Filling Spaces (and I admit it…)

Right now there are three CDs crammed in the one-slot-CD-player in our van.
Because to our youngest, it looked like there was a space there that needed filling.

And today we went to the dentist.
And I’m just going to admit it–
I have a cavity.
Side note–my husband has never-ever-ever-ever-EVER-ever had a cavity.
And we hear about it all the time…
Sigh.
But it’s the first one I’ve had in a LONG time.
And our dentist explained that even though it’s not big, he’ll have to drill out the area and then fill the space with some sort of composite to keep the area safe.
Because otherwise that hole would over time fill itself with decay.
And then I’ll have to walk around in pure numbness for a bit,
trying not to chew up the inside of my own mouth.
But it will fill itself,
If we don’t fill it.

Last year, I quit using Facebook for a while = space.
But I filled that time slot with writing = filled space.
Good?

I stopped waking up early to exercise = space.
But I filled that hole with sleep = filled space.
Bad?

Sometimes the exchange is for the better-best.
Sometimes it’s neutral.
Sometimes it’s intentional.
Sometimes it’s accidental.
Sometimes it’s worse.

But regardless…
If a space is created it inevitably is filled by something else.

I was talking with a good friend this week about her exercise-changing-eating-journey towards better health.  She commented that in order to get rid of the foods that weren’t good for her body, she had to replace them with something better. 

I want to drive out discontentment and complaining.
I must fill that space with giving thanks and gratitude.

I want to dig out worry and fear.
I must fill that space with trust and Truth.

I want to scrape out anger and impatience.
I must fill that space with kindness and love.

And then I read this last night:

“She made it her business to please her Savior.
The great rule for doing this practically
in all the little events of the day
is to be thinking of Him…and trying to please Him,
by not merely not doing evil
but by doing good–
not merely negatively trying not to be unkind,
not to be disobedient, not to give pain,
but trying positively
to be kind, to be obedient.”
~Amazing Dad– Letters from William Wilberforce to his Children



It’s the putting off of Colossians 3–
anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene talk, lies, the old self with its practices…
And it’s the filling that space with–
compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, love, forgiveness…

And the– how?

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
to which indeed you were called in one body.
And be thankful.
Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly,
teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,
singing psalms and hymns and songs,
with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
~Colossians 3:15-17

And the very practical–how?

“I had never practiced.
Practiced until it became the second nature, the first skin.
Practice is the hardest part of learning,
and training is the essence of transformation.
Practice, practice, practice.
Hammer. Hammer. Hammer…
Because that habit…
can only be driven out by hammering in one iron sharper.”
~Ann Voskamp, A Thousand Gifts, Chapter 3
The practice of creating a hole and filling it with something better–
Removing the unwanted, but then not leaving it empty…
Instead filling it with that which is good and godly and honoring to Him.
And I said it with my Little tonight as we do every night:
“Goodnight.
Sleep tight.
Wake up bright,
In the morning light,
To do what’s right,
With all your might.”
And then her addition:
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11 Comments · Filed Under: Home Life, What God is Teaching Me · Tagged With: ,
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  • http://ourfamilyforhisglory.com/ Our Family for His Glory

    So, so blessed by your words, and your precious reminder to choose to fill our “holes” with what is good and godly.

    • http://thechuppies.com/ Kara @ The Chuppies

      Thank you Jessica :)

  • http://twitter.com/JenniMullinix Jenni Mullinix

    So very true… Thanks for this reminder and for linking up with Thrive @ Home Thursday!

  • Elizabeth Johnson

    Yes! So true. We cannot be filled with Christ, unless we are first emptied of ourselves. I liked that quote from William Wilberforce. Thanks for sharing :)

  • kariandcompany

    HOW do you know what is in my heart and mind? YES! Space. I’m amazed at how simple it is to slowly let the sides of that space erode into the center… just a trickle here, a teeny bit here, and before I know it, I’m right back to where I was. It is such a constant, conscious effort ALL. THE. TIME. Love this. Thank you!

    • http://thechuppies.com/ Kara @ The Chuppies

      What I find frustrating-crazy…is how quickly I get rid of one negative…only to replace it with another (if I don’t fill it with something worthwhile and good).
      Exactly as you wrote….a constant, consious, effort ALL the time!

  • http://www.facebook.com/bozarth Brian Rebecca Bozarth

    Oh I loved it! So right… like a quote I heard once (prob will mess it up but to the effect of) “If you don’t aim for anything you’ll just fall for everything”…
    http://www.bozarth.co/

  • http://www.KarenEYates.com/ Karen Yates

    Very true Kara. We fill the space. Sometimes I wish I would be more mindful, more aware of how I’m filling it, and asking in advance if that’s how God wants me to fill it. Because even when we fill with good things there are so many ‘good’ things but are they the “best” things?! But I love the thought of not just eliminating the unhealthy but fueling with what is best. Sometimes we focus lots on the former and not enough on the latter.

  • http://www.onefunmom.com Christy

    Yes! Right now our cassette player (*gasp* it’s an old van) doesn’t work because someone needed to fill that space with something… :)

    Thanks for this reminder Kara! I’ve seen this in Proverbs a lot and a discipler called it the “if/then” principle: if you want to stop “…”, then you must start “….”.

  • http://www.bygracealone.net Jessica

    Beautiful.

  • http://www.thechuppies.com Kara @ The Chuppies

    Thank you Jessica :)