God Showing UpSample

Listening to Song

September 11, 2001, was a day Americans will never forget — least of all, Shelly Genovese Calhoun. That was the day she became a widow. Losing her husband in that terror attack could’ve broken Shelly, and it almost did. But by God’s grace, little by little, she healed from her devastating heartache.

Now, Shelly shares her story of tragedy and hope, loss and redemption so that others can experience the grace of God that carried her. As a former model, author of Twice Blessed (which tells her story of healing after losing her husband), and sought-after speaker, Shelly uses her words and life experiences to bring life and healing wherever she goes. And today, she’s giving us an even deeper glimpse at what inspires her to keep going. Read on to learn Shelly’s favorite ways of connecting with God.

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When I don't have a speaking engagement, I'm a stay-at-home mom. After I drop my son off at school and my husband leaves for work, I get my day started doing normal daily tasks such as laundry, dishes, cleaning, and organizing my family's schedule. But the first thing I do is say, "Alexa, play praise and worship!"

I have always loved music, but listening to Christian music makes me feel like I’m never alone. There have been times I was right in the middle of loading the dishwasher and started sobbing because God spoke to my heart through a song.

I feel like no matter what we are doing, God can be a part of it if we simply invite him. Just the other day, I was getting a pedicure. I could have sat there, checked my emails, and not talked to anyone, but I started up a conversation with the nail technician. One thing led to another, and the next thing I knew, the sweet man who was painting my toes was now praying for me. God is so good like that, always showing up right when we need it.

—Shelly Genovese Calhoun, former fashion model, as told to Rapt Interviews