There are over 10,000 children in North Carolina right now living in foster care. 480 more enter the system every single day across the United States. Many of them feel like no one sees them, no one is coming, and no one cares enough to even know their favorite color.Susanna Kavanaugh, founder of Least of These Carolinas, built a nonprofit to change that feeling — starting with one county in Gastonia and growing into a statewide mission that meets children exactly where they are.In this conversation, we cover:Why so many foster children feel alone — and what it costs them when no one shows upThe Bag of Hope program — personalized duffel bags sent to children the moment they enter care, with their name embroidered in their favorite colorHow LOTC serves over 1,000 foster children each Christmas through community sponsorshipsBridge Camp in Wilkes County — a summer camp just for kids in foster care, now in its 10th yearHow Susanna mobilized after Hurricane Helene to reach WNC families on horseback, in partnership with Greg Biffle and the Joey Logano FoundationAliyah's story — a former camper who arrived at Bridge Camp feeling like no one was listening. She's now an EMT studying at Western Carolina University.Foster children don't need pity. They need someone to show up — intentionally, consistently, and by name. That's exactly what Least of These Carolinas does.How You Can Help:Visit lotcarolinas.com to donate, sponsor a child for camp or Christmas, volunteer to pack bags, or simply reach out if you want to get involved in a way that fits you. Susanna's team will find a place for you.🌿 Stay Connected & Join the Work in Western North Carolina
Instagram:➡️ instagram.com/thesharondeckerTapestry Collaborative (Nonprofit):➡️ https://www.tapestrycollaborative.comWNC Recovery Resources & How to Help:➡️ https://wncrecovery.nc.govChapters:00:00 – Introduction: Meet Susanna Kavanaugh01:45 – Why Foster Children Often Feel Alone03:20 – The Numbers: 10,000 Kids in NC, 480 a Day Nationwide04:50 – The Bag of Hope: A Duffel Bag With Their Name On It07:10 – 12 Hours of Christmas: Serving 1,000+ Kids Every Year08:55 – Hurricane Helene: Boots on the Ground in Western NC11:00 – Horseback Deliveries, Greg Biffle & the Joey Logano Foundation13:15 – Bridge Camp: 10 Years of Changing Lives in Wilkes County15:00 – Aliyah's Story: When Showing Up Saves a Life16:30 – How You Can Get Involved With Least of These CarolinasKey Takeaways:Over 10,000 children in NC are currently in foster care480 children enter the foster care system every single day in the USLOTC serves 1,000+ foster children each Christmas seasonBridge Camp in Wilkes County is entering its 10th yearAfter Helene, LOTC coordinated formula deliveries on horseback and secured vehicles for displaced caregiversYou don't have to be a foster parent to step into a child's storylotcarolinas.com is where to start#FosterCare #LeastOfTheseCarolinas #WesternNorthCarolina #HurricaneHelene #WNCRecovery #FosterKids #BagOfHope #BridgeCamp #SharonDecker #CommunityImpact

I'll be honest — loading the dishwasher is one of my least favorite things to do.But a man who lived in the 1600s completely changed how I think about it.Brother Lawrence was a lay brother in a Carmelite monastery whose only job was to wash dishes. And yet he wrote that the noise and clutter of his kitchen felt no different from being on his knees at the altar. He called it Practicing the Presence of God — doing every small thing, for the love of God.Now when I load the dishwasher, I thank God for the person who used that cup. When I unload it in the morning, I thank Him for another day and the gift of health to do it.The question I keep coming back to:What if the little things aren't getting in the way of the vision — what if they ARE the way?We'll never reach the big things without faithfully tending to the small ones. Do it with love. Do it with thankfulness. Just like Brother Lawrence teaches.🌿 Share this with someone who needs the reminder that God is in the ordinary moments too.#Faith #FaithAndWork #PracticingThePresence #BrotherLawrence #DailyDevotion #WesternNorthCarolina #Encouragement #Leadership #AWordFromSharon

When Hurricane Helene's floodwaters rose 24 feet in Swannanoa, they stopped right at the driveway of Valley Hope Church—as if, Susanna says, God drew a line and said, "You'll go no further." What happened next is one of the most remarkable stories of faith, strategy, and community in all of Western North Carolina's recovery.I sit down with Susanna, Head of Helene Recovery at Valley Hope Church in Swannanoa—one of the hardest hit communities after the storm—to talk about what it actually looks like when the church shows up for its people. Not just in the first few days. For the long haul.In this conversation, we cover:How floodwaters stopped at the church's driveway—and what they did the moment it recededWhy they used only skilled volunteers for home repairs—and how that standard led to 170+ completed repairs$300,000 distributed to nearly 30 small businesses to keep their doors open2,000+ volunteers. 26,000+ hours. $780,000+ in donated labor—all mobilized through one small churchThe Better Together Coalition—and how partnering with Mercury One, World Vision & Operation Blessing makes it possible to rebuild a $250,000 home for just $20,00012 full home rebuilds currently underway—and how you can be part of finishing themRecovery isn't just about mucking and gutting. It's about getting families back into safe homes, keeping small businesses alive, and rebuilding the community fabric that makes a place worth returning to. Valley Hope Church—a small congregation given their building for $0 by a dwindling church that chose legacy over profit—has become a living example of what the body of Christ is designed to do: show up, stay, and serve.How You Can Help:Give financially or sign up as a skilled volunteer → ValleyHope.Church/HeleneJoin a Sunday service at 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. in Swannanoa (Spanish translation available at 11 a.m.)Share a meal at their community dinner every Monday night, 5:30–6:30 p.m.Pray for the team doing this work long after the headlines are gone.🌿 Stay Connected & Join the Work in Western North CarolinaInstagram:➡️ instagram.com/thesharondeckerTapestry Collaborative (Nonprofit):➡️ https://www.tapestrycollaborative.comValley Hope Church Helene Recovery:➡️ https://valleyhope.church/heleneWNC Recovery Resources & How to Help:➡️ https://wncrecovery.nc.govChapters:[00:00] - Introduction: Susanna & Valley Hope Church[01:45] - The Miracle of the Building: Given for $0[03:30] - Hurricane Helene Hits Swannanoa: 24 Feet of Water[05:50] - The Water Stopped at the Driveway[06:30] - Becoming a Safe Space: Food, Water & Community[08:00] - Finding the Gaps: Where People Were Falling Through[09:30] - 170+ Home Repairs with Skilled Volunteers Only[11:10] - $300K to Nearly 30 Small Businesses[13:00] - Why Recovery Requires Public, Private & Nonprofit Partnership[14:00] - The Better Together Coalition: Rebuilding for $20,000[17:30] - What the Body of Christ Is Supposed to Do[18:40] - How You Can Give, Volunteer & Show UpKey Takeaways:Valley Hope Church has completed 170+ home repairs since HeleneNearly $300,000 distributed to approximately 30 small businesses2,000+ volunteers contributed 26,000+ hours valued at over $780,000 in laborHomes that cost $250,000 to rebuild are being completed for just $20,000 through skilled volunteer partnerships12 complete home rebuilds currently underway through the Better Together CoalitionRecovery requires public, private, and nonprofit partnership—no single sector can carry it aloneSmall churches can do extraordinary things when led with strategy, heart, and collaboration

Every parent knows that bittersweet feeling — the pride of watching your child grow up mixed with the grief of letting them go.After dropping my daughter Abby off for her spring semester at college in Charlottesville, I faced a six-hour drive home filled with tears, memories, and Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying" playing on the radio.But the night before that drive, something beautiful happened. At 2:30 in the morning, Abby and I sat on a red rug in her dorm room sharing tea, chocolate chip cookies, and precious conversation. I didn't care about the time. I didn't care what anyone thought. That was Holy Communion to me.The question I'm asking today:When was the last time you lived like you were dying?Jesus came so we could have life abundantly — yet so often we live from a place of lack, always waiting for the next milestone instead of treasuring the moment we're in.The time is now. Don't wait another day.🌿 Share this with a parent who understands, or someone who needs the reminder to live fully today.#Parenting #LiveInTheMoment #Faith #Motherhood #CollegeLife #LifeLessons #Encouragement #WesternNorthCarolina

Recently, I had the honor of speaking at the Walk by Faith Luncheon in Charlotte, surrounded by dear friends and sisters in Christ who have walked alongside me through some of life's most challenging seasons.In this speech, I opened my heart about what I've witnessed in Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene — not just the devastation, but the profound ways hope shows up when everything else is stripped away. I shared stories of neighbors who hadn't spoken in 18 years embracing in the street, churches becoming places of radical hospitality, and families learning what it means to surrender when there's no other way forward.But beyond the recovery work, I felt called to share some deeper truths I've been learning: that our relationship with God requires intentional time and stillness, that the things we surround ourselves with hold no eternal value, and that sometimes God has to get loud before we finally slow down enough to listen.I also shared a personal turning point from years ago — a day of silence that led me to leave a corporate career track and trust God with what came next. It wasn't easy, but it was right.If you're in a season of uncertainty, loss, or simply longing for deeper peace, I hope this message meets you where you are.🙏 CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINARecovery will take 4-6 years. We still need prayer, volunteers, and support.📍 STAY CONNECTED:🎙️ Podcast: The Sharon Decker Podcast (Spotify, Apple, Amazon, YouTube)📸 Instagram: @thesharondecker🌐 Website: sharondecker.com💬 Comment below and let me know what spoke to you the most.

When Hurricane Helene hit, most people saw the damage to homes and roads. But what many didn't realize was the devastating impact on the farms that feed our region—and the quiet, steady work happening now to rebuild them.I sit down with Kaleb Rathbone, Assistant Commissioner for Western North Carolina Agricultural Programs, to talk about something that doesn't always make headlines but touches every part of our lives: the recovery of agriculture across the mountains.In this conversation, we cover:• How the ag community responded in the first 72 hours after the storm• $280 million in state disaster relief already distributed to WNC farmers—and $221 million more coming from USDA• Why agriculture is the third most diverse industry in the nation and the backbone of North Carolina's economy• The long-term challenges farmers are facing now: infrastructure repairs, low commodity prices, and contractor shortages• How you can support local farms through intentional buying choices• What's coming this spring—strawberries, blueberries, vegetables, and moreAgriculture isn't just an industry here—it's the heart of our communities. The small family farms across Western North Carolina grow everything from apples and trout to specialty vegetables and Christmas trees. These farmers take real risks every season to put fresh, nutritious food on our tables. And right now, they're working through one of the hardest seasons they've ever faced.How You Can Help:Look for the "NC" label at your grocery store. Visit your local farmers market. Ask where your food comes from. Buy intentionally. Every choice you make supports a family farm working to recover and rebuild.If you've been wondering how our farmers are really doing, or if you want to understand what it actually takes to rebuild an entire agricultural economy, this conversation will give you the full picture—and remind you why supporting local matters more than ever.Topics covered: Hurricane Helene recovery, Western North Carolina agriculture, disaster relief for farmers, NC Department of Agriculture, farm recovery, local food systems, small family farms, buying local, farmers markets, NC agriculture economy, farm infrastructure damage, specialty crops, livestock recovery, agricultural disaster response, WNC farmers🌿 Stay Connected & Join the Work in Western North CarolinaIf you'd like to follow more stories of recovery, community strength, and the people rebuilding Western North Carolina, here's where you can find us:Instagram:➡️ instagram.com/thesharondeckerTapestry Collaborative (Nonprofit):➡️ https://www.tapestrycollaborative.comWNC Recovery Resources & How to Help:➡️ https://wncrecovery.nc.govIf you'd like to receive invitations to upcoming events, updates on recovery efforts, and weekly reflections, sign up for our email newsletter.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction: Kaleb Rathbone on WNC Agriculture02:15 - Hurricane Helene Hits: The First 72 Hours05:40 - Coordinating a Regional Agricultural Response09:20 - Agriculture's Role in Western North Carolina's Economy12:45 - How WNC Farmers Are Doing Now16:30 - $280 Million in Disaster Relief Distributed19:10 - Infrastructure Challenges: The Long Recovery Ahead22:35 - Federal Funds Still Pending from USDA24:50 - Supporting Local Farmers: Why It Matters28:15 - What You'll See at Farmers Markets This Spring31:40 - The Growth of Vineyards and Specialty Crops34:20 - Final Thoughts: Keeping Family Farms Alive

Friends and colleagues keep asking me the same question lately… "What do I do right now?"

In this short encouragement, I'm reminding you of what God asks of us—especially in uncertain times. Scripture tells us in Micah 6:8, "What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." That's it. That's the answer.

I also share something a friend reminded me recently—when anger overcomes our ability to reason, most of us can't do this on our own. But with God, when we're in an intimate relationship with Him, we can absorb that love and give it to others. And honestly, that one truth changes everything.

If you've been feeling overwhelmed by what's happening around us, this is your reminder to pause, go back to God's Word, and let His guidance do what it was meant to do.

In this video:

What Micah 6:8 asks of us in practical terms

How to act justly and love mercy when you feel angry

Why walking humbly with God is the foundation for everything

📖 Scripture: Micah 6:8

If this encouraged you, hit like, subscribe, and drop a comment:
How do you lean into God's Word when times feel uncertain?

Instagram:
➡️ instagram.com/thesharondecker

Tapestry Collaborative (Nonprofit):
➡️ https://www.tapestrycollaborative.com

WNC Recovery Resources & How to Help:
➡️ https://wncrecovery.nc.gov

If you'd like to receive invitations to upcoming events, updates on recovery efforts, and weekly reflections, sign up for our email newsletter.

Winter gets a bad rap… but it has a purpose.

In this short reflection, I’m sharing why winter matters—spiritually, emotionally, and even practically. From Genesis 8:22 (“seedtime and harvest… summer and winter… will never cease”) to a simple lesson my father-in-law pointed out while driving through the foothills of Western North Carolina, this episode is a reminder that seasons exist for a reason.

Winter can feel quieter, darker, and slower—but it’s also the season that helps you see farther, strip away what doesn’t belong, and make room for growth again.

If you’ve been rushing to “get through” winter, this is your permission slip to pause, take it in, and lean into the stillness.

In This Episode

• Why winter is part of God’s design (Genesis 8:22)

• Dormancy as preparation for growth

• What you can see in winter that you can’t see in spring/summer

• The beauty of stillness and quiet

• A mindset shift for the season you’re in

Scripture Mentioned

• Genesis 8:22

Takeaway
Instead of resisting the season you’re in, ask: What is this season making possible for me?
If this encouraged you, share it with a friend who’s in a “winter season,” and leave a quick rating/review so more people can find it.