• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Big Mama

the big mama blog

  • Home
  • Meet Melanie
  • Blog
  • Speaking
  • Books
    • *New* On The Bright Side
    • *New* Piper and Mabel
    • Church of the Small Things
    • Nobody’s Cuter Than You
    • The Antelope in the Living Room
    • Sparkly Green Earrings
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Melanie Podcast
You are here: Home / Diary / Jen Hatmaker’s foreword for On the Bright Side

Jen Hatmaker’s foreword for On the Bright Side

February 25, 2020 ·

As you most likely know if you are reading this post, my new book On the Bright Side recently came out. It was to include a foreword by my dear friend Jen Hatmaker. It even said that RIGHT ON THE COVER.

However, my publisher somehow left it out of the book. You would think since her name was RIGHT ON THE COVER that there would have been some quality control that caught this before it went to print, but alas, dear reader, you would be wrong. This is where I take deep, cleansing breaths because I realize life happens, yet Jen Hatmaker was dear enough to write me the loveliest foreword and it got left out of the book.

Here’s why I wanted Jen to write my foreword for On the Bright Side. We have been friends for the last decade. I knew her before her monster success with her book 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess that had us all frantically cleaning out our closets and before she’d ever filmed a show for HGTV and before she’d taken all the hits she’s taken over the last four or five years.

She was a delight then and she’s a delight now. But I will tell you – and she would tell you too – that we don’t necessarily agree on every single thing. There are issues that we just view a little differently. For starters, I’m an Aggie and she’s a Longhorn fan. And guess what? WE STILL LOVE EACH OTHER. WE LOOK FOR THE BRIGHT SIDE.

We can still sit down over a glass of wine and laugh and talk about our kids and our lives and fully agree on things like eighth grade being the worst and junior high kids being overly dramatic and our girlfriends being the saving grace of our life and that Hamilton is the greatest thing that has ever been written. I make her pizza crust and pizza sauce recipe at least three times a month. She recently shared with me that you can get already shredded chicken in the deli section of HEB and changed my life. We both believe that Jesus and loving our neighbor are the most important things. And she makes me think about why I believe things and to know where I stand and why. She challenges me to think deeply and I’m better for it. This is the type of friendship that makes the world go ’round. It makes us all better.

She’s a reminder to me that most of us have a lot more in common than it sometimes seems if we just listen to social media. I like spicy and Jen is, without a doubt, spicy. She is a bright side in my life that I’m so glad I didn’t miss.

Here is the foreword she wrote that made me cry.

“I was born to a man who is delighted to RISE AND SHINE every single day of his living life. His enthusiasm knows no bounds. And not just for his four kids, whom he overloved and overvalued our whole childhood, but for anyone. I am telling you right now, he would be equally as excited about your new pair of Nike’s as he was about the first grandkid I produced. It’s all great. All the things are great. Our careers, your new baby stroller, the weather, great. He is still stumped why none of us ended up in the Olympics or the White House as Rhodes Scholars (his theory: “Whoever interviewed/hired/decided on the award is a jackwagon”). If you need a cheerleader, my dad is your guy. We go to our mom when we need someone to tell it to us straight; we go to my dad when we need a clearly biased hype man.

Here is my point: my dad basically invented the bright side.

I found it difficult to escape my dad’s vortex of positivity. Thus, I entered adulthood pretty excited about almost everything. I inherited his big feelings and have been known to over-emote in ways both embarrassing and cringey like the time I threw my arms around Constantine Maroulis’ waist without permission after seeing his performance in School of Rock on Broadway; look, it’s not every day you see the sixth-place finalist on American Idol Season Four just walking down a NYC street.

I like my dad’s approach to life. Is it naïve? Too earnest? Too simplified? Probably. I still like it. I’ve yet to regret jumping feet first into a big, juicy experience or giving the benefit of the doubt or letting my enthusiasm hedge north of respectable. The majority of my greatest memories are located somewhere near the bright side, even when all light appears to be dimmed, for even there, hope lurks.

It is just a weird time to be alive, isn’t it? I have never been so tempted to give in to the beast of despair. I find myself searching the history books for comfort – as one does – asking: Is this the worst it has ever been or no? Turns out life has always been hard and people have always disagreed and injustice has always snuffed out human flourishing. This is, of course, not to say we throw in towel and let the tide of human misery just rush along; we must fight for goodness in a world gone mad. But there is solace in knowing we are simply the current generation searching for the bright side. Our parents did it. Our grandparents did it. Their parents did it. And lo and behold, it could always be found.

A quick word about Melanie. I wanted to bear a meaningful witness of her integrity, so I searched my mental rolodex and found dozens of stories. We’ve been friends for a decade. But I have no more significant example to hold out than this: I am a Texas Longhorn fan and Melanie is a dyed-in-the-wool Texas A&M Aggie, and every single fall, she sends me adorable fashion options in what is arguably the grossest shade in the history of the color wheel (burnt orange) so I will look cute on game day. Now for some of you, that entire sentence was gibberish, but for those who know, please find me a better example of Christian character. I’ll wait. People, she clothes her enemy in strength and dignity, and she can laugh at the days to come. I don’t know if Perry and Caroline are rising up and calling her blessed, but I am sure rising up and calling her for Anthropologie links. This is my sister in arms, and I love her.

As the daughter of a Bright Side Dad, I have a high standard for hope-bearers. I’m looking for a brand of joy that can celebrate the bejeebers out of life but can also cut through loss and pain and suffering. It’s a tall order. It seems so few are up for the task right now. But Melanie sure is. This book will delight you, encourage you, relieve you, and nourish you. Don’t read it in public because #laughter and also #tears. Close the last page then give it to the people you love most. Melanie is a gift to us right now. Play your cards right, and you might also get a grainy picture of her in a burnt orange plaid duster over yoga pants in the Target mirror because come what may on game day, she has your back.”

With great love,
Jen Hatmaker

« Previous article:

Fashion Friday: Edition on the bright side

Next Post: »

Big Boo Cast: Episode 173

Reader Interactions

Similar Stories

Comments

  1. Tracie

    February 25, 2020 at 10:14 pm

    Do you know how much it made my day for Jen Hatmaker to admit burnt orange is the worst color ever!!! Love you both and gig ‘em.

    • Jenn

      February 26, 2020 at 3:39 pm

      I read that part of the forward aloud to my Aggie husband, and he said the same thing!!! LOL
      GIG ‘EM

  2. Robyn

    February 25, 2020 at 10:20 pm

    Can’t believe your publisher missed such a great foreword! Did they give you a bigger advance to make up for it? 🙂 Congrats on the new book!

  3. Liz Gossom

    February 25, 2020 at 10:41 pm

    Beautiful words for a beautiful book!!

  4. Debbi

    February 25, 2020 at 10:48 pm

    Well.
    Spot. On. Jen Hatnaker.

  5. Sue S

    February 25, 2020 at 11:21 pm

    I still don’t understand how they left out the whole forward! I know you are so disappointed, but I admire you for being as gracious as you have been. It is a beautiful piece that Jen wrote for you. Thank you for sharing it. I cannot wait to read both books!

  6. Christy

    February 25, 2020 at 11:52 pm

    Well, this is delightful! It’s the essence of what I love about both you and Jen. Happy Book Release Day!

  7. Joi

    February 26, 2020 at 9:43 am

    That’s just about the most awesome foreword I’ve ever read! Many blessings on the release of your book, Melanie!

  8. Barb

    February 26, 2020 at 9:52 am

    What an awesome forward! I’m so glad you shared. A great tribute to your character and your wonderful friendship with Jen!

  9. Laura E. Berry

    February 26, 2020 at 11:13 am

    I could not adore Jen Hatmaker more than I always have. To me, she is one of the greatest voices in women’s leadership, writing, speaking, and friend-ing. She empowers and encourages us all to be better versions of ourselves, while loving us right where we are. Even on days she doesn’t believe it, Jen radiates light that cannot be shadowed, nor extinguished.
    You are blessed beyond measure to be supported and loved by her. Thank you for sharing Jen’s words with us. And thank you for daring to write a book on the bright side of life.
    Blessings to you and us as we read your words!

  10. Curly Sue

    February 26, 2020 at 1:54 pm

    Everyone needs a Jen Hatmaker in their life. Such kind words. Good for you for showing grace in a situation that clearly calls for a lot of it. Happy Book Release day!

  11. Julie Harris

    February 26, 2020 at 2:16 pm

    Well, that was a beautifully written forward. While it’s a bummer that it wasn’t included in the book as you both intended, the bright side is that I now have it bookmarked to read again and again when I need a push back to the bright side. Cannot wait to read the book.

  12. Shelly Janac

    February 26, 2020 at 3:15 pm

    I seriously could not love this more…or I guess maybe if it was in my actual book I could…but other than that it is such a gem! You girls are both inspirations on how to love well.

  13. LuAnn Fischer

    February 26, 2020 at 3:48 pm

    Loved this forward, I’m so excited to read your book. I want you to know I printed it out and I’m putting it in my copy so that when I pass it on to friends they can read it and enjoy it to. 😉
    The “bright side” is I still got to read it! 🙂

  14. Amanda

    February 26, 2020 at 6:04 pm

    Well what an amazing forward! I can only imagine your frustration but it was a blessing to get to read it in some form or fashion!

  15. Jenn Skinner

    February 26, 2020 at 6:22 pm

    So sorry that the publisher left this out, but thank you so much for posting it here. As a fellow member of the Longhorn sistern with Jen, I feel her “Who on God’s green earth looks good in burnt orange” pain, and it is a very tough burden to bear. Thank you for being an Aggie who is willing to reach across the aisle to help her on Game Day. It is not an easy job. I agree, that is some Christian character of the highest order. Your new book and all of your writing are a delight and a gift. Thank you for your words. And PS “Hook ’em Horns.” 🙂

  16. Melanie Humphrey

    February 26, 2020 at 8:03 pm

    ?

  17. Christy Johnson

    February 26, 2020 at 9:58 pm

    Love it and you and Jen! I see a burnt orange amazon haul in a future IG story. ?

  18. Paula

    February 27, 2020 at 10:06 am

    Glad to see I’m not the only one who is printing out this foreword so I can stick it in my book(s). It is wonderful. I love to see people encouraging each other – even when they are from opposing schools! Love you and Jen; you both have such a way with words.

    I got the pre-order chapters and have been pacing myself so I wouldn’t read them all at once! Looking forward to reading the rest.

    Thanks for sharing the foreword (and being so gracious about it being left out)!

  19. Kris

    February 27, 2020 at 5:16 pm

    You are two of my favorites (and we wear burnt orange and maroon in the very same family!). Both of you keep doing what you’re doing and I’ll keep laughing (out loud in public) and crying (in the same paragraph) with both of you!

  20. Alison Sawyer

    February 28, 2020 at 7:20 am

    We DO need more laughter and more of the bright side In our lives! As my family is about to make the move to San Antonio from College Station, we have sure needed that! While San Antonio is of course amazing ( and my home town), Aggieland has been home for 17 years. And as my 15 year old son says.. “ people don’t leave College Station, mom!” Moving is hard, but I know good things are ahead..
    Melanie, I can’t wait to read your new book and bring it along with me to San Antonio, I’m ready for laughter and tears! ??

  21. Scott Palmer

    March 9, 2020 at 6:07 pm

    Is it possible they did not include Jen’s foreword because of her unorthodox views of historical Christian theology and morality?

Primary Sidebar

Who is Melanie?

Melanie ShankleMy name is Melanie and, in some strange twist of fate, I’m also known as Big Mama because I started this blog in July of 2006 when my daughter, Caroline, was not quite three years old and I was in the process of convincing her that BIG girls use the potty and BIG girls don’t have pacifiers, thus she thought BIG was the highest compliment in the land and began referring to me as BIG MAMA.Read More

Sign up here!

Which is your pleasure?

Categories

Events Books The Big Boo Cast Diary Fashion Friday

The Latest on Instagram

Well, we have some news I wanted to share because Well, we have some news I wanted to share because I know many of you are really just here for the Piper and Mabel content. ⁣
⁣
A couple of years ago, Piper contracted a rare fungal infection in her left front paw. It began to invade all her soft tissue and we went to several vet specialists who all agreed there wasn’t any way to treat it short of eventually amputating her leg. We held off on that as long as we could and treated her with meds to slow the growth, but over the last month it became obvious that the foot was causing her pain and it was time. So on Monday, Piper got her left front leg amputated. ⁣
⁣
She’s home now and I’m happy to report that she is doing amazing. Apparently she didn’t get the memo that she is now missing a leg because she hasn’t missed a beat. She’s moving around like a champ and I feel certain she’ll be back to running at the ranch and protecting our home from bearded strangers wearing hats in no time. This is why she is currently on some painkillers and sedatives so she can rest and heal. No one gave her the memo this is a big deal. ⁣
⁣
However, at this point I would like to also give Mabel a sedative because she doesn’t understand why her sister is getting so much attention and is, frankly, a little salty about it. Also special thank you to @alldredgevet who treated our girl like a rockstar.
Back in the high life again. 👍🏻🏈🤍⁣
⁣
I love a bright, shiny football season when the Aggies are 1-0 and the possibilities seem endless. Best time, best place, best people. ⁣
⁣
Thanks and Gig’em.
Twenty-six years ago today we got married. At noon Twenty-six years ago today we got married. At noon. During the hottest month of the year. I give that decision one star, do not recommend. ⭐️⁣
⁣
But we made the best decision when we chose each other because we have lived a lot of life together and still make each other laugh. ❤️⁣
⁣
Also, Perry is spending this anniversary fishing at the coast. And I told him he just needs to remember he already made his best catch twenty-six years ago. 😂
🩵 HAPPY 20th BIRTHDAY, CAROLINE! 🩵⁣ ⁣ I 🩵 HAPPY 20th BIRTHDAY, CAROLINE! 🩵⁣
⁣
I blinked and my baby turned twenty.⁣
⁣
But the gift that happened when I blinked was my delightful little girl turned into an incredible woman and one of my best friends.🩵⁣
⁣
Wishing you a year of joy, love, laughter and winning Aggie teams. I love you so much!🩵
🥳 Happy Birthday, Gulley! 🥳⁣ ⁣ A couple 🥳 Happy Birthday, Gulley! 🥳⁣
⁣
A couple of months ago, Gulley and I took a selfie at an Aggie basketball game and we wondered how many times we had done some version of that over the years. Here’s just what I found on my phone and this doesn’t include most of college since, well, we went to college in the days you had to take film to Fox Photo to get developed and it was a whole thing. 
⁣
Here’s an excerpt from 𝘕𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺’𝘴 𝘊𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘠𝘰𝘶 that I wrote years ago. ⁣
⁣
“𝘈 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘎𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦: 𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯, 𝘛𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘦’𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵, 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘣 𝘪𝘯 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺.”⁣
⁣
I’m so thankful for every single bit of it and for a best friend who makes life infinitely more fun. 💕 @gulleyfisher
Best cure for the Texas heat? Leave. ⁣ ⁣ Spend Best cure for the Texas heat? Leave. ⁣
⁣
Spending time in the mountains with old friends who have known you and loved you for over thirty years and counting is a great place to be in July. 🤍

The Latest on Twitter

Twitter feed is not available at the moment.

Follow on Twitter

 



 

 

 

 

 



 

Footer

Stay Up to Date

Which is your pleasure?

  • About Me
  • Speaking
  • Blog
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 · Website by Wordpress Barista

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

cokesbury-buttonfc-buttonlifewayMardelTyndale DirectBAMWalmartiTunes

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

iTunes

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

lifewayMardelBAM

Select an online retailer below.

Book Retailers
Book RetailersBook RetailersBook RetailersBook RetailersBook Retailers

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

cokesbury-buttonfc-buttonlifewayMardelTyndale DirectBAMWalmart

Order Yours Today!

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

cokesbury-buttonfc-buttonlifewayMardelTyndale DirectBAMWalmart

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

Book Retailers

Book RetailersBook RetailersBook RetailersBook RetailersBook Retailers

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.