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Category: Problems

A Hard Row to Hoe

A Hard Row to Hoe

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A Hard Row to Hoe 2A long line of plants can be a hard row to hoe.

Gazing from one end to the other, we want to give up before we start.

My parents always believed in the value of hard work. Therefore, my sister and I began gardening at an early age. I thought those garden rows would never end. Plus, Kentucky summer temperatures often reach the 90s with humidity near 100 percent.

I recall standing in the hot sun, fuming at the cruelty of it all. I pledged that once I had a home of my own, I would never plant a garden. Famous last words!

After a few years, I realized vegetables taste better when I grow my own. Not even a farmer’s market can compete.

I also learned that if I focus on the plant of the moment, I reach the end faster. It keeps me from looking ahead with dread.

That holds true for most tasks.

Focus on what needs to be done now.

Then move to the next task. Any assignment becomes more manageable and less intimidating. With steady pacing, we soon complete our work. We can then enjoy the fruit of our labor, whether it is a:

  • Fresh ear of corn
  • Good test grade
  • Clean house
  • Completed work detail

Remember: When facing any difficult task, any hard row to hoe, don’t try to tackle everything at once. Take one step at a time.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9 NIV).

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A Blessing in Disguise

A Blessing in Disguise

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Courtesy of Trevor Gosser
Courtesy of Trevor Gosser

This little guy loves cows. He’s also one of my favorite examples of a blessing in disguise.

His birth was premature and difficult. For days we didn’t know if he or his mother would live. None of our family wants to relive that experience. Yet from it, we gained countless blessings, including:

  • Closer relationships
  • Increased faith
  • Generous support from friends and strangers
  • A greater appreciation for every day

As Laura Story’s song, Blessings, reminds us, our hardest times may be blessings in disguise. Have you experienced any of the following?

  • You’re fired from a job but hired for a better one.
  • A boyfriend (or girlfriend) dumps you; then you find the love of your life.
  • You receive a bad grade or job review, so you improve your study or work habits.
  • An injury forces you to take a much needed rest.
  • You lose internet service and rediscover the joy of talking.

Whenever anything bad happens, look closely. You may find a blessing in disguise.

“I will make them and the area around My hill a blessing: I will send down showers in their season—showers of blessing” (Ezekiel 34:26 HCSB).

What is your greatest blessing in disguise? Please comment below.

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Fall Apart at the Seams

Fall Apart at the Seams

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Fall Apart at the SeamsI’m a firm believer in recycling and reusing.

I want to protect the environment, and I hate waste. I try not to throw anything away. Plus, I hate to shop.

As a result, I wear clothes until they fall apart at the seams.

If the rest of the garment is okay, I stitch those seams back together and keep wearing it.

Don’t you wish all of life could be so easy?

Don’t you wish we could quickly stitch our lives back together when they fall apart at the seams? However, that’s not reality.

  • Technology changes faster than our brains can process.
  • Tragedy strikes suddenly and unmercifully.
  • Lifetime relationships shred over trivia.
  • Responsibilities grow, but time doesn’t.
  • Conflicting beliefs confuse us.

Without help, we can fall apart at the seams mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

So what do we do?

“He holds everything together by what he says—powerful words!” (Hebrews 1:3 MSG)

What helps you when you’re falling apart at the seams?

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Stand Tall

Stand Tall

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Stand TallThe Redwood Forests of northern California never cease to amaze me. Standing at the base of the world’s tallest trees, people appear small and insignificant.

Like soldiers with their shoulders back and heads high, the redwoods stand tall and brave.

Their pasts include attacks from animals, weather, and people. Like all of nature, they face an unknown future. Yet they stand tall.

So can we.

Regardless of our size or struggles. God created each of us for a special purpose.

Therefore, we can stand tall, not in our own strength but in God’s strength.

Each redwood began as a tiny seed.

Each had an uphill battle to survive. Life can’t be easy for them. Yet, facing hardships makes them stronger.

Likewise, standing tall and courageous does not mean we never have problems or we’re never afraid. It does mean we:

  • Face our fears and grow stronger.
  • Learn from our struggles and grow wiser.
  • Accept our limits and grow humble.
  • Support one another and grow closer.

Whatever comes our way, we can stand tall, knowing, with God’s help, we never stand alone.

“Do not be afraid. Stand firm” (Exodus 14:13 NIV).

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Snowed Under

Snowed Under

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Snowed UnderMuch of the United States has been snowed under for several weeks.

Almost everything outside disappeared under multiple layers of snow and ice. Bitterly cold temperatures and strong winds made the situation worse.

As a result, schools, offices, and stores closed. Emergency services encouraged people to stay home.

Any time of year, we can become snowed under with responsibilities.

We have more to do than we can possibly do. We feel like we are under a mountain of chores. Demands come from:

  • Home
  • Work
  • Church
  • Community
  • Friends
  • School
  • Our own expectations

Fun activities are no longer fun. We can’t stop thinking about what we need to do. Our lives feel like we are on a treadmill. We go as fast as we can but seem to get nowhere.

So how do we crawl out from under this snowed under feeling?

  • Set priorities. Decide what’s most important. Do that first.
  • Keep a list of what we need to do. Lists free our brains to focus on one task at a time.
  • Learn to delegate. Ask other people for help.
  • Do what we can. Then let the rest go until later.
  • Delete. If activities take too much time and are unimportant, get rid of them.
  • Take a break. A brief rest can increase our energy and improve our outlook.
  • Be thankful we are not bored.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NIV).

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Two Heads are Better than One

Two Heads are Better than One

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Two Heads are Better than OneTwo heads are better than one—good to remember when we have trouble solving problems alone.

Independence can be a positive trait, but not always.

I like to find answers on my own. However, that desire can grow into stubbornness. I don’t like to admit that, but it’s true.

Sometimes I have to seek help.

Sources for that help include:

  • Books.
  • Online searches.
  • Videos.
  • Manuals.

Occasionally none of those provide the answer I need. When that happens, I reach out to other people—real flesh and blood individuals.

With so much technology available, we often overlook the people around us.

One great discovery I’ve made: Most people want to help. They enjoy sharing their knowledge or skills. They like to feel helpful. Although not always convenient, they gladly stop to offer advice or other assistance.

A different personality and a new approach may provide exactly what we need when we need it.

Not only are two heads better than one for problem solving. We then get to celebrate success with another person. After sharing the challenge, we get to share the joy!

Thanks to my great-nephews Logan and Landon for demonstrating this expression.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV).

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Swallow Hook, Line, and Sinker

Swallow Hook, Line, and Sinker

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Swallow Hook Line and SinkerDo you enjoy fishing? Most of my family can spend hours in the hot sun waiting for a fish to bite. Whether they catch anything or not, they have a good time. If they land enough for dinner, that’s wonderful. They clean and freeze any extra for another day.

I enjoy cooking and eating fish. I don’t usually like to fish. I hate to touch worms or fish. Plus, I identify with the pain of the worms or fish when they’re on a hook.

I also identify with fish another way. Like fish lured to a hook, I’m one of the most gullible people I know. Think about a fish’s actions:

  •  It foolishly tries to eat a worm or other bait on a hook.
  • When it takes the bait, it swallows the hook, pulls on the line, and makes the sinker go under the water.
  • Those actions signal the fisherman that he just caught a fish.
  • As a result, rather than eating dinner, the fish becomes someone’s dinner.

I also take the bait easily. In fact, I don’t just swallow the hook. I swallow hook, line, and sinker!

  • Tell me an unbelievable story; I usually believe it.
  • Try to avoid work by claiming illness or sadness; I sympathize.
  • Relate something foolish; I try to find the logic in it.

In most instances, swallowing (believing) such tales gives everyone a good laugh and no one suffers.

In important matters, I need to practice caution. So do we all.

“Keep falsehood and lies far from me” (Proverbs 30:8 NIV).

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Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining

Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining

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Every Cloud Has a Silver LiningAs children, my sister and I would lie flat on our backs to look at the clouds. We saw elephants, dogs, trains, candy canes … You name it, we saw it, if we looked long enough.

When the clouds brought rain showers, we danced in circles with our heads back and our mouths open. We soaked up the fun, getting soaked in the process.

But when dark clouds brought lightning and thunder, we dashed inside for safety.

Eventually the sun popped out again, and the clouds’ edges glowed! We learned early in life to look for those silver linings.

We experienced few tragedies as children. We knew when any threat did appear, we had someone to brave it with us. The belief that every cloud has a silver lining taught us to look for the good in every hardship. We learned to hope for better days ahead, each with its own special beauty.

As adults, our difficulties increased. Nevertheless, the promise of someone with us never changed.

  • We still have one another.
  • We have other family members and friends.
  • We have church family.
  • Above all, we have our loving God who promises never to leave us.

We continue to believe every cloud has a silver lining. We hold to the hope that:

  • Life’s difficulties make us stronger.
  • We can support people with similar hardships.
  • God gives strength needed for every day.
  • This life’s troubles will not last.
  • We have a home in heaven, if we trust Jesus.

“Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5, NLT).

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Back to the Drawing Board

Back to the Drawing Board

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Back to the Drawing BoardWhen we make a mistake, we need to go back to the drawing board.

A drawing board is an architect’s table. If a design fails or doesn’t work as desired, the architect starts all over. He goes back to the drawing board to plan again.

No one enjoys having to redo work.

At the same time, don’t you find it encouraging that we can:

  • Correct mistakes?
  • Start over?
  • Improve projects that fail to work the first time?

That’s why we have erasers on pencils, and delete and undo buttons on computers.

We all make mistakes, so no one has the right to feel superior. Rather, by working together and sharing knowledge gained from successes and errors, everyone benefits.

How wonderful that God provides second chances.

  • When we make a total mess of our lives, we can go back to life’s drawing board.
  • When we see no hope for the future, God shows us a better way.
  • If we turn to God, He reveals His perfect design for our lives.

I can think of no greater way to begin a new year.

“Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:4 NIV).

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Caught Red-Handed

Caught Red-Handed

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Caught Red-HandedOne of my favorite cartoons features a cute little boy. His mom told him he couldn’t have a cookie. So what did he do? When he thought Mom wasn’t looking, he took a cookie, of course.

What he didn’t know: Mom was watching. He was caught red-handed.

He tried to deny his guilt. But they both knew better. He held in his little hand clear and undeniable evidence.

That doesn’t sound much different from adult behavior, does it?

Every day people get caught red-handed.

 Yet, they:

  •  Blame others.
  • Twist the truth.
  • Try to cover up the facts.
  • Deny the facts.

Everyone knows what happened and who did it. The evidence convicts them. Like someone with blood on his hands after killing a person or animal, they get caught red-handed.

What kind of example does that set for children and youth? How can adults expect young people to do what’s right if they don’t?

It’s time to set the standard for good behavior.

  • Admit guilt when wrong.
  • Apologize for damage done.
  • Correct the problem, if possible.

“I’m sorry.” “Will you forgive me?” Short simple words that need to be used more often.

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16, ESV).

Thanks to my great-nephew Kaleb for modeling a behavior I’m sure he would never do.

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