Kirsten Watson - Sis, Take a Breath: Encouragement for the Woman Whos Trying to Live and Love Well (but Secretly Just Wants to Take a Nap)

If youre yearning for a real, honest conversation about how to handle the relentless stresses and demands of life, this book is for you. Youll immediately feel seen and understood, and as you walk through the pages of this book with Kirsten, youll be changed. This highly practical book is what every woman needs to find the truest version of herself and live her most intentional life for Jesus!

KATY MCCOWN

Wife to retired NFL quarterback Luke McCown; mom of six; president of She Laughs Ministries; and author of She Smiles without Fear: Proverbs 31 for Every Woman

Sis, Take a Breath reads like a fun road trip with a friend one you come out of as close as sisters with Kirsten, who has the gift of being straightforward and loving, honest and wise, vulnerable and strong. You will giggle, laugh, relate, learn, and come to love the journey even more after reading it yourself!

ELISABETH HASSELBECK

Emmy Awardwinning cohost of The View; New York Times bestselling author

Like the older sister weve always wanted, Kirsten helps us feel understood and not alone with her conversational approach. Shes intentional with her words and wisdom. This book will make you feel like youre sitting next to a best friend.

ESTHER FLEECE ALLEN

Bestselling author of No More Faking Fine and Your New Name

I absolutely love Kirsten Watsons energy and sweet spirit. It was a mystery to me how she kept both with seven kids at home and an abundant, busy life. Her amazing candor, humility, and wisdom shine in Sis, Take a Breath. A must-read!

REBEKAH LYONS

Bestselling author of Rhythms of Renewal and You Are Free

Im in awe of Kirsten shes not only a super mom, shes a superhero. In Sis, Take a Breath, Kirsten invites us into the grind, freeing us from the guilt. If youre isolated and overwhelmed, Kirsten finds strength in the struggle and shows us how you can too.

PAULA FARIS

Founder of CARRY Media; author; podcaster

Favorite roles: wife and mom

After spending time with Kirsten, I always leave feeling encouraged and challenged. Sis, Take a Breath is a fantastic extension of her heart as she teaches you how to walk with God and others in a genuine way.

COURTNEY DEFEO

Author of In This House, We Will Giggle

On these pages, Kirsten Watson has effectively married scriptural, spiritual truths with practical, honest applications. Her vulnerability and raw honesty invite the reader to know her, not as the pedestalized, beautiful NFL wife who has it all together and for whom life is perfect, but as a truly surrendered woman of God who is seeking to grow in Christlikeness in the midst of struggles common to all. As the road of life forks, we follow either the socially acceptable path of appearance management, settling for a life of If it looks like everything is good, it must be and thats all that matters, or the path of sanctification the transforming process of becoming like Jesus, which requires honesty, vulnerability, humility, and community. Kirsten personally settles for nothing less than the road less traveled the one that leads to growth in Christlikeness and her heart desires that for each of us.

DR. VIRGINIA FRIESEN

Codirector of Home Improvement Ministries (HIMweb.org); coauthor of The Marriage App; author of Raising a Trailblazer: Rite-of-Passage Trail Markers for Your Set-Apart Teens

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Sis, Take a Breath: Encouragement for the Woman Whos Trying to Live and Love Well (but Secretly Just Wants to Take a Nap)

Copyright 2022 by Kirsten Watson. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of Watson family copyright 2021 by Amy Headington. All rights reserved.

Designed by Julie Chen

Edited by Stephanie Rische

Published in association with the literary agency of Books & Such Literary Management, 52 Mission Circle, Suite 122, PMB 170, Santa Rosa, CA 95409

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NRSV are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from The Message, copyright 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.

ISBN 978-1-4964-5680-9 (hc)

ISBN 978-1-4964-5682-3 (ePub); ISBN 978-1-4964-5681-6 (Kindle); ISBN 978-1-4964-5683-0 (Apple)

Build: 2022-10-05 09:46:00 EPUB 3.0

To my mom, who always taught me to take a breath for myself and find what brings me peace.

To my people: Grace, Naomi, Isaiah, Judah, Eden, Asher, and Levi. Thank you for giving me grace to do this book and for all the breathing practice youve allowed me to have.

To my husband, Benjamin. You fought for my voice to be heard even when I didnt think I had anything to say. You are my biggest cheerleader. I love you, and Im so grateful God brought us together.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

(PSALM 150:6)

Sis, take a breath. Breathing... thats effortless, right? Although the title of this book is a simple statement, it strikes a nerve with most women, giving us a unified call and permission to exhale!

We dont usually put much thought into how we breathe that is, until were instructed to do so. Breathing has been second nature for us ever since we entered the world as infants. As we continue living, a doctor might ask us to take a deep breath in order to listen to our lungs. We might also practice concentrated breathing during childbirth to help keep calm during the delivery process. During overwhelming experiences, we are encouraged to slow the pace of our breathing so panic doesnt overtake us.