Walk the Talk

One week from today Jen, Kylee and I will run the race before us, the marathon in Berlin, Germany for Brave Like Gabe to fund rare cancer research.

This is so much more than running a race. Yes, it’s about raising funds so that one day we will have a cure for ACC, Adenoid cystic carcinoma.

But for me, this is also about a being a mom living out principles I have taught my kids.

Through the years I have told Kate, Gavin and Matty things like:

- growth is often found outside your comfort zone
- small deposits over time add up
- when you meet a pain point find solutions, don’t make excuses
- let your struggles refine you not define you
- talk to yourself like you would your best friend
- be a part of the change you want to see
- No discipline is pleasant while it’s happening but in the end is worth it
- Short term suffering often leads to long term freedom
- be willing to serve others, even if it costs you something
- pray
- live for an audience of one, God

…and more.

I say these but the questions I am left with are:

Am I willing to put these same principles into practice in my life?

Am I willing to walk the talk?

This marathon training leaves me no choice but to put these principles into practice, and I thank God for that.

I will never be a perfect parent yet I will always aim to live out the principles that I encourage our kids to. And when I fall short, I will own it, because that is something that will benefit them to do too.

I pray that by running this race, my kids see more than their mom running a race. I pray they see these principles in practice to get me to the starting line, and prayerfully the finish line, so that they can be encouraged in this marathon of life to take these truths and put them into practice themselves.

With love and hope,
Shawn

PS To donate to our team’s fundraiser, please visit the link in my bio💙🙏💙

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2