Shannon k hinson

Labels? No thanks!

March 30, 20227 Comments

Using labels for medical purposes is inevitable. I see the need to use them, however I also see the negative impact once labels are given. A person should never be defined by his or her impairment or disease.

I personally have been labeled deaf and legally blind. It is what it is, but I don’t own it, My point is, yes I do have these limitations but I don’t let them define who I am. There is such a range of functioning with any label. As a legally blind person the label makes it sound like I see nothing. That’s so wrong. Sure I don’t see normally, as a matter of fact at my last eye appointment almost five years ago my vision was 20/400. So, do you think I use a white cane and seeing eye dog? I actually don’t. My visual impairment is due to my optic nerves being abnormally small. All the stimuli doesn’t get through my smaller nerves to tell my brain what I’m looking at. Is it blurry? Thankfully no, it’s just not big enough to know what it is. Size, shape, color and lighting help me figure things out. So I see things as they get closer.

Hearing loss has such a wide spectrum of functioning as well. Some people can hear nothing, some can hear a little with hearing aids. I got an Advanced Bionics cochlear implant in 2008. This technology helps me to hear environmental noises, some speech, nature sounds and music. I can’t understand it all but it’s better than nothing.

Some people may not have issues with labels. Labels might create comfort zones where they have excuses not to try anything out of the ordinary. On the contrary I am the opposite. Labels make me feel like I’m in a box and am limited by the expectations. I’ve alway liked to defy the odds and try anyway. Life is too short to sit on the sidelines and let everything go on around you.

Labels denote what one can’t do, what’s broken or wrong with them. So instead of saying I’m deaf and legally blind I prefer to say I can hear some and see some too. Only God and I know how much.

Recently I was trying to find out about services for an autistic young teenager. I was asked if he was high functioning or low functioning. I would rather say, “ What are his abilities and social skills?” to find the right placement where he would be most comfortable . I am mindful to keep it positive so people have a feeling of acceptance. So instead of labels that depict what’s wrong or can’t be done, let’s focus on the positives of what can be done. Sometimes a positive change of perspective is very helpful.

Check out my autobiography “Rooted by the Water” available online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books a Million, Target, Walmart and Park Road Books. My story of learning to live triumphantly despite disabilities, through Gods strength and lessons He has taught me along the way. Be inspired!

Www.shannonkenleyhinson.com

Finding beauty in simplicity

March 22, 2022Leave a Comment

Our present society and culture have become so complex, it seems people miss the true beauty of living in the moment. Everything has become so fast paced and hectic. Let me challenge you to slow down, take a deep breath and consider what’s really important.

Years ago before texting existed, we used to pass little notes in class. Sometimes we would add KISS for “keep it simple sweetie”. Those simple days are long gone. Life has been replaced by complexity and greed on every side. Technology, constant bombardment with digital images, crime and violence, me-ism, political correctness and the list goes on and on. It’s truly sad the state our world is in.

As a hearing and visually impaired woman I can honestly say I’m thankful I miss some of the distractions. I’m not as tempted for the constant need of buying more simply because I don’t know what’s out there. I don’t watch tv so I’m not constantly bombarded by new products and fashion. Im drawn to simpler things, truly finding joy and beauty in simplicity. I know that’s one of the positives of living with my hearing and visual impairments.

People say they’re busy. You are as busy as you want to be. It’s ok to say no and prioritize things in your life. Life is not about you or me for that matter. It’s learning to empty ourselves of all the crud and let God fill us and use us for His glory!

Can you imagine a world where people care more about others than themselves? Imagine a world where everyone truly matters, because in all honesty, they do! Imagine a world where people put faith in God over fear. You don’t have to be afraid of Covid or people with or without masks, vaccinated or not. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us, “God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love and self discipline.”
James 1:22 tells us to be doers of the Word. Don’t just read the Word or hear the Word…. DO WHAT IT SAYS!

Let’s get back to simplicity. Smile, encourage and love each other. Embrace God! God created us because He wants to have a relationship with us. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again on the third day. He has victory over everything!

Let’s get back to basics. Embrace Jesus and find joy in walking with Him. Enjoy His creation and the people you encounter daily. Let’s change the world one simple kind moment at a time.

Www.shannonkenleyhinson.com

Gems Across the Bridge

March 10, 2022Leave a Comment

Photo credit Fine Art America. “Golden Gate Bridge Worker” found on Pinterest.

Networking can be a bridge to other connections, new ideas and even friendship. Crossing the ”bridge” of networking can take you in so many different directions. While the technology available is stunning, for people like me who are deaf and legally blind, it’s time consuming and down right tedious.

Crossing the bridge of networking is rewarding even if it takes me much longer. Over the years I’ve done networking for multiple reasons. Over 20; years ago I made connections on a Tae Bo (kickboxing) exercise message board and I am still in contact with some of these people. We have shared many laughs and tears over the years, encouraging one another to stay healthy. In 2006 I began networking to find others who have Advanced Bionic cochlear implants like me. I’ve made amazing connections with people and we share encouragement, tips and strategies of living with this technology.

This past year I have been networking for an entirely different reason. Last May (2021) I released my autobiography “Rooted by the Water”. The bridge of networking took on a whole different meaning. I’ve made connections with other authors and many are self published through Amazon. I published through Westbow Press. There has been and continues to be so much to learn. I thought publishing my book would be the hardest part, but little did I know, it was only the beginning. Being an unknown deaf/ legally blind author makes marketing incredibly frustrating. Networking with other authors gives me tips and ideas to approach and use different tools and social medias. This can be so time consuming and sometimes I’ve got to put it aside or else burnout.

Last week I found a GEM! This bridge of networking led to a new new friendship. What makes it so amazing is that she is a deaf/ legally blind author like me. While our diagnosis are different, she has a cochlear implant and is also legally blind. We plan to brainstorm ideas to share and encourage each other. I’m beyond excited.

Years ago the local telephone company had a advertising jingle that sang, “ Reach out…reach out and touch someone. Reach out, call up and just say Hi”. Crossing the bridge of networking is doing just that, reaching out to others. Let me encourage you today to reach out and connect with people. Obstacles can abound but find ways around them. Making new connections and potentially new friends is so worth the effort.

Www.shannonkenleyhinson.com

First Bloom

March 3, 2022Leave a Comment

For the past month I have gone out to observe the tulip tree we planted last year in honor of my Dad. Last year on March 12, Dad went home to be with Jesus. We planted a beautiful little tulip tree in his honor in hopes that it would flourish and bloom every Spring. I have faithfully been watching over our tulip tree and protecting it from freezing temperatures by covering it at night when the temperature drops to 32 or below. I have been rewarded by the little buds that I see on several branches. While looking again this morning, I saw the buds were getting bigger and showed more color. This afternoon I saw the first bloom. This made me so happy.

There is something refreshing about seeing things come to life each Spring. Technically we are 17 days away before the first day of Spring but I’m seeing evidence of life and that brings such happiness and hope.

Hope is a beautiful thing. Hope brings joy and anticipation of better things ahead. Out of curiosity I just asked my iPad the exact definition of hope. When the wrong definition came up, I thought “ What in the world”! I looked up and noticed it had misunderstood me. I started cracking up when I saw the word poop. I kid you not! You can’t make these things up! The iPad technology had misunderstood me by a long shot. Trying again, I made sure to pronounce each letter. This time the correct definition came up. Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. (That’s more like it).

Indeed it is hope that I feel when seeing flowers bloom and signs of Spring. I experience the anticipation of new life emerging after a cold dark winter. The longer and warmer days are a plus as well.

We have a few weeks left of winter. Let me challenge you to begin to look with anticipation for signs of new life emerging all around.

Www.shannonkenleyhinson.com

He knows

February 26, 2022Leave a Comment

I don’t know about you, but the fact that “God knows ” brings so much comfort and reassurance to my heart in uncertain times. I saw this picture today on social media and had to take a screen shot because it was so SPOT ON….TRUE! There are times when you begin praying, just like this picture, “Dear God……then all the jumbled up frustrations come out and you end with ….amen”. We all have these moments, time and time again. We can rest assured that God knows. There is absolutely nothing that takes him by surprise. El Roi is one of the names of God. It means the God who sees. He sees it all. He knows what I’m going to say before a word is even on my tongue. He knows it fully. (Psalms 139:4) That’s so hard to understand. I’m so thankful that I’m not required to understand. He ask me to trust him fully.

Lately I’ve had some of those days when I pray “Lord help me please. I’m so frustrated. I can only laugh at these things so many times before I’ve had enough”. Today was one of those days. I attended a bridal shower for a sweet beautiful girl we watched grow up. I wanted to go to honor her even though I was out of my comfort zone It’s kind of funny the things I do to ge through these awkward situations due to hearing and visual issues. As I sat there while many others talked a song began to flow through my mind. “Jesus is in this room.. here right now, here right now…. making this place I stand…. holy ground, holy ground”. I kid you not! This song was going through my mind and I just had to chuckle a bit. I smiled, I endured then I sent my husband Ron a text saying “SOS. I’m ready to go. Can you come get me?” 😂 Sure enough he did. He stopped what he was doing and drove thirty minute to pick me up. When I got in the car I said, “I owe you” , but all he wanted was a kiss.

I know everyone deals with life frustrations and uncertainties. There is a war being fought on the other side of the world right now. Innocent people are caught in the middle. God protect them and bring peace.

At the end of the day we can rest in the knowledge that He knows. He sees. He is in control. Tomorrow will be a new day. Another opportunity to surrender to God and let him fight our battles.

Www.shannonkenleyhinson.com

To Abide

February 23, 2022Leave a Comment

This week I have been focusing on John 15. I especially love the English Standard Version of this chapter. Jesus tells us to abide in him. He uses the example of how a branch must abide in the vine to bear fruit. We also must abide in Jesus and he in us, so we can bear fruit for his glory.

So what does it mean to abide? The Webster’s Dictionary defines abide as remain, last, reside or endure. Jesus tells us to abide in him, meaning to remain in him. Just like a branch can not bear fruit without remaining in the vine, we also can’t bear fruit unless we remain in Christ.

Every single day we are faced with decisions in how we are going to deal with life. We can wake up and choose Jesus. Choose to be obedient to all he desires for us. Some days are more of a struggle with our fleshly desires. We get frustrated with situations, feelings, opinions, disappointments and the list goes on. So what do we do? Do we choose to abide in Christ or do we choose our own way? I’ve learned from experience that when I choose my own way my joy and peace are lacking.

As I prayed this morning I found myself asking the Holy Spirit to check my heart. God knows what I’m going to say before it comes out of my mouth. Sometimes I feel a check in my heart telling me “Don’t say that” or “Don’t do that”. It’s wise to choose obedience. I’m not saying it’s easy! God knows the struggle is real but he doesn’t leave us on our own to deal with things. God has given us the Holy Spirit and Im so thankful. I can’t make it through a day without leaning on the Lord.

Apart from abiding in Christ, we can’t bear fruit. Galatians 5 tells us that the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. As we abide in Christ these fruits will be evident in our lives.

Living with hearing and visual issues, I need patience, peace, joy and self control not to react in a sassy manner. Oh I can be sassy! I have found that when I choose to abide; choose prayer, times of worship and reading scriptures, when I choose obedience to what God desires, I am more likely to respond to life struggles in a more God honoring way. As we continue in 2022 my prayer is that we will abide in Christ……remain in him… flourish in our spiritual growth..
bloom and bear much fruit for the glory of God.

Www.shannonkenleyhinson.com

Be like a Daffodil

February 9, 20222 Comments

A few weeks ago I noticed my daffodils were coming up. What was surprising to me was the snow on the ground and seeing those hardy tender green stems boldly breaking through the cold icy earth once more. I always feel a sense of hope and wonder when I see these plants emerge each year towards the end of winter. It tells me that Spring is right around the corner, when things come back to life again.

Resilience comes to mind as I think about the symbolism. Resilience is the ability to bounce back after difficulties. It’s the toughness to endure anyway despite the circumstances.

Daffodils are a perfect picture of resilience. They spring up each year at the end of winter, after they have had a dormant season. During that dormant season they don’t seem to be alive but they are still alive in the dark cold soil, out of sight just waiting for the proper time to rise up once more and bloom. The blooming season isn’t very long but they are gloriously beautiful in full bloom. The flowers fade but the long leaves remain green for months withstanding the hot sun, then once again they go through the dormant stage until it’s time to rise up again to bloom.

We can live our lives like that. Life is tough with challenges coming from every side but we can bloom where we’re planted. After hard life seasons we can bounce back stronger and ready to bloom and flourish once more.

I don’t know about you but I’m inspired to “ Be resilient like a daffodil”. Rise up… Bloom…Spread Joy everywhere we go.

Www.shannonkenleyhinson.com

January 28, 2022Leave a Comment

bible.com/bible/59/psa.34.19.ESV

Friday encouragement 🙏

Warrior Girl

January 24, 20222 Comments

I don’t know about you butt the day to day grind seems so much like a battlefield some days. Okay, honesty it’s most days. There are some battles not many know of. The battle to see. With optic nerves that are just too small, Emailing, texting, messaging are a huge pain in the rear. (Sorry! Just being honest. I can be transparent to a fault.) There is the battle of dealing with technology. I have a love/ hate relationship with technology. I love how I can zoom large to see things on my iPad. But when you type on a touchscreen the keyboard is normal size, so imagine all the typos that end up in everything from a short text to an e mail. They all have to be zoomed in to edit and fix typos. It can be tedious but God has given me a resolve to push through. There is the battle to attempt comprehending speech with my cochlear implant. It depends on so much; the processor itself, background noise, rate of speech. etc. There is more but that’s enough of my personal battles.

Then there are the typical battles. Battles of controlling thoughts. The Bible tells us to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5. Let me tell you, as a deep thinker, that’s capturing a whole lot of thoughts. Lord help me! That leads me to the next battlefield: the battle of dealing with people. Oh my goodness! I’m beginning to wonder how many people in the world have integrity to do the right thing. Two nights ago there was a hit and run, taking down our privacy bushes and part of our fence. No police report and our homeowners insurance says we will have to pay a $2100 deductible BEFORE they will pay anything. Seriously?

To sum it up, there’s the battle to walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh. There are the many prayers that go up daily asking, “Lord how do I deal with this? I can’t do anything about this situation and the way I’m feeling and wanting to respond would not please you. Help me choose your way, think your way, be kind and love in your way. Help me to die to the flesh daily and live according to the Spirit.” I can’t but God can enable me. I’m so thankful!

Recently I read a devotion and it mentioned the best battle stance is on your knees! Wow! That is so true and powerful! When we pray, things happen in the spiritual realm. I might not be able to do anything about it but GOD CAN! My God can move mountains and obstacles out of the way! He can bring clarity to a perplexing situation. God did that for me recently and I’m forever grateful. We must PRAY! We must FOCUS ON JESUS! So many circumstances I just don’t understand but my God is sovereign! He is in complete control of it all. I’m a bit radical. I’ve been known to put on one of my sons jackets and pray “ Lord wrap your arms around him. let him feel your love for him.” Several years ago several of his friends had left things in our bonus room. I put on one guys shoes, one guys hat and held out another’s shirt and I prayed for them. I kid you not. There is power in prayer! There is power in the name of Jesus!

Last year Ron and I cut our crepe myrtle trees way back. We had a trailer full of branches to carry to a landfill. I went along with my husband to dump the tree branches. There were huge piles of rocks and other piles of wood and other things. I was shocked at the size of the wood pile. As I helped him toss the branches there were some that were long like a spear. Being me, I thought why not get some pent up frustration out. Besides dealing with LIFE, my dad was under going cancer treatment and my brother was recovering from a bone marrow transplant, not to mention my own frustrations. So being me and living in the moment, I threw those spear like branches as hard and far as I could. Turning to Ron I said, “Warrior Girl”. He started laughing. It was funny and I laughed as well.

Life is hard but Jesus has already won the battle. Keep looking up! Battle on! What we do for the Lord is not in vain. Shake the frustration off, pray and keep moving forward. God’s got this… whatever your THIS is!

If you’d like to see more of my story, check out my autobiography “Rooted by the Water” available on many online retailers including, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books a Million, Target and Walmart.
Www.shannonkenleyhinson.com

Piece by piece, moment by moment

January 14, 20222 Comments

Good morning! I just realized we are two weeks into the new year 2022. This year is definitely not unfolding the way I anticipated. My Christmas tree is still up. It’s never been up this late but Ron and I have never been sick at the same time after Christmas either. Thankfully the virus has come and gone and we are starting to live normally again.

During this past week I have started a 21 days of prayer and fasting. I do this every January. It’s a way of dedicating my year to the Lord. This year I was trying to figure out what to give up. I already spend time reading my Bible and praying daily but I want to go deeper, to surrender further to God’s Will. I want to discover what it means to “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you” Matthew 6:33. As I thought more and more of how I spend my time, I realized I needed to fast social media. Being hearing and visually impaired that’s the way I stay connected to people since I don’t drive or talk on the phone. Instead of connecting with people, I would have way more time to connect to God and truly seek Him first.

The first day I started fasting social media, I got an e mail from a lady telling me my book video trailer was finished and I could post it on my platforms. I thanked her and told her about my Fast and I would post it the first of February. I’m not quite sure how to share it on my blog but I’m going to try. ( If anyone would like to share this, feel free to do so.) it looks like I can only put the link to the video .

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zUI5mazO7GXQRx9krqkgLFka7djm7vWA/view?usp=sharing

There is a little back story to this book video trailer. Around Thanksgiving I got an interesting e mail from a lady named Angel. A literary agent had shared with her about my book and she suggested doing a book video trailer to reach more people. My husband Ron and I weren’t sure what to think, but sometimes you have to take a leap of faith. We paid the very reasonable cost and then …silence! I didn’t hear anything from her and we honestly thought we were scammed. As it turned out she was having e mail issues. Once that was resolved she sent me the first draft of the video. I was truly blown away. The man who created the video lives in the Philippines. This man and his family are victims of the recent typhoon. While he was editing the video they lost internet. He was just able to send the final draft this week. Let me just say, I’m blown away at how God uses perfect strangers. These people have never met me but the video clips ate things I would choose myself. They are such a reflection of me and the music is so soothing. I’m so amazed at how God works.

I have no idea what will become of this. My goal for my autobiography, “Rooted by the Water” has not been to sell a lot of books or gain recognition. My goal is to bring all glory to God and share how He enables me to live life victoriously day by day, through His strength.

My journey is like a puzzle, it comes together piece by piece. This current year is unfolding, moment by moment. I don’t know what tomorrow holds but I trust God who is in control. I will move forward trusting Him every step of the way.

Im going to attempt to upload the video here. I sure hope it works. If not, I will send it out on my platforms in February. Thank you Jesus for Your faithfulness.

God bless you all!
Www.shannonkenleyhinson.com