“Failure makes you stronger, if you let it.” “Exactly. And God knows that. Sometimes, He leads us through a door that results in failure. It’s failure that we would have avoided if we had avoided the open door, but we would have avoided the lessons - lessons that make us better people. More compassionate people. People who see things from others’ perspectives and notice things that we might not have known before. Just a whole wealth of experiences and ideas and attitudes and actions that we learn when things don’t go the way we want them to.”
―
Jessie Gussman,
The Farmer's Hometown Girl
“Still, it was discouraging to think that she would spend the rest of her life being ignored and neglected, unable to find a partner who truly cared about her, while basically being a single woman who did a man's laundry. If she was going to be single, she didn't want the extra laundry to do.” ― Jessie Gussman, Just a Cowboy's Best Friend (Flyboys of Sweet Briar Ranch North Dakota Western Sweet Romance Book 2)
“But there was something inside of every kid who wanted his parents to be proud of him.” ― Jessie Gussman, Better Together
“But I learned through those years that you choose your own happiness, and you have to put the past behind you. It’s over with, and all it does is eat you up if you let it.” “Your husband was a jerk. I admire you for saying you put it behind you. Is that true?” Tiffany asked, unsure how anyone could put the cheating of their husband and the breakup with their family behind them with no bitterness. “It is. Because if I don’t put that behind me, if I let that bother me, I’m not punishing him. I’m punishing myself. He doesn’t give a flip whether I’m still angry at him or not. But my anger eats me. That’s why forgiveness is so important.” Maybe no one ever explained it to her quite like that before, or maybe she just had refused to listen. But it made sense. Forgiving someone was less about letting them get away with it and more about freeing herself to not be bitter and angry and not allow those emotions to destroy her health and her peace of mind. “My forgiveness needs to be pointed more directly at myself than anyone around me. I made a lot of stupid mistakes that hurt myself.” Tiffany” ― Jessie Gussman, Magical Twilights
“So many things to feel guilty about. She was a terrible mom, a terrible daughter, and a terrible friend.” ― Jessie Gussman, Blueberry Beach Box Set Books 1-5
“It wasn’t exactly what she wanted, but she’d learned early in life that a person didn’t always get what they wanted. It was best to be happy with what one had.” ― Jessie Gussman, Sweet Water Ranch Box Set Books 1-10
“Or at least, I guess we all make stupid mistakes, just admit it. Move on. Because God has a way of taking our stupid mistakes and turning them into really great lessons and even better blessings. As long as we admit that they were mistakes, repent, and turn to Him, He can make beauty out of ashes. That’s almost His specialty.” Bev” ― Jessie Gussman, Tender Mercies
“before. Gram had always said” ― Jessie Gussman, Always With You
“I want to keep her. Part of me just can’t bear the thought of giving her up. But most of me knows that I wouldn’t be doing the best thing for my baby if I kept her myself. And even though that’s not what I wanted, I know that sometimes I have to make hard decisions and not give myself what I want in order to do the best for somebody else.” ― Jessie Gussman, Sweet Afternoons
“but she couldn’t use Jesus as fire insurance. Even the devils believe and tremble” ― Jessie Gussman, Sweet Water Ranch Box Set Books 1-10
“Don’t do that. Please. We all make mistakes. I’ve made a bunch. I think, more than making mistakes, it’s how we react to them after we’ve made them, the choices we make when we’re down, that show our wisdom. Since everyone, especially in the heat of the moment, does stupid things.” “I know. I just feel like I’m old enough to know better. Old enough to have control of myself. Old enough to walk away with dignity, instead of getting down and acting just as bad, if not worse, than my ex.” ― Jessie Gussman, Tender Mercies
“A mother’s bond with her child is really strong,” Bev said, knowing it was true. “And Iva May loved you with her whole heart and soul.” ― Jessie Gussman, Tender Mercies
“I know. And I can’t deny that it made me feel good that someone was going to stick up for me. It made me confident. Even though that incident opened my eyes in some ways, I felt like no matter what I did, my mom was in my corner. I knew she’d go to bat for me, although I also knew that if I was wrong, she’d let me face the consequences and not try to manipulate things so that I got out of punishment that I deserved.” ― Jessie Gussman, Tender Mercies
“I will love you, no matter what you do. No matter how bad you think it is, no matter how bad the rest of the world thinks it is. You are my child, and I will always, always love you. I might not agree with you. I might not like what you do.” ― Jessie Gussman, Blueberry Beach Box Set Books 1-5
“Remembering the pastor’s sermon about forgiveness and not just forgiving other people but forgiving yourself, she almost laughed. He could have been looking into her life this past week as Ethan walked into it and brought up all the old guilt and shame. The pastor could have read that sermon on forgiving yourself just for her. She supposed God knew what she needed. And that was what she needed today. The payment for sin had been paid. Even though God was holy and couldn’t stand sin, he didn’t see it anymore because it was covered by the blood of Christ. She” ― Jessie Gussman, Blueberry Beach Box Set Books 1-5
“Read your Bible. That’s the secret. Reading, with the intention of letting God speak to you, letting Him show you the areas that you need to work on, and just submitting your life to Him.” ― Jessie Gussman, Tender Mercies
“You don’t fail and then quit. You fail, look at what you did wrong, make some adjustments to fix it, and then get up and try again. Day by day. Each day, you get a little better at it.” ― Jessie Gussman, Tender Mercies
“wanted. Some things never change.” “Our lives aren’t getting any longer. Every second that expires is one we’ll never get back.” ― Jessie Gussman, Tender Mercies
“Then color me slow, because it feels like now, while I agree with you, I’m more patient than I used to be, a little better at keeping my mouth shut than when I was younger, more apt to be forgiving of others and less judgmental. But I feel like every day we’re not together is a day I can’t get back and a day that’s wasted.” ― Jessie Gussman, Tender Mercies
“Still, it was discouraging to think that she would spend the rest of her life being ignored and neglected, unable to find a partner who truly cared about her, while basically being a single woman who did a man's laundry. If she was going to be single, she didn't want the extra laundry to do.” ― Jessie Gussman, Just a Cowboy's Best Friend (Flyboys of Sweet Briar Ranch North Dakota Western Sweet Romance Book 2)
“But there was something inside of every kid who wanted his parents to be proud of him.” ― Jessie Gussman, Better Together
“But I learned through those years that you choose your own happiness, and you have to put the past behind you. It’s over with, and all it does is eat you up if you let it.” “Your husband was a jerk. I admire you for saying you put it behind you. Is that true?” Tiffany asked, unsure how anyone could put the cheating of their husband and the breakup with their family behind them with no bitterness. “It is. Because if I don’t put that behind me, if I let that bother me, I’m not punishing him. I’m punishing myself. He doesn’t give a flip whether I’m still angry at him or not. But my anger eats me. That’s why forgiveness is so important.” Maybe no one ever explained it to her quite like that before, or maybe she just had refused to listen. But it made sense. Forgiving someone was less about letting them get away with it and more about freeing herself to not be bitter and angry and not allow those emotions to destroy her health and her peace of mind. “My forgiveness needs to be pointed more directly at myself than anyone around me. I made a lot of stupid mistakes that hurt myself.” Tiffany” ― Jessie Gussman, Magical Twilights
“So many things to feel guilty about. She was a terrible mom, a terrible daughter, and a terrible friend.” ― Jessie Gussman, Blueberry Beach Box Set Books 1-5
“It wasn’t exactly what she wanted, but she’d learned early in life that a person didn’t always get what they wanted. It was best to be happy with what one had.” ― Jessie Gussman, Sweet Water Ranch Box Set Books 1-10
“Or at least, I guess we all make stupid mistakes, just admit it. Move on. Because God has a way of taking our stupid mistakes and turning them into really great lessons and even better blessings. As long as we admit that they were mistakes, repent, and turn to Him, He can make beauty out of ashes. That’s almost His specialty.” Bev” ― Jessie Gussman, Tender Mercies
“before. Gram had always said” ― Jessie Gussman, Always With You
“I want to keep her. Part of me just can’t bear the thought of giving her up. But most of me knows that I wouldn’t be doing the best thing for my baby if I kept her myself. And even though that’s not what I wanted, I know that sometimes I have to make hard decisions and not give myself what I want in order to do the best for somebody else.” ― Jessie Gussman, Sweet Afternoons
“but she couldn’t use Jesus as fire insurance. Even the devils believe and tremble” ― Jessie Gussman, Sweet Water Ranch Box Set Books 1-10
“Don’t do that. Please. We all make mistakes. I’ve made a bunch. I think, more than making mistakes, it’s how we react to them after we’ve made them, the choices we make when we’re down, that show our wisdom. Since everyone, especially in the heat of the moment, does stupid things.” “I know. I just feel like I’m old enough to know better. Old enough to have control of myself. Old enough to walk away with dignity, instead of getting down and acting just as bad, if not worse, than my ex.” ― Jessie Gussman, Tender Mercies
“A mother’s bond with her child is really strong,” Bev said, knowing it was true. “And Iva May loved you with her whole heart and soul.” ― Jessie Gussman, Tender Mercies
“I know. And I can’t deny that it made me feel good that someone was going to stick up for me. It made me confident. Even though that incident opened my eyes in some ways, I felt like no matter what I did, my mom was in my corner. I knew she’d go to bat for me, although I also knew that if I was wrong, she’d let me face the consequences and not try to manipulate things so that I got out of punishment that I deserved.” ― Jessie Gussman, Tender Mercies
“I will love you, no matter what you do. No matter how bad you think it is, no matter how bad the rest of the world thinks it is. You are my child, and I will always, always love you. I might not agree with you. I might not like what you do.” ― Jessie Gussman, Blueberry Beach Box Set Books 1-5
“Remembering the pastor’s sermon about forgiveness and not just forgiving other people but forgiving yourself, she almost laughed. He could have been looking into her life this past week as Ethan walked into it and brought up all the old guilt and shame. The pastor could have read that sermon on forgiving yourself just for her. She supposed God knew what she needed. And that was what she needed today. The payment for sin had been paid. Even though God was holy and couldn’t stand sin, he didn’t see it anymore because it was covered by the blood of Christ. She” ― Jessie Gussman, Blueberry Beach Box Set Books 1-5
“Read your Bible. That’s the secret. Reading, with the intention of letting God speak to you, letting Him show you the areas that you need to work on, and just submitting your life to Him.” ― Jessie Gussman, Tender Mercies
“You don’t fail and then quit. You fail, look at what you did wrong, make some adjustments to fix it, and then get up and try again. Day by day. Each day, you get a little better at it.” ― Jessie Gussman, Tender Mercies
“wanted. Some things never change.” “Our lives aren’t getting any longer. Every second that expires is one we’ll never get back.” ― Jessie Gussman, Tender Mercies
“Then color me slow, because it feels like now, while I agree with you, I’m more patient than I used to be, a little better at keeping my mouth shut than when I was younger, more apt to be forgiving of others and less judgmental. But I feel like every day we’re not together is a day I can’t get back and a day that’s wasted.” ― Jessie Gussman, Tender Mercies
