Ep 23 Divine Worth Podcast: Lessons of God’s Love from Sam

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Welcome to the divine worth podcast, where we are letting go of our self doubt anxiety, fear, and limiting beliefs so that we can step into the divine roles that God has for us. I am your host life coach, Karen Papin, and together we are embracing our divine worth.

So today’s episode has been really hard for me, and I found myself procrastinating when it came to it, even though it’s something that I really felt like. I should do this when I looked ahead to what day my solo episode would be coming out, I saw that it would be my younger brother, Sam’s birthday. And so I wanted to do something to honor him and remember him.

It’s hard to believe he would have been 37 years old. I still picture him as the 11 year old. He was when he passed away. I remember the smile on his face and the squeals of delight. I remember our dog cuddling with him [00:01:00] and I remember reading to him,

sam passed away when I was 15 years old. And so it’s been like 25 years now that he’s been gone and yet he was the type of person that you never forget. I gained so many lessons from having him in my life.

And I think about those lessons in relation to divine worth. And I realized how much having Sam in my life has been instrumental in helping me to see God’s love. And so today I am honoring my brother through sharing some of those lessons with you. So this episode is a little different.

However, it is an integral part of my story of where I am and of who God sees in me. And it’s also interesting because it shows that all the different experiences that we have really come [00:02:00] together to shape us into who we are becoming.

I hope that through This podcast, you know that you also have people in your life that are there to strengthen you, to lift you, to teach you lessons. And this is because God loves you and he has directly placed those people in your life. And I hope that as I’m sharing with you more about Sam, that you’ll have that opportunity to reflect on the lessons that your life has brought you.

The ways that you have been strengthened from the experiences that you’ve had, and also the people who have taught you lessons, those life changing lessons, and who have helped you in being able to see God’s love for you. In your life.

My brother Sam was born with the inability to see. [00:03:00] Through complications in a surgery that he had as a baby, he was also unable to walk or talk. And so his life growing up was different than what most people go through. And yet he was one of the most joyful people I have ever known. He knew how to enjoy life in spite of the limitations that he held.

He was not expected to live for very long. And the fact that I was able to have him in my life until he was 11 and a half was a huge blessing for me and one that I’m still realizing as his influence and the things I’ve learned from him continue to impact me. And so here are a few of those things that I’ve learned from Sam.

First, I learned to appreciate the simple joys of life.

Sam may have been unable to communicate in the ways that most [00:04:00] people are able to, but he still had his ways. His eyes would light up, he would squeal with delight, he would move his arms around, and also he would have thoughtful expressions on his face. And he would listen. And it was through these things that I could see how much he loved the simple joys that we can find in life.

The wind was a delight to him and no one loved the rain like he did. He loved cuddling with animals and our dog Andy would often be found curled up next to him with Sam’s hand upon him and music. Oh, Sam felt that music

through Sam. I realized that there are many beautiful things that can be. But when we stop to consider what is around us, we find a richer life. In time, I’ve come to not just appreciate the [00:05:00] simple joys of life,

but to realize that those are all examples of God’s love for us.

He has given us these things to enrich our lives. If we but open our eyes to see them.

In my life now, I love teaching these simple joys to my kids. I am often reminded of Sam when I feel the wind on my face.

When I’m outside with my kids and the wind is blowing, or there’s this gentle breeze, I point it out to them. I focus on the beauty of it, on the joy of just being able to experience. And when it rains, wow, my kids get so excited, and it’s so fun to see their excitement for the rain as they run out into it and they try to catch raindrops on their tongue, or they spin around and they dance in it.

My mom and I will often text each other in excitement when it [00:06:00] rains, appreciating the simple joys that it brings us.

Another thing that I learned from Sam is that we can find joy, even when things are difficult. As I’ve mentioned, Sam was unable physically to do things the way that most of us are able to do them, but that never kept him from experiencing joy. He experienced life more deeply than many of us. His appreciation for the simple beauties found in life helped him to be someone who found joy in spite of the difficulties.

and the challenges presented to him.

I also further learned this lesson after he passed away. Even in the midst of immense grief, I could find joy in the simple beauties of life because they reminded me of the joy Sam would find in them.

Even in difficult times, I can find tender [00:07:00] mercies that the Lord has given me. And I know that Sam played a huge role in helping me learn that.

I learned from him that friendship can extend beyond the bounds that the world may set.

Sam’s best friend was deaf, and yet together they found a way to love each other. They enjoyed being with each other, even though they could not communicate through words. They enjoyed flying kites together and playing blocks on Sam’s wheelchair tray.

I learned through this that we should not let our differences hold us back from loving each other,

even when we communicate in different ways.

I have since come across many people who think and believe differently from me, yet I have found that even with them, I could connect with them in some way and become friends.

We are different. [00:08:00] We are not meant to all be the same. We each have our unique strengths and our unique weaknesses, and as we turn to the Lord, we can find the beauty within them, both within ourselves and with those around us.

Another lesson that I’ve learned is that God is aware of us. There’s a hymn that we sing in church called There’s Sunshine in My Soul Today. Sam loved this hymn and would get excited every time we sang it. He would do his best to sing along with the hymns even though he could not form the words.

Yet it was especially apparent with this one that he loved it. And it wasn’t until my mom read a book about a family who had a child with similar to Sam’s condition that she realized why he loved the song so much. In the second verse, it says, There is music in my soul [00:09:00] today, a carol to my king. And Jesus listening can hear the songs I cannot sing.

Sam recognized that Jesus could hear his songs. Even though he could not form the words,

Jesus knew that he was singing and he heard Sam’s words. Sam knew that the Savior was aware of him.

So it is with us. Jesus can hear our songs. He can hear the prayers of our hearts. He is mindful of us, cheering us on and helping us along the way.

I also learned how much God is aware of us shortly before Sam passed away. I remember waking up in the middle of the night and having a strong impression to just go and check on Sam. I went to him and just stayed in the doorway [00:10:00] and was filled with an immense love for him.

I was filled with so much gratitude for having him in my life.

And before I left to go back to bed, I whispered to him that I loved him. I did not know at that time that I would not have him much longer in my life, but God knew.

And he allowed me to have a moment to recognize that love for my younger brother. Looking back, it’s clear to me that God is aware of me and that he loves me.

God knows you. He knows what you need. And if you follow his promptings,

you can recognize his love for you.

I also learned to turn to the Lord and that as I do so, he will give me strength and guidance.

I learned this one [00:11:00] actually through the example of my mom, as she took care of Sam, as well as the other five of us children that she raised. She often relied on the Lord to guide her in knowing how to raise us. And many times received spiritual promptings that guided her to know if Sam needed immediate attention.

I have seen how the Lord can be a partner in life because of the experiences that my parents have had. He is there leading us and guiding us. I’ve seen that through my parents as they took care of a special needs child. And now I see it as I raise my own kids. He is there.

The lessons that I learned from Sam continue to impact my life, and there are many more lessons from him. As I was writing this, [00:12:00] even more lessons were coming to my mind. And looking back on these lessons, I have become aware of how our influence continues, even after we are gone.

My experiences with Sam have affected not only my life, but many of those who might interact with because of the way that those experiences have shaped and influenced me. Because his influence has become a part of me

and I choose to allow his influence to continue to have a place in my life.

Sometimes we go through some really difficult and hard things in our lives because of my experience that I had with losing Sam and other experiences from my teenage years, I came to really love Doctrine and Covenants section 122 verse 7, which says, And if thou shouldst be cast [00:13:00] into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee, if thou be cast into the deep, if the billowing surge conspire against thee, if fierce winds become thine enemy, if the very heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way, and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

Now, that scripture sounds pretty intense when you read through it, and yet sometimes life feels like that. Like, there’s blackness all around, like there’s a billowing surge conspiring against thee, like the very jaws of hell are gaping, opening their mouth right after thee. Sometimes life does feel that way.

I [00:14:00] know that as we put our faith and trust in the Lord, that he helps us through those times and he teaches us through them as well.

I have seen how these experiences that we have in life teach us, shape us, and cause us to grow.

And we get to decide, is this something that we’re going to allow to consume us? Or is this something that we’re going to choose? To rise above, to learn from, to grow from. These experiences are not easy, not at all. But I have also seen the Lord’s strength and comfort in the midst of them.

In those times that I found myself crying so much that tears would no longer come and then getting upset at myself because I could not outwardly show through those tears what I was feeling on the inside, [00:15:00] God was there. He was holding me and helping me through it.

Was it an experience that I wanted to go through? No, I still miss my amazing younger brother.

I still love him. 

And now, as my family once again is facing the grief of losing another loved one in the next year or so,

I find myself once again remembering the ways that God supported me and strengthened me in such hard times.

These experiences and these lessons that I learned from Sam about God’s love have helped me to become the person who I am today.

And they will continue to guide me throughout my life. I’m thankful for the lessons that I have learned.

I’m thankful that because of the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life, I will see [00:16:00] Sam again. And I also know we can turn things around and be able to overcome and be strengthened and learn even in those hard times.

So, if you’re in the middle of a hard time, hang in there. There is light. God loves you. And He is there for you. Even years after he has passed away, Sam continues to inspire and lift others.

God had a plan all along for Sam, and even with him gone, God still has a plan for those who He has influenced. I am amazed by the fact that Sam can continue to impact the lives of others. And truly, we may never see. In our lifetime, the impact that we are having on others, but we do have the ability to choose to inspire, uplift, strengthen, and support others.

Even [00:17:00] now, the things that you choose to do today can have an impact even after you are gone. I know that you have a purpose. I know that God loves you and he sees the great work that you are doing on this earth. Even if you yourself do not have a clear vision of it.

I know that only you can make the impact on this world that you are meant to make.

Join me next time as we talk more about the impact and the purpose and the worth that you have on the Divine Worth Podcast. 

If you have found this podcast to be a light, please share it with others and leave a review. This helps others to be able to find the podcast as well. If you are struggling with feeling fearful, overwhelmed, or struggling to see God’s love for you, for a limited time, I am offering to [00:18:00] create a personalized meditation specific to you.

What you’re struggling with, And what you hope for. This meditation will give you strength as you learn to manage the thoughts in your mind in order to have more faith in God’s plan for you. To get your own personalized at https://karenpapincoaching.thrivecart.com/personalized-fear-to-faith-meditation/

You are of worth. You have a purpose. The Lord loves you and he believes in you, and only you can make the impact on this world that you are meant to make. Join me next time as we talk more about divine worth and potential.