Simple Acts of Love Can Go A Long Way

Yesterday afternoon I was tangled in thoughts. My inner voice was loud and my to do list seemed overwhelming with a project we have going on, layered with life’s daily to do list.

Rather than taking my own advice to pause. breathe. pray. I got stuck in the web of negative thoughts for a while.

Stephen came home to my being overwhelmed. He listened to my heart and later on walked up to me with this single flower from our garden.

This act of love did not erase my to do list yet it showed me he saw me, overwhelmed and all, and still chose to live out love my way in hopes to make my heart smile.

Which he did.

I share this with you today because throughout our days we all meet someone who was like me yesterday, wrapped in thoughts that don’t serve them. Whether they are our loved ones at home, or a stranger we pass along our way. On the outside we may see frustration, irritability, complaining, etc. Yet may we remember to...

pause. breathe. pray.

And look beyond the surface of those negative emotions and recognize that external behavior often reflects the state of ones internal world. And rather than choosing to judge, may we consider, like Stephen did, that an act of love may be what is needed to remind this person that they are seen, messy and all, and still worthy of being loved.

With love and hope,
Shawn

“I'm fully known and loved by You
You won't let go no matter what I do
And it's not one or the other
It's hard truth and ridiculous grace
To be known fully known and loved by You.” - “Known” by @taurenwells
(Take a minute today to listen to this beautiful song and let the lyrics sink it)

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. - Psalm 139:1-2

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Old Dogs Can Learn New Tricks

Yesterday was a big day at the George home; Georgia fetched a ball! This may not sound like much but at almost 3 years old, she has been our non-retriever. Yet yesterday, she surprised us and unexpectedly went for a ball!

I guess old dogs can learn new tricks😉

I share this with you today as many of us have had to adjust to our current circumstances and learn new things in the process. I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we be willing to learn new ways in this unique time. And although it may not come naturally, may we learn from Georgia’s example that there can be joy in doing something new💕🙏💕

With love and hope,
Shawn

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

- Isaiah 43:18-19

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Matt is 8!

🥳🎉Yesterday Matt turned 8! Happy Birthday to our fun, loving, adventurous and creative guy! Matt finds the joy in each day and there is never a dull moment with him around. We can’t wait to see what he explores and creates next!🎉🥳

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16 years!

Yesterday Stephen and I celebrated our 16 year anniversary! The waters haven’t always been smooth yet there is no one I’d rather ride out the waves with than him. Love this guy more than words💝

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Pray through the Struggle

Today I had to go in for a stress test to rule out something, and thankfully all is well. During the test as they kept raising the incline and speed on the treadmill, I did what I usually do when I am challenged, I took some deep breaths & prayed. Once we got to what should have been the end of the test, the doctor asked if I had more in me, which I did. So we went for a few minutes, while continuing to go faster, at a higher incline.

For those of you who don’t know this side of me, I am very competitive and enjoy a challenge, especially a physical one.

As I was brought to my edge running on the treadmill, I closed my eyes to pray (don’t worry, I was holding on). Well, the doctor didn’t like that, and asked why I kept closing my eyes. I told him to pray for people who are going through hard times.

The doctor was relieved to know it wasn’t that I was light headed or about to pass out.

But that is what I do when I am challenged, I pray for others who are going through hard times to get my mind off myself and use my mind towards something beneficial.

From my workouts to now stress tests, I have found that my mind is better off praying for others than focusing on my current challenge, and actually helps fuel me to get through it, most of the time.

I share this with you today because as I drove home, I thought about how in this world right now we are being challenged. It is so natural for us to focus on the struggle, the unknowns, the challenge in this new way of living. Yet living focused on the struggle can weigh us down. Instead, I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we make a list of all those who need prayers, from friends to strangers across the world. And the next time we find ourselves at our edge, physically, emotionally, mentally, etc., may we choose to take our thoughts off the struggle and turn our thoughts to pray, for ourselves and/or those in need. It’s been a transformative practice for me, and I believe it will be for you too.

With love and hope,
Shawn

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” - Romans 12:12

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He Will Give Us Rest

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” - Matthew 11:28

May we...

pause. breathe. pray.

And find rest in Him.

With love and hope,
Shawn

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Our Breath is A Gift

Three years ago today I walked out of my last treatment and I am grateful to be able to say I continue to be NED (no evidence of disease)💝🙏🎉

As I reflect on the gift of being here, I thank God for every day I get, even in quarantine.

Yes, there are hard moments, days and seasons in life. Yet being alive with breath in our lungs is a gift, that to be honest, some days, as I get further from my walk with cancer, I forget to recognize.

I share this with you today in case any of you are needing that reminder too. I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we take a deep breath in and feel the breath in our lungs. As we exhale may we give thanks for being here today, even in these unique times. May we celebrate the gift of life and ask God to reveal to us what we can learn through this season. May we trust that although we have struggles, that God will use them for a greater purpose.

With love and hope,
Shawn

“The Spirit of God has made me,
And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” - Job 33:4

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Happy Father's Day

Happy Father’s Day to Stephen, my Dad, and to all you Dad’s out there!

Your presence and influence matter more than you’ll ever know💙🧡 

With love,
Shawn

“A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty.” - unknown

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Let's Listen to Others Stories

Today as I sat beside my youngest reading this heart wrenching story, the truth of Henry’s story, shipping himself to freedom in a box, grabbed the deepest parts of my heart, and my son’s. As much as I may be tempted to not share such powerful stories with my kids, I believe they (and I) need to hear the truth of other people’s stories to grow in compassion, empathy and love.

When we take time to hear other’s stories, it’s an opportunity to cleanse the lens we see through, and see life from a different angle.

I share this with you today to invite you to join me today to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we make the time to listen to other people’s stories. May we allow their truth to help prune our hearts and minds from any thorns growing in them. May we pause to absorb the truth of the person’s story and see what we can learn from them. May we continue to learn and grow beside one another, and ask God to show us our next step forwards, together. 💕🙏💕

With love and hope,
Shawn

“An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” - Proverbs 18:15

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Build them Up

It’s officially summer break for our kids☀️

When I look at these three and think of this unique year, and their past five years, which include their Nane having cancer, our dog dying of cancer, my having cancer, and now a worldwide pandemic, I realize that I have a choice; to be worried that they may be negatively impacted by these experiences, or trust that God is using all of these experiences to help build their character, and grow their faith.

I will choose the latter. 

In case you too have had thoughts of how your kids may be negatively impacted by this year and experiences they’ve had, I invite you to join me to... 

pause. breathe. pray.

Rather than fast forwarding to the future, and creating stories that may never come to be, may we come beside our kids. May we turn to God to see how we can best walk (or jump!😉) beside them. May we trust He is using this to refine their character, and ours, and grow our faith. Just because we have faith doesn’t mean there won’t be more bumps on the road ahead of us. Yet may we not view every bump as a stumbling block along our path. Instead, may we, and our children, learn to view, and use, the bumps as stepping stones to rise up into who were we were made to be.

May we do our best to walk this talk before them, to help this truth grow roots in their hearts, and mind.
💕🙏💕

With love and hope,
Shawn

“We know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” - Romans 5:3-4

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