Believe in the People Around You

I met the Browne family through soccer.  David and Phyllis, along with their daughter Jenny, coached youth soccer and my daughter was placed on their team for a season. It happened to be a hard season of life for my daughter, who was in the early stages of doing the big, HARD, work to get on top of debilitating anxiety and panic.  She was emotionally fragile, in spite of her strong athletic build. But the Browne’s…. they were exactly what my girl needed.  They welcomed her in with open arms, honed her athleticism, and nurtured her soul.  When other teams complained that she was too aggressive on the pitch, the Browne’s went to bat for our girl, defending both her skill and her motive behind it.  She blossomed under their leadership and gained athletic and relational confidence as the season went on. I am forever grateful.

Fast forward five years.  My girl is thriving, far on the other side of her long, hard battle for freedom over anxiety.  The Browne’s don’t coach soccer any more, but as I see it, they coach people.  Their home and hearts are always open to anyone who is hurting.  Phyllis has an uncanny knack to provide the EXACT word of encouragement I need, even when I didn’t know I needed it.  They believe in the people around them and it’s inspiring.

After years of talking about it, I finally got to photograph their family this summer.  The Browne’s are blessed to have a big family that loves each other and has a ton of fun. It was a special night.

Thank you Dave and Phyllis for loving on our girl, even though you had no idea just how much she needed someone to be her cheerleader. Thank you for the well timed words of encouragement that you continue to provide.  May God continue to bless your family.  I am so thankful for you.

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