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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