Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Keeling.
Hi Sarah, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I live in Castroville with my cowboy husband and two boys – 12 and 3 years old. After experiencing healing from a severe chronic illness, I wanted a way to encourage other moms that the mundane work they do matters! I wanted everyone to have the opportunity to hear about God, and many people around the world do not have the Bible in their native language. I started a t-shirt company with encouraging sayings and donated all the profits to Bible translation. This work led me to speak and share what I had been learning and leading a group of friends in prayer for some new friends in Oaxaca who were translating the Bible into their native language, Zapoteco del Istmo. I began praying the Psalms for our friends in Oaxaca, and I loved it so much that I started praying for myself too. I’ve taught many families how to pray the Psalms, which has been incredibly rewarding. Prayer can seem super hard and complicated, especially for tired moms who desperately need peace and a nap. I love teaching a simple method that is doable for anyone, from exhausted moms to young kids.
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Ha! Smooth, like crunchy peanut butter! Our family has been through several intense seasons of suffering since I began praying the Psalms. Not long after I started this prayer method, our oldest son experienced carbon monoxide poisoning in our house, despite having many detectors. His case was unique because he was exposed to low levels for months. We went to numerous doctors and received numerous opinions. After exhausting traditional resources, we rented a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. My son and I spent two hours a day receiving oxygen in that tiny tube, which was not pleasant. He was grumpy about it, and I was tired of fighting him. A friend suggested that I turn that hyperbaric oxygen chamber into a “War Room” like the movie with the prayer closet. I remember thinking, “No way. That’s too hard.” I did it, though, and even though my prayers were super short and messy, they got me through that difficult season. I realized that if I could pray this simple method in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber with a grumpy child, anyone could do it. That motivated me to share what I had learned with others who also needed an easy prayer method.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m just a regular mom who went through some hard things and has learned to connect deeply with God through them. I’ve shared my prayer method with moms through prayer workshops and with families through my book, Psalm Prayers for Kids. My oldest son, Mack, and I hosted a family prayer podcast for two years, Hearts at Rest, with Sarah Keeling. 75 short and simple prayer episodes are still available wherever you listen to podcasts. I have a background in counseling, and I interned at the Children’s Bereavement Center many years ago. I also volunteered for several years in the children’s program in an amazing Bible study called Bible Study Fellowship. Both experiences provided me with many practical skills in teaching and connecting with children.
Networking and finding a mentor can positively impact one’s life and career. Any advice?
When I first switched from selling t-shirts to writing and teaching, I attended several conferences and joined a few writing groups. Of course, I only connected with some people at each event, but I found a few mentors who helped me immensely. Often mentors offer paid memberships, and that’s okay! Mentoring takes a lot of time and energy, and I valued them enough that I didn’t mind paying. I did have to pick one paid membership at a time. For example, I completed a marketing mentorship program that lasted 90 days. During that time, my main focus was on that program. I’ve also found other writers who hold me accountable for my goals, and I do the same for them. That’s a little different than a mentor, but still super valuable.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sarah-keeling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_sarahkeeling_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahkeeling.author/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sarahkeeling3545
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hearts-at-rest-with-sarah-keeling/id1535509610
Image Credits
M’Rhea Lochte
