This scene describes where I was 10 years ago. I was in the pit of anxiety and depression feeling bare within. At the time I wasn’t sure I was ever going to get out of the pit.
Yet in that raw season, with the help of the love of my family, a therapist, meds, and a walk back to faith, I recognized that I had always been following other people’s paths in life and had never actually tried to find my own.
It was in this trying season 10 years ago I made the commitment to myself to start seeking my path in life and stop following other people’s.
I share this with you today in case you too find yourself following other people’s paths, and/or the trends of culture around you, yet feel bare within.
I invite you to join me to...
pause. breathe. pray.
May we recognize that, like these trees, there is something within us waiting to grow. May we stop following other people’s path and start following our own. May we nourish ourselves from the inside out with knowledge, wisdom and courage so we may follow the path God has for each of us so we may grow into the person we were made to be. And may we encourage others to do the same.💕🙏💕
With love and hope,
Shawn
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”- Psalm 119:105
🎉 Happy New Year🎉
🎉 Happy New Year🎉
May we each enter this new year doing what is ours to do, and make sure we take time to...
pause. breathe. pray.
to be sure we give room for God to do what is His to do.
With love and hope,
Shawn
Merry Christmas
May the reason we celebrate this special day be the foundation of our day today, and every day. And may we give thanks for the gift of sharing this day with our loved ones, whether they are near or far...or for the gift of the memories we have of our loved ones that live in our hearts.
Merry Christmas🎄🙏✝️
With love and hope,
Shawn
Pray for Others
This week I went to a new dentist, and had a new hygienist, as my old dentist retired. It may not seem like a big deal to many, yet when you have a mouth like mine, without a palate, and have to expose your wounds to a new person, it stirred up some anxiety within me.
As I laid on the chair, I circled back through many of the techniques I learned through my walk with cancer to help bring calm to the storm of my mind; putting my palms up, picturing the circles of love around me, praying for others, etc.
As I put those tools into practice, my mind grew quiet enough to hear the voices nearby. What I heard captured my attention immediately. A person was told they needed to go and get a ct scan that day to check out something.
My heart dropped. I’ve been the patient who was told they saw something and to get a ct scan that day.
It was in that moment that I knew that I was in that chair in this new space for a reason that day. I was there to pray for this person nearby. Though I never saw his face, and he’ll never know I was praying for him, God gave me enough peace of mind to tune out my anxiety to tune into to someone who needed love and prayer.
I share this with you today in case you too are experiencing anxiety of some kind and/or your thoughts are circling around and around a situation. I invite you to join me to...
pause. breathe. pray.
May we recognize that sometimes our angst keeps our minds circling and our eyes on ourselves. This is normal and natural. Yet what I have learned in life is often our angst can take us away from our purpose, to love others beside us.
The truth is someone beside us needs love today. Whether it is someone in our family, a friend, or a stranger you may overhear saying something close by.
May we do what we can to lift our eyes up and be a light of love their way, even if it’s a prayer in the silence of our hearts. May we be part of their healing, and allow them to be part of ours.
With love and hope,
Shawn
Circling Back
I was invited back to my High School to speak with the students and staff about how our struggles can lead to our purpose.
To be given the opportunity to speak into the hearts of the people in our community allowed me to come full circle. When I walked the halls of this school, as friendly as I was on the outside, I struggled within with anxiety and depression. To be able circle back to share my story with the students there and let them know it’s okay to not be okay, but there is hope and help, is something I will forever be grateful for.
I know culture tells us to go big or go home. Yet I am thankful to go home, because the people in our own communities matter. When we build one another up, in our homes and in our communities, we are living as we were meant to; loving others and doing what is ours to do to help others rise up into their best self.
I share this with you today because you too have endured struggles.
I invite you to join me to...
pause. breathe. pray.
May we consider seeing what we have learned from our struggles and circle back with someone who is going through a similar struggle and share those lessons with them. By doing this may they know they are not alone and may it give them hope to hold on to to anchor their soul. May we see that our struggle may have lead to this purpose; to help those beside us and those next in line.
And if you are in the midst of a struggle, I get you may not be in the place to help someone else right now. Please know it’s okay to not be okay. Hold on to hope and please reach out for help. You matter💕🙏💕
With gratitude, love and hope,
Shawn
Moments of Peace
My current view🐶🎄
I am grateful for the moments of peace that call my name in the midst of a busy minded day. If your mind (and body) have been going too, I invite you to join me to...
pause. breathe. pray.
May we seek moments of stillness to renew our mind. Wherever we are, standing, sitting or laying down, may we pause and connect to our present space in mind, body and Spirit.
May we take a breather from the chaos, even if it’s only in our minds, and breathe and be, even if for a moment...
With love and hope,
Shawn
Beautiful Work
❄️Just like life, the snow is beautiful and there is work to do❄️
Practice Gratitude
May our practice of gratitude continue today, and every day💕🙏💕
I hope you had a lovely day yesterday with loved ones, as we did. As much as I enjoyed the time with loved ones, there were a number of people on my heart who I know are having a challenging time this holiday season. For example, one person I know is having their first holidays without their loved one, and another shared how the holidays trigger her loneliness. These friend’s stories, along with others, remind me that the holidays aren’t all what we hope them to be for everyone.
I am writing to ask you to join me to...
pause. breathe. pray.
May we pray for those who are struggling with the holidays season being here. We may not know everyone’s story but may we send love their way. And if there is something we are able to do to lift someone’s spirit during this season, may love move us into action.
With gratitude, love and hope,
Shawn
Show Me the Way
On a family hike, I captured this moment when Stephen was pointing out directions to our youngest. Matt stood there listening and absorbed all Stephen was sharing with him.
This moment captured my heart. Just as Stephen took the time to be a guide to Matt, I was reminded that God is there for us to direct and guide us everyday.
We need only be still and listen.
That sounds lovely right? But so much else calls for our attention, including our struggle, which makes the practice of living this out challenging.
Yet where is our attention best spent to experience the peace and joy this day has for us; staring at the struggle, or on God and His truth?
Experience has shown me, the latter is where my time is best spent. I know all the other things are already calling our attention today so I invite you to join me to...
pause. breathe. pray.
May we be directional with our time today and take the time to be still with God, even if it’s for a minute. May we grow this practice every day so rather than allowing ourselves, our struggles, or our schedule lead us, we can get back to God being the guiding light in our days.
With love and hope,
Shawn
“Show me your ways, God, teach me your paths.” - Psalm 25:4
All Will Be Accomplished In His Timing
Tonight when I sat down for a cup of tea I saw this quote and the truth in it made me smile💝
If you, like me, try to hurry things along, consciously or subconsciously, I invite you to join me to...
pause. breathe. pray.
May we surrender our timing to God’s. In our world of instant gratification, may we practice patience and delayed gratification. May we let go of what isn’t ours to do and seek what is ours to do in the process. May we trust that God is working and that in time all that needs to be accomplished will be. And from choosing to believe, and live out, these truths, may we find ourselves more at peace within💕🙏💕
With love and hope,
Shawn
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” - Ecclesiastes 3:1
