Ok, so I am feeling a little corny this morning. Forgive me for the child analogy and the silly play on words...I am just really excited! I got my new book yesterday.
And just for the record, when you "push" a book out, you feel as though it is your child. And why the girl gender references? Well, this book is for women, all about women, and I am praying it will get in the hands of women, everywhere! So it just felt right to deem her female. :)
Behind Those Eyes is all about our need to get real...be honest...stop pretending...and start really living. It's all about owning our past but not letting ourselves be owned BY it. It's all about the truth that sometimes hurts, but the Truth that in the end, always heals. Yesterday as it arrived, I gave this book back to my Heavenly Father as my "yes" to Him, and I am praying that He will do with it whatever He wants.And me, too, by the way.
I would love for you to go to my newly renovated website at www.lisawhittle.com and click on Resources to watch a 3 minute video clip of me sharing my vision of the book. You should know before you go there that 1) I do realize my white shirt with gathered shoulders makes me look like a middle linebacker, and 2) the microphone attached to my white shirt looks like a bug sitting up on my chest. These two observations solidify my reasoning with wearing black at all times, especially on camera! Seriously...the camera has to add 150 pounds! :)
I would LOVE to give out 2 sneak preview copies of my new book, not yet released to the general public until May 15! If you want to enter to win, please leave a comment with what you think women pretend to be the most...a "get real" moment of yours...or when the truth healed you in some way. I can't wait to read your thoughts, and I really can't wait to send 2 of you a book. Some of your stories are in there!
And for any of you "winners" who happen to not to get selected this time, there is a buy it now button on my resource page that will connect you to the listing on amazon. You can pre-order your copy today!
By the way, I think I'll name my new baby girl, Joy! It just seems appropriate.
Lisa :)
P.S. We are taking the kids to the beach next week for Spring Break, so I will not be posting my usual Monday morning blog. Instead, I want to give as many of you time to enter to win the book as possible, so check back with me next Thursday (April 10) for the posting of the winners!
22 comments:
YEAH! I remember that feeling! So awesome! Have fun on your trip!
Congratulations on your new book! I watched the video on your website, and I can't wait to get my hands on it! (or win it!)
I've pretended in several of the areas you mentioned, but at this point of my life, I think the area I most need to "dig deep" is in my hopes & dreams. I chose to marry young, and start a family, and homeschool my children. As much as I love my life, I don't honestly feel that motherhood is ALL I was created for. Deep inside, I know I have more to offer, and I haven't allowed myself to "get real" and admit my desires to myself or anyone else.
I'm SO looking forward to reading Behind Those Eyes with a girlfriend or two!
Congratulations on the arrival of Joy! How exciting! Behind Those Eyes sounds like a must read for women. I loved how you described your vision for the book in the video on your website.
I have been guilty of the putting up the facade of confidence to hide my insecurities, which often stem from a self-standard of perfectionism. One truth that helped me was realizing God does not expect perfection and He can use our imperfections for a greater good.
Have a great trip to the beach. Thanks for the opportunity to be one of the first to read your new book before the official release.
congrats!!!!
I think the thing I see ladies do all the time is pretend that they love being a parent every minute of every day.
This does an injustice, 'cause the first time you think to yourself that you want to run away, you think that you're the only one.
I'd love to see more women 'get real' with each other about this so we could encourage one another more!
His girl...
I agree with you! And one of the sections in the Ms. Perfection chapter is about Perfect Mom Syndrome...exactly what you are talking about!
Thanks for sharing -- all of you and comments to come!
Lisa :)
Lisa,
Congrats on the book - I know that you were so pleased to recieve it prior to leaving for the week.
I have never liked it when women pretend to have the perfect marriage/spouse. Let's face it - ALL marriages are challenging because they require constant care and attention to keep them healthy and growing. Thanks for helping us keep it real - I look forward to reading your book and sharing it with the moms and ladies that I am blessed to minister to - God Bless!
Kim--
...there is a section on the Perfect Wife Syndrome, as well!!! I couldn't agree with you more.
Have a great week off! You deserve it. :)
Lisa
Oh, how exciting. I cannot wait to read it. I hope to win, but if I don't I'm sure I'll buy!
My get real moment. I think for me it is "pretending it doesn't matter." I know that women often let others know when something matters, but often with the deepest hurts, we pretend it "doesn't matter." In elementary school, we are not asked to play and we say, "It doesn't matter, I didn't want to jump rope anyway." As a teen before the dance, "It doesn't matter, I didn't want to go anyway."
As an adult, "It doesn't matter, I didn't want the house with a white picket fence and the kids would ruin the carpet anyway and a husband would drive me nutts. It doesn't matter GOD becaue I didn't really want all that anyway."
Or sometimes we say, "Okay, I wanted all that but God, you are enough" and that is a pretend too. I say it because it sounds more Christian and accepting.
But when I pretend in whatever way, I wall off bits of my heart. God would rather hear me say, "I want it all -- the kids, the husband, the dog, the in laws everyone complains about, the very best friend I can call at 2:00 AM. And God I know you are suppose to be ENOOUGH, but sometimes I want it so and it doesn't feel like you are enough." When I'm honest to say that, He invites me on his lap and tells me He knows and reminds be that He is enough but it is okay to have those feelings. They are longings He built in me. And He invites me to wait a little longer to see what He will do -- not a promise that all those things will come the way I think they will but how He might use hands, my life, my heart and meet me in a way I can never imagine.
But it is best not to pretend those things don't matter because when I pretend like that, I wall off my heart and do not let Him comfort me. And I risk falling into the pit of doubt that says He is holding out on me, keeping back the best. But God doesn't do that.
Sorry for the ramble.....
Oh my goodness...Amy...
I am sitting here after just reading your comment, and chills are running up my arms. How beautifully expressed your feelings are, and I am thinking you should have written this book! :) Wow. Thank you for sharing. It is certainly not a ramble, sister. It's a great word.
I think you'll relate to the chapter on Ms. Confidence. That runs along the lines with what you are saying -- we act like we don't care and things don't effect us, when really, they do. I love the way you said it that "it doesn't matter." I think this needs to be an article, girl. Use your words in this comment and build off of them. Women will really relate -- I did when I read it.
Thank you for sharing! You have blessed me this morning by your words.
Lisa :)
Oh...and P.S....
There is a chapter in there on Ms. Spirituality, too -- like what you were saying about saying Christian things just to sound good. It's all about being honest and real, girl. He knows it, anyway. You and I are so on the same page.
Lisa :)
Lisa -- first I want to say congratulations! I know you are thrilled to be holding this new "baby!"
I'm definitely buying this book, but I thought I would toss my hat in the ring.
My area of pretension was trying to fit into so many molds -- perfect wife, Mom, church worker, friend. The Lord had to bop me over the head with a 2x4 to get my attention. It took some serious wrangling with deception to get my attention, but get it He did.
I now live life for an audience of one -- my Lord and Savior. What you see is what you get. I'm a flawed, frazzled, usually optimistic dreamer with a true love for the Lord. I have good days and bad, but I'm me - just a sinner saved by grace.
From the person who once tried to be all things and be perfect at all the things, it's not worth it. Drop the mask and step into a victorious life in Christ.
She's just beautiful, Lisa! ;-)
Congrats girl. I think the thing women most pretend to be is in control. In control of their life, their marriage, their kids (yeah right!), for that matter even their hair! I wish we could all just learn to let go and let God use us to love one another to the FULLEST!!
Have a great break!
V
Lisa,
What a great topic for a book! Congratulations and thank you for sharing yourself and your insights this way. I think people (including me) rarely share the real pain they are in. It feels easier somehow to pretend to be strong or that we have it all together. I often think, even if people ask me, that they really don't want to go to the messy, ugly, painful places with me. Sometimes they do, but more often I'm afraid to unlock that door inside myself and let them in.
The rare times that I unlock the door -- sometimes just to peer inside myself and sit quietly with the pain -- God always meets me there.
Blessings to you and yours on your Spring Break!
Lisa,
I haven't read anyone else's comment yet, but decided to write first. One of the things that strikes me is that we tend to 'put on' that we have it all together. So many times we are hurting inside, but don't share it because we think our friend won't understand us.
I am currently doing research for a book that I hope to write that address the ten struggles we face as Christian women. I have heard back from over 160 women so far from ages 18-71 and I am amazed at how similar our struggles are. It hasn't made a lot of difference whether they were single, married, divorced or widowed. This tells me that we needs to shatter those walls that we hide behind and start being 'real' with each other.
Sorry for the long ramblings. Sure would love the opportunity to win your new book. Congratulations on getting it all completed!
Blessings,
Pearls
Congrats on the book! Looking forward to reading it!
I think women pretend to have it all under control. We smile and nod when we're asked,"how's it going?". "Oh, fine." Because we don't want to say, "Well, I feel like my head is going to spin off my neck if my child asks me one more question or takes one more toy away from his sister or sasses me one more time!" Cause then it seems we aren't really in control of the kids, or life, or whatever. We're not doing too well at the whole parenting thing and maybe we're the only ones.
Thankfully we really AREN'T in control and don't have to try to be. Because the One who IS in control CAN handle it, even when we can't. Thank goodness!!
How do I pretend? Let me count the ways! Probably the biggest one right now is that I pretend like I'm accomplishing something (like writing) when I'm really spinning my wheels. It's easier to keep revising something I've already written than to write something new.
Your baby is so cute!
Oh Lisa, how exciting!!!! Congrats to you on this beautiful book! I pray you have a wonderful time at the beach (no wonder I couldn't reach you today!) and that your conference this weekend goes fabulously. Love you much and LOVE your new website...it's gorgeous! Can't WAIT to read your book! love, Shari
Congratulations on your "new baby"!!! I can't wait to read it...her!!!
I think women try to convince everyone that their lives are 'perfect'....in all areas...spiritually, relationship with spouse, raising children!! We're afraid to be open and honest with how things really are in our lives....for fear of rejection or worse yet, indifference.
I've had friends that 'appear' to have it all together...will even 'tell' you they have it all together, but then in a conversation with their spouse or family member you'll find out their lives are unraveling. You wonder why, why the 'act'..and then you hurt for them...and then you are convicted because you've done the same thing before.
Thanks so much for bringing this 'baby' into the world...can't wait to read it!!!!!
I just found your blog and I am defnitely intrigued by the title of your book. We are Myrtle Beach goers as well and it is the worst place to be when you are sick or when it rains! Hope the rest of your trip is great!
I bet it was so exciting to see your book arrive at your doorstep!
I think there are so many areas that women pretend...I know I fight pretending often. For me, I often struggle in the area of ministry. My husband is the pastor and sometimes I am just plain afraid to be real. I pretend that ministry life is always grand and it is exactly where I want to be. But...sometimes...it just isn't! It can be hard, hurtful, and lonely. I am really working on breaking through in so many areas, and we have had several discussions with the ladies group at church about this very thing.
I am so looking forward to your new book! Hey, maybe it would be a great book for our church ladies group to go and grow through together.
Pursuing Him~
Jamie
Oh, Lisa! She is absolutely beautiful. She came today and I've just gotten to glance through.... I think she will be wonderful for me!
Thank you so much for sending her!
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