My Faith and I don’t talk too much during our mother~daughter date to the Four Continents Figure Skating Championship. The magic of it all leaves us spellbound. I mean, these skaters move powerfully but gracefully on ice. The men lift and throw the women, they all jump and spin on skinny blades on ice. Amazing, really.
One pair {from Canada, I think?} struck me not because of how perfectly they skated or how well they placed. My untrained eye noticed mistakes and she fell twice. But as they released their final pose, I looked up at the huge television screens just in time to see her turn and whisper “I’m sorry” to him. I couldn’t make out his reply, but by the way he smiled so warm while hugging her so tight, he believed there was nothing to forgive.
She was already amazing, and a couple of falls didn’t make that less true. If she’d nailed every element to sheer perfection, she wouldn’t have been more amazing. She would have had a better performance, but the heart of her identity wouldn’t be any different.
It’s the same with you, ya know. And me. We don’t have to be more, do more, or have more to be amazing. And if there’s one woman who knows a thing or twenty about this, it’s Holley Gerth. Or as I like to call her, “every woman’s sister.”
Meet Holley’s brand spankin’ new book baby, You’re Already Amazing: Embracing Who You Are, Becoming All God Created You to Be. Isn’t she just beautiful?
When I say Holley is every woman’s sister, I mean she loves and encourages from a place in her heart that shines Jesus like an effervescent lightbulb. You can’t help but want to be her sister. Or her BFF. Or her SBFF {Sister BFF}. She *is* God-inspired encouragement, and her words breathe fresh air in your life.
Today, You’re Already Amazing is available for pre-order at Barnes & Noble for half-price! And hello! While her book isn’t even out yet {due to release next month} it’s already #1 at the Barnes & Noble site! Glory be! {What a great Easter or Mother’s Day gift this book would be!}
May your day {and your weekend} be amazing, darlings. Not because of all you do, but because of Christ who lives in you. Perfect double axles or not, your identity is safe in Him.
Thank you, friend! I love, love you to the moon and back!
Love you too, Holley. Thank you for cheering us girls on with truth and love!! xoxo
My heart melted into a puddle when I read this post, Kristen! You have such a gift for story-telling…the part where he hugs her and smiles and there’s nothing to forgive? Beautiful. In those most embarrassing, vulnerable moments–that’s when we need that extra measure of grace, when we need a champion who thinks we’re already amazing, like Holly says. (And for most of us…that’s why we aren’t figure-skaters.) 🙂
Thanks for your words this morning. You bless me every time.
Sarah, you bless me every time. I’m thankful for you!
Kristen,
Your analogy — what you saw on the screen there — oh.so.perfect. And this is how God sees us. Not by our performances, but through the lens of startling grace. Oh girl … you nailed this. A “10”… (And see there? The roses have been tossed onto the ice…)
🙂
Warmly,
Jennifer
P.S. — Looking forward to Holley’s book!