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Category: Animals/Nature

A Dog’s Life

A Dog’s Life

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A Dog's LifeMany dogs, like Tina, never have to live a dog’s life. Their owners spoil them. They receive all they need and most of what they want.

  • Attention
  • Love
  • Rest
  • Food and shelter
  • Toys and more

In contrast, when we say we lead a dog’s life, we mean we have a terrible life.

  • We receive little or no attention.
  • No one cares.
  • We work too hard.
  • Our needs and wants are unmet.
  • We never have any fun.

Occasionally we may live a dog’s life. Most often, we have an easier life than we think. World news reminds us just how good our life is. Many people suffer because of:

  • War
  • Religious persecution
  • Abuse and neglect
  • Weather-related tragedies
  • Murder and other crimes

The list of suffering seems endless.

If we have food, shelter, and someone to love, we are blessed beyond measure. Our cups run over.

“You, Lord, preserve both people and animals” (Psalm 36:6 NIV).

Thanks to Phyllis Holland for the expression and Shirley Cheatham for the photo.

 Do you have a dog’s life example? If so, please comment.

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Swamped

Swamped

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SwampedSwamps cover several parts of our world. Our lives often get swamped as well.

My bucket list includes a trip to the Okefenokee Swamp.  I want to do the swamp island drive to see:

  • Birds and alligators
  • Plants and moss-covered trees
  • Water, grasses, and other forms of wildlife

Most swamp land has too much water to farm. It has too little water for many water sports. A person who tries to walk through a swamp can easily sink or get stuck.

Although I like to see swamps, I do not want my life to get swamped. It has been in the past. I hope to avoid it in the future.

When swamped, I have too much to do and too little time to do it. As a result, I sink under all that work. I get stuck and have a hard time doing anything. I feel snowed under.

We escape swamp land and swamped lives the same way: one step at a time. We choose the best direction to go. Then, carefully and slowly, we work our way out.

“May the Lord be praised! Day after day He bears our burdens; God is our salvation.” (Psalm 68:19 HCSB).

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Photo courtesy of morgueFile.

Under the Weather

Under the Weather

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Under the WeatherMost of us feel under the weather from time to time. We are sick or don’t feel well.

A few people suffer depression when they don’t receive enough sunlight. Bad weather does not usually make us sick. Yet, we may get tired of it before it is over. Of course, some people love it and are sad when it goes.

Whether we like bad weather or not, we can feel under the weather. Viruses, headaches, stomachaches, colds, and other illnesses occur in all kinds of weather. Most problems don’t last long.

During serious illness, we need one another’s help.

Our family has received amazing support during major health problems.

  • Cards, phone calls, and other messages
  • Meals and snacks for weeks
  • Gifts
  • Prayers for and with us
  • Short hospital and home visits
  • Help with chores

Although we loved the help, we loved the kind hearts more. Those dear people bent over backwards for us. Friends in all kinds of weather make feeling under the weather less painful.

Thank you one and all.

“I was sick and you looked after me” (Matthew 25:36 NIV).

Do you have a story of help when you or someone you loved was under the weather? Please share in the comments.

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On Thin Ice

On Thin Ice

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On Thin IceWe have to be careful during Kentucky winters. We often find ourselves on thin ice and must watch our steps.

  • Ice on creeks, ponds, and lakes is usually too thin to walk or skate.
  • Ice on the ground or sidewalks causes falls.
  • Ice on roads and parking lots lead to wrecks.

On thin ice means we are in a risky or dangerous situation.

We put ourselves in danger when we:

  • Invest money in an unknown company.
  • Choose friends we cannot trust.
  • Fail to care for our health.

Some risks are worth the danger.

  • Uncertain investments sometimes make lots of money.
  • Everyone makes mistakes and needs a second chance.
  • We risk our health to save another life (organ donation, firemen entering a burning building).

Other risks are not worth it.

Then it’s better to be safe than sorry.

We decide each day whether to step on thin ice or stay on solid ground.

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways’” (Haggai 1:7).

Do you have a favorite expression or one you want explained? If so, please comment.

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As the Crow Flies

As the Crow Flies

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As the Crow FliesIf we measure distance as the crow flies, we measure in a straight line. Crows are smart birds. They fly the shortest route to get where they want to go.

I have lived in the country most of my life. I love it. One of the fun parts is giving people directions.

In the past we had no GPS and few road signs or mile markers. As a result, people often came up to our house and asked how to get somewhere.

We told them to go past churches, large trees, or barns. Sometimes we said to go over a big hill or around a sharp curve. We often said the distance was “a little way” or “a far piece.”

One of my favorite expressions: “It’s not that far as the crow flies.” That sounds good for crows. They fly straight.

We are not crows. We must go over those hills and around those curves. We have to pass those barns and churches. The crow’s direct route is closer, but we can’t fly.

In life we have daily choices. We choose the roads we travel by foot and in our cars. We also choose our life goals – our paths for daily living.

  • Will we choose straight paths, clearly marked and easy to follow?
  • Will we select routes off the beaten path, beautiful but harder to travel?
  • Will we take forbidden paths, filled with danger?

As Robert Frost said, our decisions make “all the difference.”

“Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path” (Psalm 27:11 NIV).

Do you have an expression you want explained? If so, please comment below.

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Hit the Trail

Hit the Trail

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Hit the TrailI’m almost always ready to hit the trail (or hit the road). Our family loves to travel. Therefore, when someone says it is time to hit the trail, I pack my luggage and go.

A friend recently hit the trail on an unexpected journey. She was out of state celebrating a baby’s birth. As she traveled home, a grandchild called. The little girl begged her grandmother to visit her in another state.

My friend had never used GPS. Neither had she traveled from where she was to where her grandchild lives. Her desire to see her grandchild outweighed her fear of the unknown. She:

  • Pulled off the road
  • Found a GPS app
  • Entered her information
  • Trusted GPS to take her where she wanted to go

She made every turn her app said to take. For two-and-one-half hours she traveled through lovely little towns. She wondered if she was receiving correct directions. Yet, she trusted GPS to lead her.

She made it to her granddaughter’s house by traveling off the beaten path.

Several times during that drive, my friend had the same thought. What if we listened to God like we do GPS? If so, we would be where we need to be.

Of course, GPS devices and apps occasionally lead us the wrong direction. God’s guidance never fails.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV).

Thanks to Suellen Shaw for sharing her experience.

Do you have an expression you want explained? If so, please comment below.

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Let Things Slide

Let Things Slide

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Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens

Why bother doing a good job, if it’s a chore we hate, right? Wrong! We all face the temptation to let things slide, especially if no one sees us.

Why not neglect our responsibilities and have a little fun? Work seems less important if we want to do something else. The longer the job takes, the worse the temptation.

Do any of these excuses sound familiar?

  • “Nobody ever looks under the bed, so why sweep there?”
  • “The boss doesn’t like me, so why do his senseless work?”
  • “Why should I care? No one else does.”

The longer we dwell on such thoughts, the more our excuses grow.

Quite honestly, few people look under the bed. Sometimes the boss doesn’t like us and gives us senseless work. And people don’t always care.

But does that justify less than our best?

We will know:

  • Dirt is under the bed.
  • The assigned task wasn’t done.
  • We cared no more than anyone else.

Once we make a bad habit, it’s hard to break. Like the pressure of a volcano, it grows worse and worse. Sometimes the results are tragic.

Therefore, let’s do our work well. We will feel better about it. Plus, we gain a good reputation.

The easy way does not always equal the best way. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might (Ecclesiastes
9:10 NIV).

Do you have an expression you want explained? If so, please comment below.

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Photo courtesy of morgueFile.

True Colors

True Colors

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True ColorsI love the explosion of colors every fall.

  • Leaves turn red, yellow, and orange.
  • Pumpkins appear in gardens, yards, and stores.
  • Flowers bloom in every color of the rainbow.

People’s true colors may not be so pleasant or so easily seen. Those with evil plans try to hide them. Their real attitudes, plans, or opinions may not be clear until they hurt us.

At the same time, discovering other people’s true colors can provide pure joy.

  • The fun-loving nature of a shy person
  • The hidden talents of a singer, artist, or actor
  • The kind heart of someone when needs arise

As we enjoy this beautiful time of year, may it remind us of the one who made such beauty possible. May our true colors reflect the splendor of our loving creator.

“He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy” (Acts 14:17 NIV).

What is your favorite time of year?

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Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

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Between a Rock and a Hard PlaceI don’t climb mountains. However, I know mountain climbers often find themselves between a rock and a hard place. They climb in difficult areas. Often they have few good choices.

We may not climb physical mountains. Yet, most of us face mountains of difficulty sometime in our lives. We find ourselves between a rock and a hard place. We must make hard decisions with no easy choices. Any choice causes problems.

  • Do we quit our job or work in unfair circumstances?
  • Do we pay rent or buy food?
  • Do we continue painful medical care or stop treatments?

We must choose what we decide is the lesser of two evils.

Aron Ralston faced such a choice after a climbing accident in 2003. He was trapped more than five days. His choice: Do I die or cut off part of my right arm. He used a dull knife to free himself.

Our choices may not be that hard. However, some choices are worse.

I wish I had an easy answer for such situations, but I don’t. I find the following helpful:

1. List the pros and cons for each choice.
2. Discuss the options with a trusted friend or relative.
3. Pray for wisdom.
4. Accept help from others.
5. Get a grip on what matters most.

I pray you face few times between a rock and a hard place.

“You have let me sink down deep in desperate problems. But you will bring me back to life again, up from the depths of the earth” (Psalm 71:20 TLB).

Have you had a rock and hard place experience?  If so, please comment.

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Make Waves

Make Waves

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Make WavesPeople sometimes warn us not to make waves. Other times, we realize we must. When we choose to make waves, we:

  • Rock the boat
  • Upset someone or something
  • Shock or disturb
  • Risk being called a trouble maker

Two truths about making waves help us decide what to do.

Waves can do great good, by:

  • Continuing earth’s natural flow
  • Calming us
  • Providing beauty and pleasure

Waves can also do much harm, by causing:

  • Ship wrecks
  • Drowning
  • Destruction of houses or communities.

Likewise, we can do great good or much harm by:

  • Improving or damaging our world
  • Correcting or increasing mistakes

Before we make waves, let’s be certain our actions make a positive difference.

“If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea” (Isaiah 48:18 NIV).

Do you have a favorite expression or one you want explained? If so, please comment.

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