Mental Health Matters

I saw this picture years ago and have shared it over the years with friends going through tough times.

As someone who has struggled with anxiety and depression in life, these pictures beautifully show how sometimes the person struggling doesn’t know how to articulate what they are experiencing. Also, it gives a beautiful example of a caring response where the person isn’t trying to fix the other person or snap them out of it. Instead they lovingly choose to come beside them reminding them they aren’t alone.

I share this with you today because there has been a lot of conversations about mental health in these unique times. It is an important discussion to listen to or participate in in some capacity so we can better understand the struggle for ourselves or so we are able to better relate to someone we know who is struggling.

I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we acknowledge that mental health matters. And if we are struggling, may we find the courage and strength to reach out to someone to let them know. And if we know someone who struggles, may we take the first step towards them to remind them they aren’t alone.

Something important to note is that if someone we love is struggling, don’t try and fix them. Start by being with them, and offer to be a bridge towards their healing. Simply sitting there beside them to listen or just be there in silence is in itself a helpful first step.

As a woman of faith, I want to say that yes, prayer is beneficial. I pray all the time. Yet as someone who has benefitted from the gifts of meds and therapy myself when I went through my walks with anxiety, depression & cancer, I wholeheartedly believe those can add value in the healing process too. They are not the whole answer, but can be stepping stones to help us get better footing as we journey towards solid ground.

With love and hope,
Shawn

PS If anyone knows where this picture originated please lmk so I can give credit where credit is due. Thanks!

“Love one another as I have loved you.” - John 13:34

What Can We Learn from the Quiet?

One day this week I was in a mood and rather than pouring it onto those around me, which I admittedly have done before and was tempted to do again, I went quiet.

For about four hours I chose to be silent, to benefit myself and those around me. I chose silence so I could pray and sort through my messy mind, and also because the words I would have spoken would have been more destructive than productive.

After those hours of silence I circled back to my family and we had a productive discussion and moved forward.

I share this with you today because in this noisy world, sometimes we need time to...

pause. breathe. pray.

And choose to be quiet and listen; to our own heart and to the hearts of others. May we also choose to incline our ear to wisdom of God to give us knowledge and insight on what words to speak, and to use words that will be productive, and not destructive, to those that hear them.

With love and hope,
Shawn

“Incline your ear to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding” - Proverbs 2:2

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

Bridge the Divide

Last night Stephen and I took a walk and along the way we met a guy and his dog. The guy had a Navy hat on and so I asked him if he served, which he had. He and Stephen briefly talked about where they were stationed and then we all continued on.

We had another brief conversation with a couple as they were deflating their stand up paddle boards. We have similar ones and they shared with me a piece of advice about them which I was thankful for.

I recognized on our walk last night is that we connected with these strangers because we saw a commonality with them. We passed many more people along the walk that we didn’t talk with. This made me see that sometimes we engage in connecting with others when the common thread is visible.

Yet what if we realized that we have a common thread with everyone, it just may not be visible?

I invite you to join me today to...

pause. breathe. pray.

When we walk through our day today, may we consider that there is something we have in common with those along our path. Whether it is visible or not, may we choose to connect with them, even if through a smile (or smiling eyes behind a mask😉) or saying hello. Simple acts of love like this is what we are needing more of these days to bridge the divide and create more unity.

With love and hope,
Shawn

“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”

- 1 Peter 3:8

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

God Direct Our Steps

The other night Stephen and I went for a walk in a quaint town nearby along the river. Our plan was to walk for an hour or so yet we had an unexpected crack of lightning hit close by which caused us to detour from our original plan. As we headed back along the river to our car, these storm clouds rolled in. We thankfully arrived back at the car before the sky opened up.

This experience was a reminder that the best made plans need to be fluid. Also, it showed us how it is beneficial that we are willing to adjust appropriately for the unexpected circumstances that arise.

I share this with you today because you may be like me and seeking to establish plans for ourselves, our families, our co-workers, communities, etc., for the months ahead. If so, I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we make our plans yet remember no plan is concrete. Instead may we recognize that even the most thought out plans need to be fluid. May we be willing to detour from the original plan if/when needed and adjust accordingly to any unexpected circumstances that may arise.

As I was reminded on this walk with Stephen, we can make our plans and think we know where we are headed, yet often God redirects our steps. And although it isn’t always convenient or what we want to have happen, may we remember God doesn’t detour us without reason or purpose. May we trust where He leads.

With love and hope,
Shawn

“We make our plans, but God directs our steps.” - Proverbs 16:9

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

Calm Our Souls

Do you ever have days where your mind is so busy you can be sitting alone yet the room still seems noisy?

Me too.

Yesterday was one of those days. I knew I needed rest, for my mind, body and my soul. So after dinner when the rest of the family went outside, I chose to stay in, light a candle to pause, breathe and be still with God.

I use to believe that sleep was the only form of rest. Although I love sleep and know it is essential, I have learned there is another way to rest that helps quiet the noise and give me peace; prayer. Taking time while awake to press the pause button and spend time with God gives a rest for the mind, body and soul that’s unlike any other type of rest.

I won’t pretend it’s easy to be still, especially when my mind is so busy. Yet part of the practice of prayer is fighting through the noise to get to the other side where there is the calm and clarity reside. (And I never regret that time spent getting me to that other side.)

I share this with you today in case your mind is noisy too and you are needing rest. I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we choose to press the pause button in our day today to breathe and be with God, even if for a minute. May we quiet our minds and ask God to clear out the clutter of thoughts that aren’t serving us and leave us with the ones that will bring calm, clarity, perspective and peace.

I know it seems like there is not enough time in the day to do this. Yet what if we reframed that to say this is the most important thing we can do for ourselves, and those around us, today?

May we make and take the time to rest in prayer. So when we find ourselves sitting in a room alone, we no longer hear the noise of our thoughts, but the quietness and calm of our souls.

With love and hope,
Shawn

“My soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” - Psalm 62:5

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

What Is the Foundation of Our Lives?

We are doing a little work at our home and so a couple of walls are bare boned. I figured I’d take the opportunity write words on the boards as to what I want the foundation of my life, and our life as a family, to be. Rather than using my own words, I chose words from scripture as they have stood the test of time💝

I share this with you today because I know sometimes in life we can be brought back down to the foundation.

What if we viewed those times as an opportunity for us to choose what we will rebuild our life on?

I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

If you could write on the walls of your home today, what word(s) would you choose to be the foundation of your life and home?

Whether the walls of our home are bare boned or not, we get to choose today what we are building our life on.

May we ask ourselves what the current foundation is. And if you aren’t sure, I invite you to consider God’s word as the foundation of your hearts and your home. I know from experience, choosing God as the foundation of your life doesn’t mean life will be without trials. Yet what it does give is a solid foundation to stand on when those trials come💕🙏💕

With love and hope,
Shawn

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice

is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

- Matthew 7:24

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Do What Is In the Best Interest of All

Stephen and I took a ride this weekend🚴‍♂️🚴‍♀️ While on the trails we had to be sure to give a heads up that we were coming to those walking and we needed to go in a single file line to pass. As a someone who walks the trails regularly, I have learned from the bikers. Most communicate well that they are passing and respect that I have a place on the trail too as a walker. There is an unspoken honor system on the trails; seeing and honoring one another and being sure that our individual actions have the best interest of other’s at heart.

I share this with you today because what happens on the trails daily would benefit our current circumstances.

In these times, what if we adhered to a similar honor system that we do on the trails? What if instead of just looking out for ourselves, when we saw others along our path in life and had their best interest at heart too?

I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we open our eyes to see the people along our path today. May we be willing to humble ourselves and put our desires second to others needs. May our choices reflect that we aren’t just living for what benefits us, but instead for what is in the best interest for all.

With love and hope,
Shawn

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”
- Philippians 2:3-5

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

Pause and Ask God

Yesterday we went to a local reservoir. When we came to a fork in the road Matt asked, “which way, Mom?”

I told him which way and he continued on with confidence that I lead him in the right direction.

I share this moment with you because it spoke to my heart about who God is for us. Often, I can be busy going that I don’t even see the forks in the road or I forget to pause when there is one and ask God, “which way?” I know the answer isn’t always as clear as mine was to Matt yet pausing to ask God which way is something I realize I need to practice more.

If you too find yourself going along and not recognizing the forks in the road, or seeing them and not pausing to ask God like me, I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we move through our day today and open our eyes to see the forks in the road. May we take a moment at that intersection to pause and ask God, “which way?” Even if we don’t get an immediate knowing of the path, may we walk forward, even if it ends up being the wrong path, and continue to put this truth into practice trusting in time we will be able to hear God clearer as to the best path for us.

With love and hope,
Shawn

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” - Psalm 119:105

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

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

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

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

LET'S STAY CONNECTED