Yesterday when I picked Matt up from camp it was pouring. As we drove away I saw a few younger kids puddle jumping and laughing.
The beauty of innocence.
Those kids didn’t think about the rain as a hindrance, but only how they could make good of it.
The innocence of life has left the building a long time ago for many of us but there is something we can learn from those kids.
Trials, like the rain, will be a part of our lives.
Maybe, we, like the kids, need to focus on how we can harness those trials for good, in time, whatever the they may be.
This isn’t to negate the trial and the emotions that come with it but a perspective that can help us get through it. I remember in 2009, at the depths of depression, I had this thought, “once I get through this I wonder if what I’ve learned can help someone else.”
This thought gave me hope, and I’m sharing it in case it brings hope to you too.
I’m not sure what’s on your heart today, or if the weight of what others are going through is weighing on you, as it is me. If so, I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we remember that in this life there will be trials. When they come for us, or others, let’s pray for a renewed view so that instead of the trials weighing us down, they fuel us with purpose to move into action. And my prayer is that when we are able to do this, in time, that we experience an unexpected joy within, like the joy I saw in the kids playing in the rain yesterday.
With love and hope,
Shawn
“The Father of compassion and the God of all comforts, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Happy 21 Years to us!
21 years married to my favorite guy + forever to go. I couldn’t be more grateful for who he is and this life and family we have together🎉🙏💝
Ever have a cloudy mind?
Ever have a cloudy mind? I do. If you do as well, I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
Prayer isn’t something I’ve always believed in or even always remember to do. But when I choose to be still to be with God, it’s amazing how He can help clear away the cloudy mind and help me gain perspective and clarity. And I wholeheartedly believe, prayer can do the same for you.
With love and hope,
Shawn
PS Click on video to watch it.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. -Colossians 3:2 moving forwards
I am running another marathon to Brave Like Gabe!
Hi friends,
Today, on Gabe Grunewald’s birthday, we want to honor and celebrate her remarkable life and continue the powerful legacy she left through @bravelikegabe.
I’m both excited and nervous to share that I’ve been invited to run a second marathon - the Berlin Marathon on September 21 - representing Team Brave Like Gabe alongside Jen and Kylee, two of my teammates from the NYC Marathon.
This mission is deeply personal to me. My hope and prayer is that it helps raise awareness and funds for our ACC community. I’m thrilled to share that Brave Like Gabe will donate 50% of everything we raise directly to ACC research.
Jen, Kylee, our ACC family, and I would be incredibly grateful for your support as we take on this journey. Here’s how you can help:
* Leave a comment or share this post in honor of Gabe’s birthday
* Spread the word to help amplify her message of running on hope and funding rare cancer research by liking, commenting on and/or sharing our posts moving forwards
* Consider supporting our fundraiser (link in bio)
*pray for our training
Thank you in advance for however you are able to support us on this journey.💙🙏🏃🏻♀️
With gratitude and hope,
Shawn
Listen to this Wisdom
This weekend I ran into this wonderful man, Officer Bianchi. I first met him when I was in elementary school and he was a police Officer who came into our schools to run the D.A.R.E. program. Throughout the years he’s also worked with our Volunteer Fire Department and with our Parks and Rec Department. Officer Bianchi has spent his life serving our community in one way or another for fifty-two years…so far.
From when I was a kid, until now, I have always loved running into Officer Bianchi. It’s usually while he’s serving our community, as he was this weekend raising funds for our local food pantry.
While we were talking, I asked what he was up to and he shared that “every day he looks to see how he can meets someone else’s need.” He said that’s what life is all about, helping others.
I continue to be inspired by his selfless attitude and dedication to serve our community. I am sharing this with you today to invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we listen to the wisdom Officer Bianchi shared, that a life lived beyond ourselves is a rich life. Let’s follow his example and seek ways each day we can make someone else’s day better. The acts of love don’t need to be big, but whatever their size, may they bless someone else, and help us lead a fulfilled life, as Officer Bianchi does.
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. - Philippians 2:3-4
"What does love require of me?"
Today I was sitting by the pool. After last night, life on the outside seems the same yet under the surface it feels different.
Can you relate?
As I was reflecting on why things feel different, it came down to the idea that there is a new unknown ahead of us.
The unknown has been and will always be a part of our lives. So what can we do when we are experiencing an unknown?
I don’t have answers.
But I do have a question that I ask myself to help me stay anchored when the world feels untethered.
“What does love require of me?”*
I share this with you today in case you too feel unsettled within and want to anchor yourself rather than allow the unknown to rule your heart and mind.
I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we recognize we cannot control what happens outside of us but we can control what happens within us. Let’s take a moment to ask this transformative question, “what does love require of me?” so that we remember that no matter our circumstances, we can still be a vessel of love. May we be prayerful of how we can live out love in small or large ways each day so that love rules our hearts and minds and not the unknown. And when we choose love, it will not only transform our hearts and minds but when more and more of us choose this path, it will transform homes, communities, and beyond.
With love and hope,
Shawn
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. - 1 John 4:16
There will ALWAYS Be Obstacles
This morning I got all geared up to hit the trails. When I arrived at the trail, two trees were down across the trail.
I had to do a long run and as someone who doesn’t like running, I could have easily looked at this as “a sign” to go back home, but I didn’t. Instead I saw the trees and laughed. What I have learned in life is there is will be obstacles between us and our goals. And rather than seeing the obstacle and giving up, it’s so important we prayerfully look and seek the way around or through it. And when we find a way, let’s take it instead of giving into the temptation of giving up all together.
I share this with you today because I know you too meet obstacles along the way to your goals. I invite you to join me today to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we not allow our mind to talk us out of what we need to do when the obstacles present themselves. Instead, may we pray, and invite God in, to help us find a way through so that we can accomplish what we know we need to.
With love and hope,
Shawn
Prayer for those missing their loved ones
This past month while I’ve been walking beside Gavin through the end of his senior year, there have been a few families on my heart.
Sadly over the past few years we have lost a few people we know to cancer. And this week their kids will graduate. I wanted to take a moment to shine a light on these families so that we take time to pray for the kids, the siblings, and the spouses and what they are internally navigating not only on their gradation day, but every day, and with each special event, where the presence of their loved one is missed.
So if you would take a moment to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
Let’s pray for the families however we feel lead. And if there is more for us to do beyond prayer, may we do it to shine God’s light and love their way. And may we also remember, sometimes saying and doing nothing is a way to express God’s love towards someone too. May we be prayerful in our interactions with each person, honoring them for who they are and what their needs are in moments like this.
With love and hope,
Shawn
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. - Romans 12:15
Thermostat vs Thermometer
This past month has been a wild ride. It’s been exciting and also emotional as life is changing with Kate and Gavin heading off to college in the fall. Yet life is full of ups and downs. If we simply read the news each day and we see this. So how can we handle the changes and ups and downs in life without feeling like we are on an emotional roller coaster?
Author Tim Elmore gives powerful insight into this by discussing the difference between a thermostat and a thermometer.
As you know, a thermostat is the device on the wall in our homes that we set the temperature on. The temperature is set and no matter what the outside temperature is, it doesn’t impact or change the temperature on the thermostat.
This is unlike a thermometer which doesn’t have an inner temperature established. Instead, the temperature wavers based on the environment it is in. Do we want our inner world’s “temperature” to be determined by our outer circumstances - or - do we want to establish our internal temperature so that that we live with greater peace even when our circumstances waver? I am guessing you, like me, seek to live like that latter. But how? By setting our inner temperature by praying and meditating on God’s Word throughout the day. When we do this, it doesn’t mean we won’t experience the ups and downs of life, but our inner world will be more steady like the thermostat. I know from experience, the more rooted I am in God, the more calm I am within. The less rooted in God I am, the more I am like a thermometer.
I share this with you today in case what is happening in your world, or the world, has your inner temperature rising and falling, like I do at times. I invite you to join me to...
pause. breathe. pray.
May we listen to this wisdom from Tim Elmore and consider not being a thermometer, but instead be a thermostat, setting our inner temperature in alignment with God, above all else. And by doing this, with God’s Word as the meditation of our hearts and minds, we can have a renewed perspective and great peace within, no matter our external circumstances.
With love and hope,
Shawn
Happy 18th Birthday, Gavin!
🎉Happy 18th Birthday to Gavin🎉
This weekend we celebrated Gavin’s birthday! I am forever grateful for who Gavin is and what he brings to our lives; his genuine heart, care for others, loyalty, quick wit, sense of humor, patience and so much more! Here’s to another awesome trip around the sun🥳🙏💙
For Gav, and others who are turning the page to this new chapter of adulthood, I just wanted to share a few encouraging words that, when practiced, I have no doubt will benefit your current and future self🙏
Be still and get to know God.
Be quick to listen and slow to speak.
Incline your ear to wisdom and your heart to understanding.
Use your words to speak the truth in love and to build others up.
Know you were made on purpose with purpose.
Live out love towards yourself and others each day.
Have a gentle and humble heart.
Know not everyday will be good but there is something to be grateful for every day.
Allow the trials to refine you not define you.
You will be tempted to do things that don’t serve your future self, seek and take the way out.
Use the innate gifts and skills you’ve been given.
Commit your work to God and trust your plans will be established.
Make your plans and let God direct your steps.
Be generous with your time, energy and resources.
Be strong and courageous, trusting that God is with you wherever you.
Forgive yourself, and others.
Pause. breathe. pray.
Always remember that God is for you, as am I and so many others.
With love and hope,
Shawn
Scripture references ⬇️
#pausebreathepray #liveoutlove #livefromtheinsideout
#psalm4610 #1john48 #matthew633 #james119 #proverbs22 #ephesians415 #ephesians429 #ephesians210 #proverbs163 #1Corinthians1013 #1corinthians1348 #1timothy414 #proverbs1125 #matthew1129 #joshua19
#romans831