Blog - Diana Derringer

Fake It Till You Make It

June 1, 2026 Diana Derringer Comments 4 comments

Have you ever had to do a job you did not think you could do? Yet you had to do it. When that happens, you fake it till you make it.

When you fake it till you make it, you act like you know what you are doing.

You:

Act confident until you feel confident.
Imitate the skills of others until you learn the skills yourself.
Pretend you feel brave until you become brave.

You whistle past the graveyard until your fear disappears. The more optimistic you behave, the more optimistic you become.

You fake it till you make it to cheer yourself through tough times.

To survive, you act like a survivor. Although not always easy, it often helps.

Watch children play to learn this skill.

They pretend to be:

Famous singers and dancers
Sports champions
Doctors or teachers

They also imitate parents, best friends, and heroes. They learn competence by acting competent.

Fake it till you make it does not always work.

Some skills, feelings, or behaviors may exceed your abilities.

Choose wisely what to learn and who to imitate.

Learn well from those who teach you to live well.

“I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw” (Proverbs 24:32 NIV).

Thanks to Kathy Rouser for the suggestion. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

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Freedom Isn’t Free

May 25, 2026 Diana Derringer Comments 2 comments

On Memorial Day, we remember that freedom isn’t free. Many paid a great price for us to enjoy our parades, cookouts, and fireworks.

Freedom isn’t free gives thanks for those who make freedom possible.

Men and women who serve in the military often risk their lives. May we never forget those who:

Remain missing in action
Live and bear the scars of their service
Give their lives to defend ours — those gone but not forgotten

The Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. includes the engravement “Freedom Is Not Free.”

The memorial with that engraving honors and respects soldiers of one war. Yet its truth relates to all our heroes.

This idiom applies spiritually as well.

When Jesus died on the cross, He gave the ultimate price. He sacrificed his life to offer us eternal life. When He arose on the third day, He conquered sin and death. We share that victory when we follow Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Enjoy the holiday. Remember the reason.

Have fun with family and friends. Be sure to also give thanks for those who make that time possible. Above all, accept and give thanks for the greater freedom we find in Jesus.

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36 NIV).

Thanks to Beckham Wilson for the suggestion. Image by Em Sawyers from Pixabay.

The Apple Does Not Fall Far from the Tree

May 18, 2026 Diana Derringer Comments 8 comments

The apple does not fall far from the tree in orchards. The same is often true for children.

When children act like their parents, we might say the apple does not fall far from the tree.

We all learn from the people closest to us.

Parents
Guardians
Other relatives

They teach us how to:

Walk
Talk
Live

One of the scariest statements a child can make is, “When I grow up, I want to be just like you.” That should make us pay attention to our words, actions, and attitudes.

The apple does not fall from the tree does not always apply.

Children do not always look or act like their parents. Sometimes that is the children’s choice. They may:

Rebel against positive examples.
Rise above negative examples.

We cannot change our biological roots. We can change our behavior.

May we all learn and live well.

No one, including the best parent, is perfect. Therefore, we want to follow the one and only perfect example we find in Jesus.

When we root ourselves in Jesus’ love, we gain the best life now plus an eternity with Him in heaven. We also bear fruit by sharing Jesus’ love with the rest of the world.

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8 NIV).

Thanks to Thad Reames for the suggestion. Image by Manfred Richter from Pixabay.

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Split Hairs

May 11, 2026 Diana Derringer Comments 6 comments

Do you remember sky-high teased hairstyles? Or have you seen pictures of them? Can you imagine all the split hairs that caused? Worse damage occurs when we split hairs with our words.

When we split hairs, we fight about minor details that make no major difference.

We focus on the petty or unimportant.

This metaphor “was first recorded in the late 17th century,” according to The Free Dictionary.

Most of us have split a few hairs.

Yet why let anything that is neither here nor there steal our attention? No need to stress. No need to waste that time. If it will not matter six months from now, let it go.

Let’s focus on the worthy.

Do what needs to be done.
Forget what makes little or no difference.
Never let trivial matters get our goat.

A single hair should not overtake the rest of our body. Neither should one small detail overtake our minds, emotions, or relationships.

“Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen” (2 Timothy 2:14 NIV).

Thanks to Tracy Crump for the suggestion and to Misty Durham for the photo.

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Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth

May 4, 2026 Diana Derringer Comments 6 comments

My husband and I lived in a college campus apartment for two years. It was so small we had to push our table against the wall to open the back door. Just as too many cooks crowded our kitchen, too many cooks spoil the broth.

When too many cooks add too many ingredients, broth tastes terrible.

The same applies to too many:

Managers
Coaches
Music conductors
Agencies

Too many cooks spoil the broth offers a word to the wise.

It cautions against several people trying to:

Do the same task.
Gain control.
Influence an outcome.

When that happens, the work:

Results in confusion.
May be ruined.
Has little chance of success.

The Phrase Finder lists a similar proverb in 1575 by English historian John Hooker.

In The Life and Times of Sir Peter Carew, Hooker wrote, “There is the proverb, the more cooks the worse potage.”

Several similar proverbs exist.

Too many cooks in the kitchen
(A shortened phrase) Too many cooks
Too many cooks spoil the soup (or stew).

Extra workers usually help. Extra managers often hurt.

Completing the work is more important than taking credit for it.

Whether we manage or not, let’s faithfully do what God calls us to do.

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” (Matthew 25:23 NIV)

Thanks to Joyce McCullough for the suggestion.

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Whistle Past the Graveyard

April 27, 2026 Diana Derringer Comments 9 comments

I grew up near a graveyard. Later, my husband and I built a house across the road from one. We laughed and said we would have quiet neighbors. However, some people fear living so close to graves. They feel the need to whistle past the graveyard.

When we whistle past the graveyard, we hide our fear by acting calm.

We may be afraid of our own shadow. However, we don’t want anyone to know.

Whistling past the graveyard happens often.

In addition to passing a cemetery, we fear:

Public speaking
Competition for a championship
Any embarrassing situation

To whistle past the graveyard may increase courage.

Acting with courage often makes us more courageous. We survive what we fear, so the next time becomes easier.

The Bible tells us we have no need to fear death.

Followers of Jesus know that death and the grave are not the end. When Jesus arose from the grave, He conquered sin and death. We can share that same victory and look forward to an eternal home in heaven.

“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice” (John 5:28 NIV).

Thanks to Bobbie Smith Bryant and Martha Orlando for the suggestion. Image by Carol Colman from Pixabay

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Bigger Fish to Fry

April 20, 2026 Diana Derringer Comments 10 comments

Do you prefer small fish piping hot from the grill or oven? Or do you enjoy bigger fish to fry?

For non-food decisions, go for bigger fish to fry.

Bigger fish to fry means more important matters to manage.

You deal with:

Major activities rather than minor
Emergencies rather than routine
Long lasting rather than brief

Bigger fish to fry does not mean never having fun.

Meaningful moments include:

Relaxing
Resting
Focusing on relationships

Personal accomplishments do not equal success.

Quality time with family is more important than awards.
Helping people in need matters more than promotions.
Investing in lives outlasts investing in stocks.

How you spend your time and money reveals what you value most.

Will it make a difference?
Does it have eternal worth?

Be sure bigger fish to fry are worth the effort.

Focusing only on self often leads to fishy situations. Focusing on God’s will and helping others keeps you on the right track. Jesus said to follow Him and become fishers of people. All people. Everywhere.

“Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people” (Luke 5:10 NIV).

Thanks to Lindy Pierce for the suggestion and to Terry Pennington, owner of Creekside Restaurant, for the photo.

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No Rhyme or Reason

April 13, 2026 Diana Derringer Comments 11 comments

Do you have trouble understanding our world today? Much that we see and hear has no rhyme or reason.

No rhyme or reason means decisions or actions make no sense.

We find no logical explanation for:

Documents filled with nothing but red tape
Decisions that hurt rather than help
Concern only for self

They puzzle us. Most make us out of sorts.

Similar expressions include:

Without rhyme or reason
No rhyme nor reason
Neither rhyme nor reason

The Free Dictionary says this expression “originated in French about 1475.”

English use began about one hundred years later.

We find no rhyme or reason for certain events beyond our control.

Unexplained medical problems
Unexpected severe weather

God can use every circumstance, including those that puzzle us.

We often see that in the Bible. For example, Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. Yet God used their evil plans for good.

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20 NIV).

Thanks to Ann Klotz for the suggestion. Image courtesy of Pixabay.

Skinned Alive

April 6, 2026 Diana Derringer Comments 6 comments

Have you ever been skinned alive? It is no fun, is it? We may not lose skin, but it hurts like we have.

To be skinned alive means to be severely scolded or punished.

Many of us think scolding hurts the most.

People of all ages receive threats to be skinned alive.

Children who break their parents’ rules
Employees who fail to do their work
Friends or family who break promises

This phrase comes from the cruel “practice of flaying a live prisoner.”

The Free Dictionary dates it to the mid-1800s.

The threat to skin alive often comes with the strength and power to hurt others.

However, we never want to harm anyone.

Encouraging people to straighten up and fly right is okay. Blowing our top is not.

When people threaten to skin us alive, we want to make necessary changes.

However, if we have done nothing wrong, we may need to say so. Regardless of how they treat us, we want to treat them with respect. Two wrongs don’t make a right.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2 NIV).

Thanks to Kristy Robinson Horine for the suggestion. Image by Sammy-Sander from Pixabay.

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Lie Like a Rug

March 30, 2026 Diana Derringer Comments 6 comments

My dad loved to play with words. He would deliberately use the wrong word to give a sentence a totally new meaning. I’m sure some people thought he did not know better. However, he knew exactly what he was doing. Lie like a rug was one of his favorite expressions.

Lie like a rug is a pun, a usually funny play on words.

Puns use words that are alike or nearly alike but have different meanings. “Lie” can mean either to tell an untruth or to rest in a flat position. Lie like a rug combines those two meanings since a rug lies flat on a floor.

If we lie like a rug, we lie boldly and shamelessly.

Our untruth is no mistake. We deliberately lie. Sometimes we know that no one will believe us but lie anyway.

If we repeat an untruth often enough, we may persuade some people to believe.

We sound ridiculous. Yet repetition eventually convinces those unwilling to look at the evidence. If not convinced, they may choose not to confront us or face the truth.

Always weigh the evidence.

Take what sounds like a lie with a grain of salt. Search for truth and follow it.

“Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God” (John 3:21 NIV).

Thanks to Melissa Henderson for the suggestion. Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.

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