How a Stroke Survivor Found Renewed Purpose Through Gratitude & Surrender
- Nov 10
- 3 min read
By Shelley Meche'tte
I used to measure success by how much I could accomplish before collapsing into bed at night. As a driven woman, wife, and mother, I thrived on the completion of lists (still kinda do…shhh…). I believed the harder you hustled, the greater the reward. But on a cloudy Tuesday morning, everything I thought I knew about purpose and success was challenged when I suffered three strokes in one day! My body had failed me, my goals became irrelevant, and I had no control over what would happen next.
But what I did have was a sincere heart of gratitude. God had spared my life, restored my speech, and strengthened a body that had lain numb just hours before.
At first, gratitude came in a quiet whisper: “Thank You, Lord, for my life”. Slowly, that whisper grew into a deeper awareness that God wanted to invite me into a new chapter of grace, gratitude, and surrender, where His plans…and not mine, shape my life and purpose. That moment became the recognition of my redirection.
The Power of Recognition
Recognition isn’t always applause or public praise. There’s an internal recognition that starts privately—by understanding who you are in God, where you are in life, and what matters most.
For me, that meant being honest about how hustle culture had distanced me from peace. Most importantly, it meant recognizing that even in crisis, God’s hand was still guiding my story.
That awareness became the foundation of my emotional healing and spiritual growth. My gratitude for life and God’s mercy was igniting a new fire in me. I began to rebuild my life and business… not around achievement, but around alignment.
From Hustle to Grace
Before my strokes, I desired to keep my calendar full. I often felt that… “If I’m not ‘busy’, I’m not productive”. Gratitude and alignment shifted that. I began to understand that alignment with God’s direction is far more productive…both in business and in life… than striving on my own.
As a speaker and life strategist who understands that tug-of-war between ambition and alignment, I now show faith-driven women entrepreneurs how to embrace this same shift—how to release burnout, trade hustle for grace, and confidently thrive in faith, family, and business…with purpose.
When we pause to give thanks, even in the midst of discomfort and uncertainty, we make room for greater peace, better clarity, and divine direction. Gratitude grounds us in what truly matters—reminding us that God is still in control, and that even our pauses have purpose.
Leadership Rooted in Gratitude
True leadership—especially for women of faith—isn’t about titles; it’s about intentional impact. Gratitude didn’t just restore my life; it redefined my leadership. It helped me see that success isn’t measured by status or accolades, but rather by how faithfully we steward the gifts and purpose God has entrusted to us.
Gratitude is Powerful
If there’s one thing my strokes taught me, it’s this: gratitude isn’t just reserved for “good days”—it’s what transforms the hard ones. Gratitude is powerful and can change our perspective, our response, and our life’s direction; turning fear into faith, overwhelm into clarity, and chaos into calm.
So today, I challenge you to pause and recognize what’s right in front of you. Thank God for what is, not just what’s next. Acknowledge the lessons in your valleys, not just the victories on your mountaintops.
Because every moment of acknowledgment—every “thank You,” every deep breath, every pause—is an act of faith that opens the door to peace, purpose, and growth.
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