Dr. Kayse Shrum

🌿Wellness Wednesday: Is peace eluding you?

I was playing catch with Goose the other day and realized he had something to teach me.

He loves the game, but he’s so focused on the next throw that he can’t be still long enough to listen to my commands. I tell him, “Drop it”. If he actually drops the ball, before I can even bend down to pick up it up, he grabs it again and runs a few steps away.

In that moment, I realized I do the same thing with God.

If we’re honest, many of our struggles are not about trusting God’s power—they’re about surrendering our plans.

We know God is able.

We just hope His answer looks like ours.

So we pray, but then we pick our worries back up. We try to control the outcome. We ask for God’s will, but secretly hope it aligns with our own.

Sometimes we become so focused on the outcome that we can’t be still long enough to hear God’s commands.

Maybe peace isn’t found in understanding the future.

Maybe peace is found in trusting the One who already does.

Trusting the Giver more than the gift.

Because peace doesn’t come from knowing what tomorrow holds.
It comes from knowing Who holds tomorrow.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10

Lay it at His feet. And leave it there.

After the announcement of Governor Anoatubby’s retirement, I wanted to take a minute to reflect on his service and do my best to honor his legacy.

There are leaders, and then there are statesmen. Governor Bill Anoatubby is a statesman!

His legacy is undeniable. Through his vision and leadership, the Chickasaw Nation has become a model for what is possible when a leader remains focused on serving people, strengthening communities, and building for future generations.

What I have always admired most, however, is not simply what he has accomplished—it is how he has led.

Governor Anoatubby demonstrates that you can be both genuinely kind and exceptionally effective. He proves that kindness is not weakness, that actions speak louder than words, and that true leadership does not require public criticism, self-promotion, or division.

He leads with humility, integrity, curiosity, and a genuine care for the people he serves. In a time when leadership is often measured by volume, he reminds us that character still matters.

Thank you, Governor, for your extraordinary service to the Chickasaw Nation, the State of Oklahoma, and for setting an example of statesmanship that few leaders ever achieve!!!

Thank you for the memories…….

Thank you to Jenks Public Schools for the invitation to speak at the Annual Jenks Administrative Collaboration Day!

It was a pleasure to spend time with such an outstanding group of leaders who are making a difference in the lives of students every day. I enjoyed the opportunity to connect with educators who are passionate about serving their schools and communities.

Thank you for the warm welcome and meaningful conversations. I left encouraged by your commitment to leadership, collaboration, and the future of education!

Thank you again, Mammaw’s! The roast beef didn’t disappoint. Neither did the service. We enjoyed visiting with our waitress, Jaxi. If you are ever in Prague or you want to take a road trip for a great meal, I highly recommend Mammaw’s!

🌿Wellness Wednesday: Guard Your Heart

Last week I wrote about gifts and how we often become disappointed when others don’t show up for us the way we show up for them.

But there’s another side to that conversation.

Sometimes people stop seeing your gift as a blessing and start seeing it as an expectation.

The encourager becomes responsible for everyone’s emotions.

The helper becomes responsible for everyone’s problems.

The giver becomes responsible for everyone’s needs.

The dependable person becomes the one everyone assumes will always say yes.

That’s when a gift can become unhealthy.

A gift is something you choose to give. An expectation is something others begin to demand.

God never intended your gift to come at the expense of your health, peace, purpose, or relationship with Him.

Even Jesus withdrew to rest. Even Jesus said no. Even Jesus didn’t meet every need presented to Him.

Healthy boundaries don’t diminish your gift—they protect it.

And here’s something else I’ve learned:

The people who genuinely love you, care about you, and value you will not stop loving you because you said no. They may be disappointed, but they will understand. Healthy relationships can withstand boundaries.

“A friend loves at all times.” — Proverbs 17:17

Those who only value what you do for them often struggle the most when access to your gift changes.

Give generously.

Love deeply.

Serve joyfully.

But remember: your gift is a calling, not an obligation to carry what God never asked you to carry.

Your gift has a purpose.

And so do your boundaries.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
— Proverbs 4:23

🌿Wellness Wednesday: Feeling disappointed?

Have you ever felt like you show up for people in ways they never seem to show up for you?

Maybe you’re the one who remembers birthdays, sends encouraging texts, gives thoughtful gifts, offers wise counsel, or notices when someone is struggling. When those things aren’t returned, it’s easy to feel unseen, unimportant, or undervalued.

But what if the issue isn’t that people don’t care?

What if God has simply gifted you differently?

Scripture teaches that God gives each of us unique gifts. The Bible identifies many spiritual gifts. Some are gifted with encouragement. Some with hospitality. Some with compassion. And so on…..

Sometimes we become disappointed because we expect others to show up the same way we show up for them.

If giving encouragement is your gift, you may naturally crave encouraging words. If giving gifts is your gift, thoughtful gifts may mean a great deal to you. We often value most highly the very things we freely give away.

Before assuming someone doesn’t care, ask yourself:

“Are they withholding their gift from me, or am I expecting them to have the same gift I have?”

God gave you a gift not because He intended for everyone to give it back to you, but because He intended for you to use it to bless others.

So be careful not to take every situation personally. Look for the gifts people are offering, even when they look different than the ones you give.

And be grateful for every gift you receive.

After all, the body of Christ was never designed so that everyone would be the same. It was designed so that each of us would bring something unique to the table.

Sometimes the very thing that frustrates you is evidence of the gift God placed within you. You notice what others miss because that’s how He wired you. You give encouragement because you understand the power of being encouraged. You show compassion because you understand what it feels like to need it. Your gift isn’t just something you do—it’s often born from what God has done in you.

Your gift has a PURPOSE! And so does theirs!

Perspective matters!

I will not mention names BUT someone dropped their phone today and it broke! Same person doesn’t have data backed up so we have to get the phone fixed to get the data. If you usually text or call my husband, he will be phone free until Thursday! If it’s an emergency…..you know where to find me!

Just living the good life. Beach Day #2 BUT first……Arm Day! Work Hard- Play Hard!