Gym Life Lesson #4

Gym Life Lesson #4

There is Value in Stillness and Rest

Today I did a volleying activity with my younger students. One of the stations required one student to wait while the other student finished the activity.

When I first taught years ago I remember I wanted the kids to be as active as possible while in my class. I still do want the kids to be active for the most part yet I have grown since then and recognize now there is value in the students learning stillness.

When the students are still while the others are active, it grows their patience, delays their gratification, and gives them time to rest - all of which are valuable skills needed in life.

I share this with you today in case any of you, needed the reminder, as I did, that there is value in stillness and rest.

I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we recognize we don’t need to be on the go all the time but times of stillness and rest are essential. And in those moments of stillness and rest, may we pray that God grows in us what we need in our lives- like our patience, delayed gratification and/or whatever else we need.

With love and hope,

Shawn

“Be still and know that I am God…”

- Psalm 46:10

Your Greatest Contribution

I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May these wise words bring perspective and clarity to our work week ahead.

With love and hope,

Shawn

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

- 3 John 1:4

Pause and Give Thanks

No matter what our days may hold, may we remember to take moments to pause and give thanks for the gift of who is right there beside us.

With love and hope,

Shawn

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights..”

- James 1:17

Gym Life Lesson #3

Gym life lesson #3

Forgiveness is healing

In one of my lower elementary classes a boy accidentally bumped into another classmate. She was okay but I asked for him to make sure she was okay and to apologize for accidentally bumping into her.

Asking for forgiveness is awkward and hard sometimes so I gave him the words, “will you forgive me for accidentally bumping into you?” He looked her in the eyes and repeated the words.

The little girl stood before him and listened as he spoke and then said, “of course, I forgive you.”

I could see the boy was relieved to be forgiven and the girl appreciated the apology. They heaviness that was there before was lightened by this small interaction and they both ran back to participate in the activity. Their small but heartfelt interaction warmed my heart.

Sometimes people accidentally hurt others and sometimes it’s purposeful, either way forgiveness is an essential part of the healing process to restore the relationship.

I share this with you today, inspired by these two younger students. I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

If we have purposefully or accidentally hurt someone, I pray we can humble ourselves to ask for their forgiveness. And if someone asks us to forgive them, may we forgive them to help heal our own heart and to mend the relationship.

Yet please know if someone has repeatedly and purposefully hurt you, forgiving them will help cleanse your heart whether they ask for forgiveness or not. Also, forgiving someone who repeatedly and purposefully hurts you doesn’t mean you have to make yourself vulnerable to the same hurt again. Pray about if space is needed in that relationship to help the healing. If so, may God give you the wisdom and courage to take that necessary step.

With love and hope,

Shawn

“…forgive each other, just as God through Christ forgave you.” - Ephesians 4:32

See and Hear Others

With love and hope,

Shawn

Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. - Phillipians 2:4

Walk Beside One Another

Love isn’t about agreeing about everything but to walk beside one another in love not matter what the other thinks is best.

With love and hope,

Shawn

Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. - John 13:34

Every Day is a Gift

Happy Monday, friends! May we give thanks and make the best of this day we have been given

With love and hope,

Shawn

This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it. - Psalm 118:24

Gym Life Lessons #1 and #2

Gym life lessons #1 and #2

Persevere when challenged &

Celebrate one another’s successes

This week we had a fire drill during a class. I didn’t have enough time for the lesson I planned so I introduced knock out to the students so we could play for the few minutes left in class. For those of you who don’t know, knock out is a basketball shooting game where you attempt to knock out another player from the game by making a hoop before them.

As we began playing there was a student who had trouble getting the ball near the hoop. The student could have easily just put in no effort and thrown in the towel but instead the student persevered and kept at it. It was awesome to listen to the rest of the class cheer her on as well.

After a few rounds the student made a hoop and the class cheered!

It was a beautiful moment.

What made the moment even more wonderful was the person who was knocked out of the game because the hoop was made stepped aside and clapped for their classmate, celebrating her success with her.

I am sharing this with you today because we all meet challenging in life and we all know someone who is succeeding in an area of their life. I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we choose to persevere when we are challenged. It’s amazing what we can learn about ourselves in the process. And when we see someone else succeeding, rather than getting stuck in the comparison trap and feeling down because someone else is doing well, may we step aside and celebrate their success beside them. May we put these life lessons into practice so we too can experience joy in our hearts like these students did.

With love and hope,

Shawn

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope - Romans 5:3-4

How Can I Help?

Tonight when Stephen came home he asked how I was doing. I was transparent and shared I am overwhelmed today with things I need to get done.

His response was four simple words, “how can I help?”

These words softened my heart. The load I was carrying on my shoulders was lightened knowing I didn’t have to carry it all alone. To have him walk in from his busy day and offer to lend a hand was a gift I didn’t know I needed.

I am sharing this in case you have a loved one who is overwhelmed too. I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

If we have a loved one who is overwhelmed, may we offer these four simple words their way in hopes to help share the load they are carrying. And if we are the ones who are overwhelmed and someone asks us how they can help, may we not say we are fine or try to do it all alone. Instead may we share with them something they can do that would help us and lighten our load.

Four simple words can make all the difference.

May we speak them, and/or receive them, with love and gratitude.

With love and hope,

Shawn

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2

Be Rich In Wisdom and Love

Has anyone ever tried to give their children advice and they completely resist it?

Me too. 

Recently when this happened rather than pressing my point I let it go, walked away and…

paused, breathed, and prayed.

This analogy came to mind that I went back and shared with my child. I am sharing it with you today in case it may be a bridge in a conversation between you and your kids too.

I asked my child if I was to offer them a handful of money would they take it?

Naturally they said yes.

Why?

Money makes you richer.

I then shared that when I am offering advice, it is something to make them wealthier too, not financially though, but richer in wisdom. They have a choice to take the advice or leave it. I can’t control what they choose. Yet to leave behind sound advice is declining something that will make them richer within.  And although that may not be the riches they seek or want, being rich in wisdom and love is what we all really need in life.

Whether our children receive our advice, or not, may we continue to plant seeds of wisdom into their hearts and minds and trust that God will help those seeds grow within them in time.

Also, may we recognize that who our children are to us if often who we are to God. May we too be willing to humble ourselves to receive God’s wisdom. His truth and love are the true riches we need in our life.

With love and hope,

Shawn

God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

- Psalm 145:8

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