Be More Like an Elastic Band...

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With all three kids back in school I expected to roll into a new routine. Yet I forgot the ever changing schedules that happen on a day to day basis. For example this one doesn’t have practice, that one has a half day, etc.

I have learned over time that I am a pattern person and love routines. When they get shifted I can get thrown off. Today I was feeling thrown off as our schedule was shifted this afternoon.

I repeated these words to myself.

There is probably a better saying yet I said these words to one of my children once reflecting to them they needed to be more flexible or they’d break.

Yet they aren’t the only ones who need to practice this.

I do too.

I share this with you today in case you can relate. I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we make our plans but let God direct our steps. May we be willing to bend so we don’t break so we can have more calm within today and be more present with who we are with.

With love and hope,

Shawn

We make our plans but the Lord directs our steps -Proverbs 16:9

Love Your Neighbor As Yourself

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Who is our neighbor?

Any other human being.

I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

As we go through our day, may we choose to live out love towards our neighbors, through our words and actions.

With love and hope,

Shawn

Build Each Other Up

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The sun has been shining here in Connecticut and I was able to get outside to stain a table a friend had gifted me. Matt came over and asked if he could lend a hand. I was initially reluctant, thinking of how he could make a mistake. Yet as I paused, breathed and prayed, those thoughts were soon followed by how this would be a fun project to do together, and a chance to say for me to say to him, "I believe in you." So I had him lend a hand. Were there some drips? Absolutely, but overall it was a success!

I share this with you this week as there may be something that comes your way this week where you too know it would be easier and less messy to do the work on your own. Yet, maybe it would be beneficial for someone else if you let them step in and lend hand. I invite you to join me to...

Pause. Breathe. Pray.

May we think of how God believes in our abilities and gives us opportunities to grow them. May we look at one another the same way, seeking to help build each other up. May we know there is a time for us to grow our skills, but also times when we need to step aside to help others grow theirs. As challenging as it may be to not do it on our own, or our way, may we step aside and give someone else an opportunity to grow and refine their skills. I am sure they will appreciate it as Matt did.

If you put this into practice this week send me a note as I'd love to hear about your story!

With love and hope,

Shawn

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up. - ! Thessalonians 5:11

Together We Can See It Through

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Stephen and I had a coffee date this morning and this was hanging on the wall.

Reading these words made me pause. They are words I needed to hear and I know they are words many of you need to hear as well.

I invite you to join me today to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May these words remind us that if we are going through this season or a struggle alone, that isn’t what we were made to do. It’s so important we let God and the people He puts around us in to help us through.

And together we can see it through.

With love and hope,

Shawn

For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. - Joshua 1:9

James 1:19

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Whoever we are with today, may we make it a point to be quick to listen and slow to speak. May we choose to...

pause. breathe. pray.

And listen to their heart to gain understanding before responding.

With love and hope,

Shawn

God Loves You As You Are, Not for What You Accomplish

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Do any of you struggle with feeling unproductive and unaccomplished at the end of the day?

Me too.

I know I am adjusting to a new schedule this week yet I have been beating myself up about my lack of productivity.

I have been praying about it and this morning after every task I finished I felt like God say to my heart, “see you accomplished that.”

By the time it was 8:30 am I realized I had accomplished a lot of mundane things, like making the bed, brushing my teeth, making meals, tidying up, driving my people places, etc.

I share this with you today in case you have lost sight, like I did, of how many little things we do accomplish in our day. They may not be big, fancy, social media worthy things, but they matter and make our world, and our family’s world better.

So if you have been hard on yourself like I have been, I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we gain perspective on how the little things do matter. May our worth not lie in the big things we expect of ourselves, or in what others expect of us, but in the truth that God loves us as we are, not for what we accomplish.

With love and hope,

Shawn

We love because he first loved us.

- 1 John 4:19

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day

“May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.” - Irish blessing

With love and hope,

Shawn and Georgia

For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. - Isaiah 41:13

Sifting through Emotions to Gain Perspective

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Today is the first day back to school for this guy in a year.

Lots of emotions.

Matt is full of joy and excitement while mine are more bittersweet, knowing this is great for him yet sad because I’ll miss having this fun guy around.

On the outside he sees my smile, joy and excitement for him, while on the inside the reality is I am sifting through my emotions.

I share this with you today in case you too are sifting through emotions in some way. I invite you to join me to...

Pause. Breathe. Pray.

May we give ourselves permission to feel the emotions. May we also turn to God and allow His truth to lead us as we sift. When we are able to let God’s truth lead us it can help us not get stuck under the weight of our emotions. My prayer is that with God we will gain the perspective we need for whatever it is we are working through - which for me will require me to not impose my feelings onto my child and instead greet him with a joyful heart ready to hear about his experience today.

With love and hope,

Shawn

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God, and my hope is in you all day long. - Psalm 25:5

Grateful Moments

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I am grateful for the moments that slow me down, inside and out

With gratitude,

Shawn

“Give thanks to God for He is good.” - Psalm 136:1

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