Posts by joaniebruce

3 Steps for Reacting to Negative Comments

Posted by joaniebruce on Aug 16, 2014 in General | 3 comments

Does is scare you to open yourself up to criticism? I’m always afraid of presenting my creative ideas and offerings to others because of the fear of rejection. However, if the Lord gave me an ability to be out there in the open and evaluated by others, no matter how good I try to make it, I know I will experience criticism. When my writing is rejected or condemned by others, or when someone wants to offer advice to improve the look of one of my paintings, I’ve learned that reacting positively makes hearing the negative side of feedback a lot easier to bear. Not only does it mature you as a person, but it actually helps improve your next project. Therefore, I’ve learned three steps to reacting positively to criticism.

First of all, in the beginning, I allow myself to experience the negative emotions that come with rejection … but only for a short time. Wallowing in self-pity is not productive, even briefly. However, we do need time to allow the initial hurt to pass.

Secondly, I try to evaluate the negative remarks to see if what the person said could be true. Did I make a fatal mistake in the plot of my story to make it unbelievable? Were my characters really shallow or too perfect? I can gain valuable information from advice if I open up to the possibilities. Sometimes I discuss the negative comments with a friend, and their insight is often enlightening. If there are no suggestions in the remarks … simply criticisms … then I move on to the next step.

Thirdly, I try to forget the past and move on ahead … let it go. I have a gut-reaction to give up and never touch the paint brush or the next book project I’m working on again … but only for a short time. Having a positive attitude works wonders on your self-esteem. And, if I temporarily drop what I’m doing, move on to another project for a short time, and come back when I’m in better spirits, I find the future for my writing or painting seems brighter.

What about you? Accepting criticism is hard for all of us, but God offers wisdom for reacting to those negative comments with the right attitude:  “Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase learning.” Prov. 9: 8, 9

My Review of “Distortion” by Terri Blackstock

Posted by joaniebruce on Jul 28, 2014 in General | 1 comment

I love all of Terri Blackstock’s books, and this one was no exception.

After witnessing her husband’s murder, Juliet faces the horrible reality that her husband of fifteen years was a totally different person than the man she thought him to be. However, while her faith sustained her, Julie’s family rallied around her to help solve the mystery threatening to destroy her and her children.

What I liked: This is a story of faith in the midst of doubt and confusion, and trust in the Lord during traumatic devastation. The suspense in the story kept me turning pages, and I finished it in one day.

What I didn’t like: It seems almost impossible that a wife would not see some hints of an alternate lifestyle and the odd behavior of her husband during the fifteen long years of their marriage. It’s hard to believe she would have been so completely naive and ignorant of his secrets.

I loved this book in spite of my doubts about her total ignorance, and I highly recommend “Distortion” to anyone loving suspense and mystery. ♦♦♦♦♦  I give this book a five star rating.

AM I AN ANNUAL, OR A PERENNIAL?

Posted by joaniebruce on Jun 20, 2014 in General | 2 comments

It’s that time of year when we enjoy marigolds, petunias, and impatiens in our yards. They add beauty and sweet fragrance to our landscaping as well as make beautiful bouquets for the dining room table. These flowers are called annuals because they complete their life cycle in one growing season, once they die, they never return. On the other hand, plants called perennials return year after year and still survive through harsh winter weather.

Annuals are enjoyable and bloom profusely during the warmer seasons, but at the end of summer, as colder weather approaches, they lose their beauty, wilt, and die. Perennials, such as jonquils, lilies, and beautiful coneflowers, survive the cold temperatures, and come back to bloom another year. Some perennials even bloom during the coldest winters. The camellia bush, for example, blooms continually during winter months. Jonquils are the first flower to bloom in early spring and have been known to pop out their vivid colors through layers of snow.

I believe friendships can be like these two types of flowers: Some friends are “fair-weather” friends. Like the annual flower, when trouble comes … gossip or misunderstandings … the “annual” type friend will weaken and turn away from the friendship. On the other hand, there are friends who linger to support you through trials and testings and will stick with you no matter what kind of harsh conditions assault the friendship.

If I compare my friendships with these two types of flowers, which type of friend am I? Do I add something to the lives of my friends when they need an ally and support them with positive uplifting encouragement? Or, do I wilt and become negative or depressing to be around when harsh conditions enter their lives and ignore their silent pleas for understanding?

The Bible says: “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: And there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Prov. 18:24a

If I want to be a friend who sticks “closer than a brother,” I have to be a perennial type friend. What about you?

IT’S HAY SEASON!!

Posted by joaniebruce on May 8, 2014 in General | 2 comments

Well … it’s hay season, and my day started with a BANG. My husband, Ben, got up early. Oh no!!  🙂

When Ben starts hay season, I always tease him about having “hayfever” with a “glazed” look in his eyes and a one-track mind: GET INTO THE HAY FIELD! His only thought is getting everything done in a hurry and getting back to the field. That frenzy he feels during this time of year radiates to me as well. Hay season is a time when I have to be on my toes and make sure I have his meals ready when he walks through the door……even if he’s 30 minutes early. 🙂

Well, this morning, I overslept. Oooops! He came in for breakfast, and I was still making the bed. Yikes! He NEVER fusses, but he just sort of stands around and fidgets…..you know what I mean? LOL  He does try to help when he can, and it’s not like I make a huge breakfast every morning….I don’t. We have cereal, fruit, and juice. However, I usually have time to feed my cats (inside and out) and cut up the strawberries, etc. This morning, I just sort of threw Ben’s meal at him and pushed him out the door. LOL

Sometimes I feel that way about my devotions … just get them done and get on to the more important things. Well, we all know that’s not right. My devotions should be the most important thing of my day. They ARE the most important thing of my day. They’re my visit with God, my time to “hear” Him speak to me through his Word and through my quiet time with Him. Sure, I “pray without ceasing” throughout the day, but I’m not listening for His direction during those times. I NEED to hear God speak to me, and by reading His Word, I “hear” His guidance, His instruction, His reprimand, His LOVE!

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”  Ps 119:105

Joy WILL Come In The Morning

Posted by joaniebruce on Apr 25, 2014 in General | Comments Off on Joy WILL Come In The Morning

Flying a kite is always fun. When I was small, I wished I could be a kite and feel what it would be like to let go of the string so I could fly higher and higher into the sky. I could soar above the earth and see everything going on down below. However, sooner or later, when the wind died down or the air thinned around you, you would have to come down … and what a landing that would be!

Sometimes I think of my relationship with God in that way. He doesn’t allow us to keep traveling upward on wings of happiness, fulfillment and love because He knows how hard the landing will be when actions of others or trying circumstances bring pain into our lives. Instead, He allows our paths to dip down into times of rejection and need … in the middle of our happiness … to make us appreciate what blessings we have. God promises that, yes we will have sorrow, but through that sorrow, we have the assurance of His presence and love. Yes, there is pain, but joy always is just over the horizon.

“… weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”  Ps. 30:5b