Love isn’t about agreeing about everything but to walk beside one another in love not matter what the other thinks is best.
With love and hope,
Shawn
Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. - John 13:34
Every Day is a Gift
Happy Monday, friends! May we give thanks and make the best of this day we have been given
With love and hope,
Shawn
This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it. - Psalm 118:24
Gym Life Lessons #1 and #2
Gym life lessons #1 and #2
Persevere when challenged &
Celebrate one another’s successes
This week we had a fire drill during a class. I didn’t have enough time for the lesson I planned so I introduced knock out to the students so we could play for the few minutes left in class. For those of you who don’t know, knock out is a basketball shooting game where you attempt to knock out another player from the game by making a hoop before them.
As we began playing there was a student who had trouble getting the ball near the hoop. The student could have easily just put in no effort and thrown in the towel but instead the student persevered and kept at it. It was awesome to listen to the rest of the class cheer her on as well.
After a few rounds the student made a hoop and the class cheered!
It was a beautiful moment.
What made the moment even more wonderful was the person who was knocked out of the game because the hoop was made stepped aside and clapped for their classmate, celebrating her success with her.
I am sharing this with you today because we all meet challenging in life and we all know someone who is succeeding in an area of their life. I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we choose to persevere when we are challenged. It’s amazing what we can learn about ourselves in the process. And when we see someone else succeeding, rather than getting stuck in the comparison trap and feeling down because someone else is doing well, may we step aside and celebrate their success beside them. May we put these life lessons into practice so we too can experience joy in our hearts like these students did.
With love and hope,
Shawn
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope - Romans 5:3-4
How Can I Help?
Tonight when Stephen came home he asked how I was doing. I was transparent and shared I am overwhelmed today with things I need to get done.
His response was four simple words, “how can I help?”
These words softened my heart. The load I was carrying on my shoulders was lightened knowing I didn’t have to carry it all alone. To have him walk in from his busy day and offer to lend a hand was a gift I didn’t know I needed.
I am sharing this in case you have a loved one who is overwhelmed too. I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
If we have a loved one who is overwhelmed, may we offer these four simple words their way in hopes to help share the load they are carrying. And if we are the ones who are overwhelmed and someone asks us how they can help, may we not say we are fine or try to do it all alone. Instead may we share with them something they can do that would help us and lighten our load.
Four simple words can make all the difference.
May we speak them, and/or receive them, with love and gratitude.
With love and hope,
Shawn
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2
Be Rich In Wisdom and Love
Has anyone ever tried to give their children advice and they completely resist it?
Me too.
Recently when this happened rather than pressing my point I let it go, walked away and…
paused, breathed, and prayed.
This analogy came to mind that I went back and shared with my child. I am sharing it with you today in case it may be a bridge in a conversation between you and your kids too.
I asked my child if I was to offer them a handful of money would they take it?
Naturally they said yes.
Why?
Money makes you richer.
I then shared that when I am offering advice, it is something to make them wealthier too, not financially though, but richer in wisdom. They have a choice to take the advice or leave it. I can’t control what they choose. Yet to leave behind sound advice is declining something that will make them richer within. And although that may not be the riches they seek or want, being rich in wisdom and love is what we all really need in life.
Whether our children receive our advice, or not, may we continue to plant seeds of wisdom into their hearts and minds and trust that God will help those seeds grow within them in time.
Also, may we recognize that who our children are to us if often who we are to God. May we too be willing to humble ourselves to receive God’s wisdom. His truth and love are the true riches we need in our life.
With love and hope,
Shawn
God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
- Psalm 145:8
May We Never Forget...
May we never forget…
…every life lost that day.
…every family impacted by the loss of a loved one who carries the memories of them in their hearts everyday.
…every survivor and their visible or invisible wounds.
…every selfless soul who ran towards the danger, including every first responder.
…every person who was a part of the rescue and recovery.
…the empathy and the compassion we had towards one another.
…we didn’t see each other’s race, ethnicity, religion, political views, etc, that day.
…we saw each other as the human beings we are.
…we stood beside one another in solidarity.
…and out of this tragedy, we united in love.
I invite you to join me to take 9-11 minutes to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we pray however the Spirit leads us. And as we look to the past may it give us wisdom for the present.
With love and hope,
Shawn
“…mourn with those who mourn.” -Romans 12:15
*posted on 9/11/21
I am Not their Only Teacher
Today when Matt was tying his shoes, I had a flashback to years ago when I had tried to teach him to tie his shoes. There was frustration on both our parts at times. He really wanted to figure it out on his own and I really wanted to show him how to do it. The process was long until one day we were at a store getting shoes and Gavin randomly said, “Hey Matt, want me to show you how to tie your shoes?” Matt accepted Gavin’s offer.
Matt tied his shoes in one try.
This was one of many moments I’ve had as I Mom where I realized that I am not the only teacher for my kids. I may plant the seeds, but others reap the harvest.
Can any of you relate? If so, I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we give thanks for all the people God has placed in our kids lives to teach them along with us. May we continue to plants seeds but remember it doesn’t matter that we are the one that get credit when they learn. What matters most is that they eventually learn whatever it is they need to.
With love and hope,
Shawn
Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.
- John 4:37
Heading to HS
I am having a mom moment - this guy started high school today!
Watching our kids grow is a gift, I just wish time would slow down a bit.
Here is to a new adventure!
Gav is ready.
I’m working on it
With love and hope,
Shawn
Teach me to number my days so I may gain a heart of wisdom. -Psalm 90:12
Gifts from the Heart to the Heart
Gifts from the heart to the heart are the best kind
I received these thoughtful gifts from a dear friend. It’s not the things she gave me that I love but the prayers and perspective she gifted me as I head into this new role.
I thought I’d share these messages with you in case these words would be a blessing to you as well.
I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we…
- take time to fill ourselves so we can fill others.
- organize and prioritize so we can focus on who and what matters most.
- share words of encouragement and affirmation with others.
- remind ourselves and others of truth
- make a permanent, positive impact on hearts and minds
- make others hearts smile, and our own, by practicing these things.
With love and hope,
Shawn
Do everything in love.
- 1 Corinthians 16:14
My New Office
Welcome to my new office!
After being a stay at home Mom the past 15 years, I am heading back to the classroom, a.k.a the gymnasium, to teach Health and Physical Education, which is what I taught prior to being a Mom and writer.
This was not something I had planned yet the opportunity came my way. As I explored the opportunity, one morning I was in my prayer time and just stopped reading my Bible, and asked God, "What do you want for me? Please help me know if this is what I am suppose to do. I don't want to do this unless I know it is your will."
After saying that to God, my eyes went back down to Romans 2 where I had left off and it read:
"...you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children..." - Romans 2:19-20
I smiled at God and said, "okay, I will go back to teaching."
Not every prayer I have has been answered like this one was, yet I have no doubt going back to teach is God's will for me right now. I am excited to be at a Christian school where I will get to teach faith based PE. Like in my Pause. Breathe. Pray. classes, I will get to weave in God's truth during our activities. If you'd join me to pray for the students to be receptive and for me to connect with each student, I would sincerely appreciate it.
I am excited for this new adventure yet I will continue to write and share with you the encouraging life lessons God teaches me along the way.
The verse that God has been reflecting to me in this time is:
"We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." - Psalm 16:9
I share this with you in case you too have come to a crossroad and are unsure of your next step. I invite you to join me to...
pause. breathe. pray.
May we turn to God and ask Him to reveal His will to us. May His word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path and may we trust, in His time, He will direct our steps. And may we follow where He leads, even if it's a detour from where we thought we were heading, trusting He knows best.
With love and hope,
Shawn