Shining Your Light

Light.

If you asked me to sum up Haley Sue in one word, it would be just that.

Light.

Beautiful,

Genuine,

Radiant,

Light.

The warmth of her presence, felt whenever she walked in the room, was what drew people to her. 

Myself included.

I’ll never forget the first time she came to Row House. She walked in with a huge smile as she came right up to me before even letting her dad make the introduction! 

She asked what my name was before I could even offer it. She was very intentional that way.

She carried herself in such a way that was unassuming, yet believed she belonged. 

I so admired her confidence.

She came out of class with the biggest smile and without hesitation said “I danced the whole class! Sign me up!” 

And that was just the beginning of our journey with Haley Sue!

She came as often as she could, most of the time with Stacy and Pam. From the time she started coming to Row House, I could tell there was a beautiful bond and particular closeness within the Pearson family.

There was a specific night I’ll always remember, just a week after Haley joined, that Pam hit her first meter milestone, 50K. Hadley came in as well for the family photo afterwards. And I just have this vision of the 4 of them piling into the family jeep and driving off to celebrate.

“I love that family so much.” I remember saying to Riley as we watched them drive off.

I had no idea how much of an impact they’d have on my life and within the Row House Cool Springs community in the year since then.

I always looked forward to seeing Haley in class. She’d come early to change from work or hang afterwards to chat. 

I felt so seen by her. She asked great questions to get to the heart of who a person was, to uncover their “Why.” 

It was in one of those late night chats with her and Pam, that I had the opportunity to share how God brought me to Franklin, TN and to Row House and we realized our shared faith in Jesus.

We talked so long the next class was getting out, when she turned to me and said, “I want to continue this conversation, I have more questions!”

A week later, she came up to me after her class, looked me right in the eyes and told me she was hitting her 250K milestone the following week and that she wanted me to be in her photo.

It was an honor usually reserved for the coach that cheered them across the finish line in class and up to that point, no one had ever specifically or intentionally asked me to be in their photo. 

She had a special ability to make people feel seen and valued.

It was a joy and an honor to celebrate her.

At Row House, our vision is to be a lighthouse in the community - to be a beacon of light and hope to all who enter our doors.

It is my desire that every member and guest feels welcome and seen when they come to Row House and knows how extremely valued they are to us and this amazing community we are creating, that feels more and more like family every day.

The Pearson's are family.