Beth K. Vogt's Blog, page 48

In Others’ Words: Yogi Berra and making “wrong mistakes”

In Yogi Berra’s world, there were mistakes … and there were “wrong mistakes.”

The Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, who died on Tuesday, September 22, was known for his Yogi-sms. I scrolled through a list of 30 of his most memorable quotes, and settled on “We made too many wrong mistakes.”

There’s something to what he said. There are mistakes … and then there are wrong mistakes. Some mistakes don’t influence the outcome of a game all that much. In the same way, some choices we make — some mistakes — don’t affect us all that much. The decision is made, we stumble for a moment — Ooops! — and then we move on. I mean, bad haircuts grow out, right?

And then there are the wrong mistakes. The saying yes when we should have said no. The moving forward when we should have stayed where we were and waited, even though waiting is so, so difficult. Going back into a bad relationship because, well, maybe this time it will be different — although nothing has changed and all we’re going on is wishes and hopes. We take the job offer because it’s a promotion — and all the while, we’re ignoring the clamoring in our heart telling us that this isn’t our passion, this isn’t our gifting.

Wrong mistakes. Sometimes we see them coming and we run right up to them and embrace them. Sometimes we wish and hope and pray, only to discover our choice was wrong, wrong, wrong and we’re left with the consequences of our actions — or someone else’s wrong mistake.

In Your Words: What do you think about mistakes and wrong mistakes? What’s your advice on discerning between the two?

In Others’ Words: Yogi Berra and Making “wrong mistakes” #YogiBerra #mistakes #InOthersWords
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“We made too many wrong mistakes.” #YogiBerra #mistakes #quotes
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In Others’ Words: The Temptation of Bitterness

When I hear cautions against bitterness, I immediately think of the admonition: See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. (Hebrews 12:15 NIV)

And Martin Luther King, Jr. got it right when he called bitterness a temptation — a choice we wrestle with … or against. Do I or don’t I allow myself to become bitter about [fill in the blank].

The scary thing about bitterness? What we’re wrestling with — the wrong that was done to us — we know we have a right to be angry. We feel so justified. And our self-justification is so empowering. All the “I’m so right” reasons stack up against the “They’re so wrong” accusations like so many pieces of kindling that our thoughts and emotions ignite … but not into a fire.

No.

What we’ve created are invisible roots that burrow deep into our very being … into our hearts … and the bitter roots lodge there, choking out any thoughts of grace.

Bitterness defiles both us and the ones we are so unforgivably angry with. And it mars the image of God within us.

In Your Words: How do you protect your heart from any root of bitterness? And when you’ve discovered it there, how do you uproot bitterness in your heart? 

In Others’ Words: The Temptation of Bitterness #InOthersWords #lifequotes #bitterness
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“Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.” #MartinLutherKingJr #quotes #forgiveness
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In Others’ Words: Taking the World as We Find It

Run across any thorns lately?

Did you hear a no when you were so, so hoping for a yes?
Did a family member or a friend disappoint you — or did you disappoint yourself?
Were you overlooked for a longed-for recognition or promotion or award?
Did you argue so badly with a loved one that reconciliation seems impossible?
Were you accused of something you didn’t do or something you didn’t say?
Has illness or injury caused you to become someone you don’t recognize?
Are you grieving the loss of a loved one?

 

Life thorns, one and all.

And yet, that’s life, isn’t it?

There’s no avoiding disappointments. No life path that doesn’t lead us to heartache … heartbreak … the events in our lives that pain us and push us to the point of “why me, God?”

Maybe these “life thorns” would be easier to bear if we stopped being so surprised by them. If we reminded ourselves that life is hard … and some days, some weeks, some months, some years, are harder than others. The thorns seems to out-number the roses. It’s not about being a pessimist. It’s about being someone who lives real life … thorns and all … and still walks by faith, trusting in the beauty of the roses. No matter the thorniness of today, there were roses before, and there will be the beauty of roses again.

Faith acknowleges the pain of life thorns, even as it searches for the beauty of the rose — even if the beauty is found in a memory.

 

In Your Words: What’s life like for you right now: roses or thorns? How do you “take the world as you find it, thorns and all”?

 

In Others’ Words: Taking the World as We Find It #InOthersWords #lifequotes #thorns
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“… take the world as we find it, including the thorns.” #perspective #quotes #SUCCESS
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In Others’ Words: Be Slow to Anger

There’s more to today’s quote than the admonition to grow angry slowly.

Hidden behind those three words is the caution: be slow to anger … because really, not only is there plenty of time to become angry, but given time, you often realize there is no real reason to get angry.

Why do you think we count to ten — or twenty — when our internal temperature is rising? To slow our anger down. 1 … 2 … 3 … 4 … 5 … 6 … 7… 8… 9 … 10.

And breathe. And are you feeling calmer? And is it — whatever it is, whoever it is — worth getting angry about?

Sometimes we have a reason — a right — to be angry. But maybe, just maybe, we go to anger too quickly. We’re fueled by an inflated sense of self — our rights, our injustices — and we don’t take the time to consider where we might be wrong — instead of how we were wronged.

If we take our time … if we grow angry slowly … consider where we are going with our emotions and why … the reality is, the reason to be angry will still be there when we finally  decide “yes, I’m justified in my anger,” right? And if we decide that there’s no reason to be angry, well then we haven’t rushed ahead into a confrontation that we’ll regret.

In Your Words: What helps you grow angry slowly? 

In Your Words: Be Slow to #Anger #InOthersWords #lifequotes
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“Grow angry slowly – there’s plenty of time.” #quotes #RalphWaldoEmerson
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In Others’ Words: When We Face Difficulties

 

I love Tough Mudders. You know what I mean — the courses where you take on obstacles like the Human Hamster Wheel and the Dead Ringer and Electroshock Therapy 2.0. And you get muddy — really, really muddy.

And then there’s the Spartan Race with obstacles like the Rope Climb and the Tire Drag and the Traverse Wall. You get muddy doing this course too — and if you don’t complete an obstacle, you get to do 30 burpees. Fun that, right?

Now, when I say I love Tough Mudders, I mean I love watching them. I cheer on my family members as they conquer the Warped Wall or the Barbed Wire Crawl. I haul my camera around the course and record their athletic accomplishments.

But even as a spectator, I’ve learned that an obstacle course is one huge, muddy life lesson.

You either have what it takes to finish the course — or you don’t. And if you don’t, you can always train for a year to become that person who can finish the race. Of course, there are some people (like me), who will never run a Mudder or a Spartan race. And I’m okay with that. Someone has to cheer athletes on, right?

There is always going to be someone ahead of you on the course — and there’s always going to be someone behind you on the course. This is true, unless you are some elite athlete who blasts out in front of the pack. But there are very few elite athletes. Kudos to you if you are one of those — just don’t swagger.

You can always choose to walk off the course. Quitting is always an option. We like to say “Never quit!” — but people quit things all the time. The question is: did you stop and evaluate why you quit? And how you’re not going to quit next time? Side Note: I’m not saying quitting is the best option. But sometimes it is the only option. Sometimes we do quit. Let’s not shame ourselves about that.

When you face that “I can’t do it” moment, figure out if there’s some “haven’t thought of it yet” way that you can do it. Maybe it’s not about doing it — whatever it is — all by yourself. Maybe you run the course or tackle the challenge with a team. Maybe you ask a stranger who is sitting on top of the wooden wall for a hand up. They’ve figured out a way to get where you want to be. Ask them how they did it.

In Your Words: When it comes to Mudders or Spartan Races, are you a participant or a spectator? And how have you altered difficulties or altered yourself to conquer an obstacle?

In Others’ Words: When We Face Difficulties #InOthersWords #lifequotes #challenges
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Tough Mudders and Facing Difficulties #InOthersWords #quotes #ToughMudder
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In Others’ Words: Why We Say Yes

I always wanted to be a writer. But for years, my focus was on nonfiction: writing for newspapers and magazines and eventually a nonfiction book. And I was happy with that dream.

And then a season of burnout became a bend in the writing road. I wrote a “just for fun” novel. And I eventually showed it to my agent. And after she read it, she asked me, “Why don’t we set aside this nonfiction book you’re working on and see if we can establish you as a novelist?”

And — as crazy as it seemed — I said yes.

And that unexpected yes began so much new in my life.

Yes, I’m a novelist. Surprise!  But I also understand myself better — that happens when you’re developing characters’ wounds, lies and fears. You tend to consider your own. And I’ve grown closer to God … because this writing gig will mess with your mind and heart if you don’t anchor yourself to the Truth.

Oh … and I’ve learned there’s one question I’ll always say no to. It’s this one: Are you going to quit?”

No.

Because there’s no growth when you say “yes” to quitting. 

In Your Words: When have you said ‘yes’ and experienced growth? I’d love for you to share something that began for you because you said ‘yes.’

In Others’ Words: Why We Say Yes #InOthersWords #lifequotes
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“Saying ‘yes’ begins things.” @StephenatHome #StephenColbert #lifequotes
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In Others’ Words: Which Way Do We Go? (Guest Post by

My friend, Pat Trainum is visiting today. She writes as Patricia Bradley and is departing from her usual romantic suspense novels to pen two sweet Christmas romances in the Heartwarming Christmas Anthology. 

 

Have you ever wanted to run away from your problems? I have, so it’s natural that I would write about characters who run away. In my latest story, Amy Logan lives in a Christmas Town, Maine and like most small towns, everyone knows everyone’s business. Like how Amy can’t have children, and she’s tired of seeing pity in the eyes of everyone she meets. She believes she will be happy if she can move thousands of miles away in spite of what her mom says.

Then Mark Bradford returns to Christmas Town. He broke her heart once and she’s not about to let him do it again. Except…he’s come home with his daughter who has selective mutism. And he wants Amy’s help.

How about you? Do you think you can run away from your problems? Or do you believe you just take them along with you? Or are you like my mom who always said, “I’d run away but it wouldn’t do any good—I can’t leave myself behind.”

Leave a comment telling me which thought you subscribe to for a chance to win an  e-copy of the anthology!

The Gingerbread Pony is just one of the stories in A Heartwarming Christmas Anthology. Here’s the blurb:

This holiday season, warm your heart with 12 connected sweet holiday romances from 12 Harlequin Heartwarming authors who are USA Today, national bestselling, and award-winning authors. This collection of PG-rated holiday romances are all set in Christmas Town, a location introduced in the 2014 Harlequin Heartwarming release Christmas, Actually. A Heartwarming Christmas will bring you laughter, tears, and happily-ever-afters (no cliffhangers), for more than 1200 pages. Foreword by small town lover and New York Times bestseller Kristan Higgins.

 

You can preorder A Heartwarming Christmas here:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1TDjGEK 

iTunes: http://apple.co/1OkXsV9

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1CEnSA7

Google Play: http://bit.ly/1J0Qg08

 

Patricia Bradley lives in North Mississippi and is a former abstinence educator and co-author of RISE To Your Dreams, an abstinence curriculum. But her heart is tuned to suspense. Patricia’s romantic suspense books include the Logan Point series—Shadows of the Past, A Promise to Protect, and Gone Without a Trace. She has written two sweet romances for Harlequin Heartwarming, Matthew’s Choice which is available on Amazon and The Christmas Campaign, available in November. Her workshops on writing include two online courses with American Christian Fiction Writers and workshops at the Mid-South Christian Writer’s Conference in Collierville, TN. When she has time, she likes to throw mud on a wheel and see what happens.

Connect with her on her website, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

In Others’ Words: Which Way Do We Go? @PTBradley1 #perseverance #romance #giveaway
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Can we run away from our problems – or do we just take them with us? #InOthersWords @PTBradley1…
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In Others’ Words: What Comes After the Mistake

I was interviewed on the radio last Friday. That’s always fun, even though a radio intervew is a bit of verbal Russian Roulette. I never know if the host is going to a) ask questions from my press release or b) wing it and toss me brand new — think unprepped for — questions.

During this interview, the host mentioned that my novel Crazy Little Thing Called Love dealt with the theme of mistakes, specifically this question: WHAT IF YOUR WORST MISTAKE WAS REALLY THE BEST CHOICE?

And then, thanks to my prepackaged press release, he had the option of asking me these two questions:

Have you ever made a rash decision — even if it was based on good intentions? What happened as a result?
Can you think about a time in your life when you tried to force a dream or rush ahead of God’s timing? How did that work out for you?

 

He didn’t use these questions — but the opportunity was there. And as I looked over my press kit with it’s Q & A, I realized I hedged on my answers a bit. I was honest … almost. Sure,  let’s talk about my past mistakes. Unwise choices I’ve made that either had immediate or lingering consequences — but only in the broadest sense possible.

I’ve made mistakes. We all have. And I know we don’t have to share our mistakes with anybody, anytime. But at times it is easier to write about the mistakes of my imaginary characters than it is to be transparent and honest about my own mistakes. After all, I’m the author — I can fix my characters’ problems, right? But I have to live with the consequences of my choices — even when I cling to the truth that God can bring good out of everything.

I also know mistakes don’t define me. And that the moments after the mistake is made … the days after the mistake is made … well, those can be even more life changing than whatever I said or did.

In Your Words: How do you deal with a mistake? What’s your go-to philosophy, motto, verse — or even who’s your Voice of Truth, the person that sets your right again?

 

Help author Katie Ganshert, author Kathryn Springer, and me celebrate the release of Autumn Brides by downloading a free Year of Weddings novella of your choice and entering to win a Tiffany & Co. necklace!

Enter here or by clicking on the book cover.

Celebrate the release of Autumn Brides w/ a #FREE download of A Year of Weddings novella!…
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In Others’ Words: As Old as You Want to Be

So let’s just have a little fun today.

I found this quote and made the graphic to go along with it. And then I was writing a post about age … and how we celebrate our age early on in life and then we deny how old we are later on in life.

And then I deleted all of that.

Because really, the quote “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?” has nothing to do with any of that.

It’s a straight up question. Pick an age, any age. How old would you be? 10? 20? 36? 90?

I’m a “there’s no going back” kind of gal. I try to be content with where I am, even as I aim for the future. But, if I were to pick an age, I’d grab “thirtysomething.” My thirties were the years when I began to wrestle with my stuff. When I unpacked truth from lies … and began to accept the beautiful, awful truth. When I began to separate who I was from who I was supposed to be. My thirties were excrutiatingly painful years … and some of my most honest years. The mask came off … and for the first time I looked in the mirror and liked who I saw.

And in between all that growing, all that changing, all that honesty … well, I’d travel a bit more.

In Your Words: What about you? What age would you be if you didn’t know what age you were? Why? What would you be doing?

In Others’ Words: As Old as You Want to Be #InOthersWords #lifequotes #age
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“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?” #age #SatchellPaige
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Help author Katie Ganshert, author Kathryn Springer, and me celebrate the release of Autumn Brides by downloading a free Year of Weddings novella of your choice and entering to win a Tiffany & Co. necklace!

Enter here or by clicking on the book cover.

Celebrate the release of Autumn Brides w/ a #FREE download of A Year of Weddings novella!…
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In Others’ Words: The Power of Approval

I can set my mind to imagining quite a lot of different things.

I can imagine what someone might be thinking about me … Or what someone might be saying about me behind my back.

These kinds of imaginings are never positive. I almost always assume the worst.

And sometimes, well, my imagnings have been confirmed. Someone doesn’t like me. Doesn’t respect me. Doesn’t approve of me.

And that reality stings in a way that deflates me … suddenly I am unsure of myself. What if that person is right in their estimation of me?

But what if I imagine something else altogether? What if I forget about all those “someones” who might be thinking about me or saying something about me … and I remember what God says about me?

Oh, the power of God’s approval. Imagine that!

I don’t have to earn God’s approval.

God made me — and He loves me because I am His.

His love is unconditional — no approval-based list of right and wrong fueling His desire to have a relationship with me.

God’s approval is so powerful it transforms all my tomorrows into eternity with Him. And His approval stands against anyone else’s disapproval of me — if only I will stop giving others’ opinions of me more credibility than they deserve.

In Your Words: How does your life change when you stop to imagine the power of God’s approval? What helps you remember that God approves of you?

In Others’ Words: The Power of Approval #InOthersWords #lifequotes #faith
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“Imagine the power of God’s approval.” @QuotingAndy #quotes #faith
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Help author Katie Ganshert, author Kathryn Springer, and me celebrate the release of Autumn Brides by downloading a free Year of Weddings novella of your choice and entering to win a Tiffany & Co. necklace!

Enter here or by clicking on the book cover.

Celebrate the release of Autumn Brides w/ a #FREE download of A Year of Weddings novella!…
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