Yesterday I received this beautiful picture from Jan, the illustrator of my children’s book, A Place for Sam. Her daughter is teaching in Kenya this summer and shared our book with the kids, and they loved it! Seeing this picture made me happy cry to see the joy in the children’s faces. They heard, but more importantly received the message in the book that they are each unique, valued, loved, and every one of them matters in their home, community, and beyond🌎

It’s such a blessing that our book’s message continues to reach kids’ hearts, near and far🙏

I wanted to share this joyful picture with you and remind you that God made you on purpose, with purpose, and your “puzzle piece” matters as well🧩

I pray whoever reads this post, or A Place for Sam, receives this truth. Also, let’s choose to speak this truth into others’ hearts, through our words, and by our actions. May we, like Sam in the story, recognize that we are here to connect to those beside us and come together to make a difference. Let’s spend our time and energy speaking truth and life into one another. Let’s build each other up, from the inside out, so that we live more fully as the people God made us to be, while encouraging others to do the same.

With love and hope,
Shawn

PS To read A Place for Sam, CLICK HERE. Listen. Absorb the message. And feel free to pass the link along to anyone that comes to mind who needs to hear the book’s message, no matter their age💕🙏🧩