I hadn’t taped a podcast since October. I was debating to keep going or not and last week got back at it., even though it felt like trudging through mud. This season of the podcast is to encourage cancer patients. In the episode I taped last week, I spoke about two uncomfortable but healing steps to take when diagnosed.
One of the steps was to do what you need to do. And for me one thing I needed to do for myself was to video tape a message to each of my kids before my surgery. At the time Kate, Gavin and Matt were 10, 9 and 4, so in the message to each of them I also sang a specific song I use to sing for each of them when they were babies.
Thankfully my kids never had to watch those videos but it was something I felt I needed to do to have peace in my heart before surgery. And the funny thing is now the sound of my voice is likely more like nails on a chalkboard to them in this season of parenting, not soothing to them like they were when they were babies.
Anyways, why I am sharing this is the next morning after I taped the episode, I went outside and this was the sky I saw. And in Kate’s baby song I sang “cotton candy clouds against the blue, that’s the kind of day I wish for you.” Seeing this beautiful sky confirmed for me to keep going with the podcast- even if it helps only one person- I will finish what I started so that people with cancer can be encouraged through their diagnosis and through their treatments.
I am sharing this today in case you know anyone with cancer who needs encouragement, feel free to share my podcast with them (have them start at season 2). Also, if you feel lead to do something and it’s hard work and you feel like giving up like I do some days, I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we stay disciplined and diligent and trust God will let us know if we are in the right path, or not. May we rely on Him for what we need and trust He will use what we are doing, in time for good, whether we see the outcome, or not.
With love and hope,
Shawn
PS: HERE link to the podcast to the episode I mention above 💗
Only Light Can Drive Out Darkness
This morning on our walk in the darkness, the light of the moon and our headlights were our guides. It reminded me of the MLK quote, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.“
If I allowed the darkness to dictate my choices, I’d miss moments like this. Instead I am prayerful to not allow outer circumstances to dictate the posture of my heart and mind and determine my choices.
It’s not easy. It’s actually very natural for me to allow my emotions to lead me. But if I do that, I end up living with more fear, worry, regrets, etc. instead of living as a light as we are called to be.
Can you relate?
To be the light we must have the light within us to give.
“It’s the light in the lantern that shows the path, not the lantern.”
I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we make time to be with God today and allow God’s Word to fill us with light, love, truth and hope. May we allow that to be what dictates the posture of our hearts and minds so that we can be the light we are called to be.
And if the darkness feels overwhelming, I get it. May we guard ours hearts and minds and purposefully keep our eyes and ears on what will fill us with light and give us hope to anchor our souls. And if you’re having trouble, remember it’s a strength to reach out for help.
With love and hope,
Shawn
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. - John 1:5
The Cause Continues...
Yesterday I ran for Pat, one of my @bravelikegabe teammates, and her sister Sue. Pat was on our team in honor of her sister, Sue, an ACC warrior. Pat shared Sue’s story with us, and her heart and love for her sister was evident in all she said.
This week Pat shared with us that Sue has passed away. Another ACC family member gone too soon.
I share this today because the marathon has been over for months yet the cause behind it continues, to raise awareness and funds for rare cancer research so that warriors like Sue, and sisters like Pat, have more time beside their loved ones.
In memory of Sue, and all others we’ve lost in our ACC family, and those who are in the fight, our mission continues to raise funds for researchers to find viable treatments and a cure.
On February 8th, some of our Brave Like Gabe team will gather again for @cycleforsurvival in Boston to continue our mission to raise awareness and funds for ACC research.
If you would like to contribute to our mission, please visit HERE. As always, no amount is too small as every dollar makes a difference and I wholeheartedly trust one day, with your help, there will be a cure for ACC. Please keep Pat and Sue’s family in your prayers. Thank you🙏
With care and hope,
Shawn
The Power of 'Yet'
Tonight after Matt’s guitar lesson he said he was trying something new but didn’t get it down.
I followed up with “yet, you didn’t get it down…yet.”
He smiled and agreed. “I didn’t get it, yet.”
This moment reminded me that the things we need to know, we will get -often in time and with practice. And the things we don’t need to know, may be things we never get. And I have no doubt Matt will get the new thing he’s trying because he is dedicated to practicing.
I share this with you today in case you may be like me and Matt and have a new skill or habit you don’t have down…yet.
I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we trust we will get the new skill or habit down in time - not by sitting around hoping - as hope is not a strategy. But by putting in the time and effort. And if we aren’t intrinsically motivated to put in the time and effort, may we pray for what we need to push through, if we need to at all. And may the power in the word “yet” give us hope, as it did for Matty tonight.
With love and hope,
Shawn
Time is Precious
Unfortunately Kate is already heading back to school. This month with her home flew by and it was lovely having our whole crew back together.
Time together is precious.
Whether we get a month, a week, a day or an hour together, may we give thanks for the gift of time beside one another. Not everyone gets it, and I’m seeing that over time, as our kids follow their paths in life, our time together will vary. My hope and prayer is to never take time together for granted and to give thanks for, and absorb, the time we do get with one another.
With gratitude and hope,
Shawn
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom - Psalm 90:12
Begin Within
One of my kids was sick recently and I brought him to the doctor. While we were there I saw this picture on the wall and it really resonated with me.
As we begin this new year, often we seek to make changes and set goals for ourselves. Yet often when we seek to make these changes, we are looking at them from the outside in rather than from the inside out. The character qualities written as the titles of the books are ones - when we put them into practice - can help us accomplish the changes we seek.
But when I think about it, then the changes we seek have less to do with what we are doing and are more about the posture of our heart and our mindset within.
Whatever we are seeking to accomplish, it would first benefit us to…
- be determined (James 1:12)
- be disciplined (Timothy 1:7)
- have hope (Hebrews 6:19)
- persevere (Romans 5:1-5)
- remain focused (Psalm 119:37)
So that we then take consistent action. (Matthew 7:24)
These inner qualities, along with others, are usually what need refining, not our actual goals. And each one of these qualities, are ones in God's Word He speaks to. And in Matthew 7:24, we are told to not only know God's Word, but to put it into practice.
God is not concerned about out goals so much as He is concerned about our character and if we are living aligned with Him or not. Yet making goals are a tool that can help us live out His Word, and refine ourselves within.
So as we start this new week, and think of what you want to do, I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
What is one of the words above that is a character quality you need to refine and put into practice more? For me it’s to be disciplined and remain focused.
Whatever our answers, may we prayerfully take God's Word and put it into practice to help us grow more aligned God, and grow into who He made us to be, from the inside out.
With love and hope,
Shawn
Happy New Year!
🎉Happy New Year!🎉
I thought I’d share a few lessons learned this past year in case any of them encourage you as we enter the New Year…
1. Let someone else say no, let’s not close the door on ourselves.
2. Sometimes we have to do the things we don’t want to do to get the results we seek to have.
3. Small deposits over time add up.
4. It’s amazing what we can do when the purpose is beyond ourselves.
5. Silence and solitude are great teachers.
6. Letting go is hard but essential.
7. Don’t compare ourselves to others, or expect others to be us.
8. We need to stop resisting what is good for us.
9. Growth is on the other side of what is comfortable.
10. When we’re tired we need to learn to rest, not push harder or quit.
11. Ruminating on negative thoughts is destructive, prayer is productive.
12. What God calls us to, He will help us through.
Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed, healthy and joyful New Year🎉🙏🥳
With love and hope,
Shawn
The True Meaning of Christmas
In the midst of the shopping, wrapping, cooking, cleaning, driving, gatherings, and more, may we take time to…
pause. breathe. pray.
And turn our eyes, ears, hearts and minds to the true meaning of Christmas. For when we do, we will see that life wasn’t easy for Mary and Joseph. Their days were challenging as well, in a different way. Yet despite their challenges, they chose to trust God’s Word, ways and will over their own. And at the end of day, they had Jesus, love in human form, before them.
In the midst of our busy days - and minds- may we make space to remember that Jesus was born to show you and me what love in action looks like and sounds like. Also, he came to remind us that our true worth is as children of God - not in what we have, not in our titles, not in our bank accounts, not in our accomplishments, not in our doings. Yet by simply being we are His children, who are seen, heard, loved, and welcomed as we are, flaws and all. And the question Christmas asks us is will we see, hear, love and welcome Jesus into our lives too?
The choice is ours.
How loving is that?
May we find rest in this truth and may it help fuel us the rest of our days.
With love and hope,
Shawn
The Most Valuable Gift
Last night I had a fun night out with Gavin! With this being his senior year, he’s on the go a lot, understandably. Yet last night he took time to have dinner and go to the UConn game with me. It was a sweet reminder that the best gift in life we can give one another is our undivided presence and time.
I share this today, in this season of giving, as a reminder to…
pause. breathe. pray.
As we shop for our loved ones, may we remember the best gifts we can give one another may not be something physical or cost a dime. Instead may we consider giving one another our time and undivided attention. Yes, it will cost us something - our time - yet when we choose to give someone these, we are giving the most memorable - and valuable - gift of all, as Gavin gifted me last night.
With love and hope,
Shawn
Rest for Our Souls
Last Thursday morning I was heavy hearted on my way to teach a children’s Bible study class. I was trying to focus on going through the verse of the week I was teaching the kids that morning rather than on why my heart was heavy. As I drove along I was reviewing the verse and then it hit me...
This verse isn’t just something I need to teach the kids. This is a verse I need to put into practice right now. The verse is Matthew 11:28-29 which reads,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
I was needing rest. Not as in more sleep kind of rest, I was needing rest in my soul that morning. And I wasn’t going to find rest ruminating on unproductive thoughts, by numbing out by scrolling on social media, or other ways - God knows I’ve tried. I have learned that my soul finds rest with God.
So as I drove along, I no longer was focused on how to teach the verse that morning. Instead I was repeating the verse to myself as a reminder that I needed to go to God. I needed to take my weary and burdened heart to him. I needed to not try and process my thoughts alone but yoke with Jesus who wants to come beside me, and you, to lighten the heavy and teach us. And by doing this, I trusted in time, I would receive rest in my soul. I share this today in case you too find yourself at times weary and burdened, seeking rest for your soul. If so, I invite you to join me to...
pause. breathe. pray.
May we read this scripture aloud slowly and absorb the wisdom in it. May we lean into this verse when we feel weary and burdened. Let’s put God’s Word into practice by bringing our honest hearts to God first, instead of where we usually turn. May we pray to yoke with Him, so that He will help carry the burden and lighten the heavy. Jesus will meet us with a gentle and humble heart and with wisdom. May we be willing to put our thoughts, ways and will aside and learn from Him. For when we do, in time, we will find the rest for our souls.
With love and hope,
Shawn