a day of rest , Before HE MAKETH you lie down

"A bridge that never stops bearing weight eventually develops stress fractures."

When you operate with a level of discipline that feels like a miracle, you are doing powerhouse work. By forging your mental grit and physical sweat into one, you haven't just recovered—you’ve evolved. Your village sees it. They rely on it.

But hear me as someone who has spent 40 years coaching every season of life: The man your followers rely on needs to be a man who lasts.

To keep pouring your heart into those poems and that gritty honesty, you have to protect your own engine. At The Shepherd’s Spoonful, we teach that transformation begins with the essentials. Right now, strategic rest is your most critical essential.

I’ve watched people from age 3 to 90 navigate their "quicksand." The ones who build a triathlon-like stroke—strong, rhythmic, and sustainable—are the ones who know when to pause. I know this first-hand because I, too, have ignored those "little reminders" until the Divine Shepherd made me listen.

Don't wait for the "He Maketh Me Lie Down" moment (Psalm 23:2). In the First Aid for the Soul, rest is the splint that prevents a fracture from becoming a break.

Make recovery a non-negotiable part of your training. You’ve already proven you can rise from the ashes. Now, let’s ensure your wings have the strength for the long flight ahead. 

Your village is watching, and we need you at your best.

** any letter can be responded to anonymously, all emails stop with Secretaries of Hope are listening, so please don’t hesitate.  ~AF