Today, I’ve been in bed all day. Nasty virus kept me up all night, asleep all day. And I am t-i-r-e-d. When I am this tired, my body weak and worn, I feel fragile. Days like this make me wonder in awe at my healthy self. The one that gets up early and writes and rides and makes pies.
Today I am gifting a copy of Shauna Niequist’s book, Bittersweet, to you.
Because it’s a lovely book and because life is full of bittersweet … days when you’re weak in wondering why people’s lives are filled with chronic heartbreak or incurable cancer or extreme poverty.
Bittersweet is the idea that in all things there is both something broken and something beautiful, there is a sliver of lightness on even the darkest of nights, a shadow of hope in every heartbreak, and that rejoicing is no less rich when it contains a splinter of sadness.
Bittersweet is the practice of believing that we really do need both the bitter and the sweet, and that a life of nothing but sweetness rots both your teeth and your soul. Bitter is what makes us strong, what forces us to push through, what helps us earn the lines on our faces and the calluses on our hands. Sweet is nice enough, but bittersweet is beautiful, nuanced, full of depth and complexity. Bittersweet is courageous, gutsy, earthy.
~ Shauna Niequist
To enter to win the book, tell me what makes you feel strong or what makes you feel weak?
This giveaway now closed. Winners announced here!
Still up for grabs this week:
- black Tony Lamas roughed up and wonderful. Certain to give you cowboy credibility.
- 5 copies of Love Does by Bob Goff. Certain to give you tons of ideas to love people.
- vera bradley duo … darling. to share.
A reminder, the ’31 days of enough’ giveaways this week work like this:
1) Only one entry per giveaway item. 2) You are eligible to win only one item a week. 3) Entries on this item open until 5 pm (CST) on Friday 10/12/12. 4) Winners must live in the contiguous United States. This week’s winners will be announced on Saturdays (10/13) on my blog. Please check your email promptly if you’re announced as a winner.
vera bradley via Haiti … free stuff
free stuff: one thousand gifts
Love Does … free stuff
free stuff: popovers
these boots are made for walkin’ … free stuff
Connecting with another person, writing makes me feel strong. Begging out in front of the tv makes me feel weak.
Faith, Love & Working Out. :)
i most definitely feel weak after a day (or week) of trying to do it all on my own. it’s amazing how often i forget that i need His strength…and it’s never more apparent than when i act like i can do it by myself.
Feel better Susie!
My daughters make me strong.
First, I hope you are feeling better and get back to yourself soon. As a mom, we don’t get many “sick” days! To answer your question…What makes me feel strong? When I look back at my past and know that I have overcome a childhood of abuse and came out on the other side! What makes me feel weak? Knowing that I have made decisions in my past that I’m not proud of and that I will have to answer to God about them someday. I have asked for forgiveness and laid my burdens down at his feet but some will always stay with me…
Making it through a day as a mom to a 6 and 9 year old makes me feel strong and weak at the same time…bittersweet.
Feel better soon.
Running makes me feel strong.
I’m not registering for the book. But I am praying for you, sweet friend. Praying you will heal quickly, praying that you’ll feel renewed and refreshed to ride and bake and spread joy again. And honestly, at this moment, wishing I had this book (or many copies of it) to take with me to Jamaica. I feel there are some women there who need to know more about the beauty of a bitterSWEET life. Perhaps I need a reminder too!
Thanks, Ronne. I’m feeling better already.
Can’t wait to hear about Jamaica!
My Father makes me feel strong, I watch him at 90 and he make me believe I can do anything. What makes me weak, not reading Gods word every day. Sorry to hear your under the weather, hope you feel better soon.
I feel strong when I am not just listening to God’s voice – but am following His Plan, not mine.
Hiking makes me feel strong. And not just physically, emotionally & spiritually too. It does something to me. Reminds me there is more to this world than my own problems & helps me look forward. Strengthens my heart.