Fruit

When Breaking Up with Your Orthodontist Feels Like Climbing a Mountain

Several months ago, our beloved orthodontist moved out of state. I cried when he left, but not because we were good friends or anything. Our whole family just really liked him and his super friendly staff.

It doesn’t take me long to get attached to people I like.

His replacement is a darling, kind woman, and we were disappointed when she closed the office location close to our house.

We were further disappointed when she joined another orthodontist’s office. We didn’t see her or the original staff too often.

Because of all this and other reasons, I decided it was time to find a new orthodontist that better fit our location and needs. But before I could do this, I had to break up with our old one.

And let me tell you: There’s not much I enjoy less than uncomfortable conversations and hard goodbyes. Maneuvering through them is like climbing a mountain: tiring, overwhelming, and just plain hard.

I managed to follow through with the break-up the only way I know how: Making myself the bad guy as much as possible. I heard my voice repeat these phrases and more:

“I’m so sorry, but…”

“Thank you so much for all you’ve done…”

“It’s not you, it’s me.”

“Can we still be friends?”

No matter how I tried to pretty up the deed, I still waded through plenty of uncomfortable tension.

Living out this Christian life often feels this way, too. You know you need to break up with unhealthy habits, but the tension of living in new skin post break-up feels mighty uncomfortable. Our flesh craves the old way when it was first in line.

But here’s the good news: After wading through the prickly brambles of uphill tension, we are promised a better view. New habits form a little at a time, and we see glimpses of tension turning to triumph. And when we are tempted to do a u-turn backwards, we are promised a way out.

While our feet are planted on this earth, we won’t be able to completely break up with tension. But we can move through it, thriving in closer fellowship with Jesus while we do.

What about you? Where tension is concerned, what’s your mountain to climb?

March 5, 2013 14 Comments Filed Under: Faith in Action, Fruit

When the Road to Your Dream Holds Unwelcome Views {and a giveaway}

By Kristen

If you are stopping by from the lovely Holley’s, let me swing the front door wide and say welcome! I can already tell you’re my kind of friend. If your day could use a bit o’ blue skies, please sit and stay awhile. I love meeting new folks! If you would like a little fresh air delivered to your inbox or reader, feel free to visit here. I post 2 to 3 times a week, so I promise not to overwhelm you or your inbox. If facebook is more your style, you’re welcome over here.

When my Air Force husband David received orders for our family to move to the desert Southwest, I was less than thrilled. This deciduous tree loving girl had no desire to call any place void of moisture home.

I spent my fair share of time sulking over it, too.

Eventually, I uncrossed my arms and smiled bravely for the trek west. After all, moving and the military go hand in hand, and you rarely get a say in where home is. When I struggle to accept this, the best course of action is behaving my heart into the right place rather than waiting for the good feelings to show up first.

While I still had my share of teary moments, I did eventually learn to call the desert home. Read the rest of my story here?

Holley and I are joining forces for a giveaway! If you would like to be entered to win the Lisa Leonard He calls the stars by name necklace as well as an Annie Barnett print of your choice, please say hello in a comment below or share a lesson you’ve learned – like facing a fear – from a desert season in your own life.

February 5, 2013 48 Comments Filed Under: Authors Extraordinaire, Faith in Action, Fruit, Hope, Military

How You Can Be on Your Way to a Successful Today

By Kristen

My daughter pleads pretty please won’t I do it, so I brush the dust off my oboe to play for her school music class. While I’ve played for audiences much scarier than third graders, it has been years since I pushed the keys on this instrument. I need to scrape rust off my notes.

So I open Barlow’s The Winter’s Passed and prop it up where the piano music sits. After I take my seat on the bench and bring the instrument to my lips, memory takes over as notes fly out the bell. My technique leaves much to be desired, but I have musicality, and good musicality covers a multitude of sins.

The melody may be flawed, but at least it’s alive.

As I sway with the tune, I remember how just like technique and musicality, hard work and talent move in tandem for most things. No doubt, talent makes the learning process easier. But with hard work leading the dance, you can coax talent into becoming more sure of herself.

When my second son entered the world eleven minutes after his brother, my first thought {after the rush of relief} was What do I know about raising boys? I grew up part of a trio of daughters in a girl heavy extended family. But hard work covers a multitude of I-don’t-know-what-to-do. The daily hard work and practice of mothering soon had me an expert at little boys, too.

Whether we are revisiting an old love or finding our way around a new one, may we not let our lack of ability scare us. May we allow hard work to lead. And may we pray for God to bless us in the process as we strive to live a melody flawed but alive.

What are you working hard on these days?

January 24, 2013 3 Comments Filed Under: Fruit, Music, Writing

When You and Your Dreams Need Wind to Sail

By Kristen

A million times over, I would choose to be floating on water rather than down in it. I get cold easily and unless it’s above 95 outside, I don’t relish getting wet. That’s why paddleboarding is right up my alley. It allows me to be in the water without really being in it. In other words, I’m set up to enjoy all the ocean has to offer – sea breezes, salty air, ocean wildlife – but I stay dry.

Until I, ya know, fall off.

When we lived in Hawaii I couldn’t get enough paddleboarding. But there were three things I had to do so I could successfully stay afloat: point the narrow end of the board in front and hold the paddle correctly, engage my core while keeping legs apart with knees bent, and focus on the horizon. When I did all these, it was easy to stay upright. Oh, the freedom and fun I had sailing across the ocean! That is, until I would get caught up watching turtles or fish in the crystal blue depths beneath me. When I did this for too long, down in the water I fell.

I do the same thing when I forget the point of my God-sized dreams.

I know how to maneuver the mechanics of my dream and study quality materials that encourage and edify my creativity. I don’t have a problem keeping an appropriate posture for work, although there is always room for improvement. But I do struggle with keeping my eyes focused on the goal of any dream God places in my heart: to fulfill His purposes through me and therefore bring me closer to Him.

Because like fish and turtles in the sea, there’s a whole lotta tempting distractions to get lost in under my feet.

My own plans.

Comparisons.

Impatience.

It’s a struggle and too often I fall.

But when I keep my eyes on the Son, distractions fade. I remember that if God places dreams in my heart, He gets to say how they come to fruition and what the road to them looks like. And good news for me: His way of doing things is undoubtedly the best. So I keep my eyes forward while my hands and heart move toward the pull and create. When this happens, I wobble less and am more steady, confident, and content.

And it’s only then when I sail strong towards the Horizon, my dreams right alongside me.

Do you ever forget the point of your dreams? Like me, is it easy for you to get sidetracked? What gives your dreams oxygen so they can sail with you?

The world’s most high flyin’ cheerleader Holley Gerth writes that we all have heart-longings put in motion by our Creator. Trouble is, we may not be able to name the dream. For the next few months, Holley will be helping women change this, to say “yes” to their own unique God-sized dream. Drop by her lovely place today and learn why you really do have a God-sized dream all your own, and how you can give it wings to fly {or wind to sail, as it were}.