s 9th bday!

We are so grateful for this fun, loving, creative, caring guy who reminds us there is joy and adventure to be had every day.

He’s an outside the box kid, who will take the box and make something out of it.

Today I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

and celebrate Matt and all the outside the box kids for the gift from God they are. May we give thanks for how they experience life with a fresh perspective that brings a vibrance to life we so need. May we pray to be the person God needs us to be in their life, so they can grow into the person God made them to be.

With love and joy,

Shawn

Lend A Hand

It has been pouring a lot here in Connecticut recently. The other day I went to the store to grab some things and when I got outside it was a torrential downpour. Most of the stuff I had purchased could get wet but one item, a piñata, wasn’t going to fair so well. Naturally I tried to tuck in under my sweatshirt but surprisingly that didn’t work. The next thing I knew there was a gentleman who came by my said with an umbrella in hand and said, “can I walk you to your car?” I was touched by this act of love and said yes to his offer.

I share this with you today as a reminder today to…

pause. breathe. pray.

Sometimes when we are in a bind and someone extends a hand, it’s okay to receive help. Also, if we have something that can bless and benefit someone around us, may we not wait and expect someone else to step in. May we be an extension of God’s love towards others and lend a hand their way, like this gentleman did for me that day

With love and hope,

Shawn

PS If there had been a pic of my attempt to hide the piñata under my shirt, I would have used it! Lol

Serve one another humbly in love. - Galatians 5:13