Problems Archives - Page 8 of 34

A Day Late and a Dollar Short

November 8, 2021 Diana Derringer Comments 4 comments

As a child, I often heard people say they were a day late and a dollar short. They usually meant they did not have enough money to buy something or pay a bill.

However, I learned the expression has a greater meaning.

A day late and a dollar short means to be unprepared and too late.

That can be money for purchases or bills, as I thought. It can also mean not enough effort in:

Relationships
Work
Personal goals

In each one, people fail to get the ball rolling. They dillydally when they need to get to work.

Lack of effort and failure to be on time benefit no one.

Everyone loses.

Family members who ignore one another threaten their relationships
Lazy workers hurt their employers and risk losing their jobs.
Anyone who invests little time or effort fails to achieve their best.

Prepare. Work well. Use time wisely.

A good plan for now and eternity, don’t you agree?

“Jesus replied, ‘My light will shine out for you just a little while longer. Walk in it while you can, and go where you want to go before the darkness falls, for then it will be too late for you to find your way’” (John 12:35 TLB).

Thanks to Emily Akin for the suggestion.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

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Take the Cotton Out of Your Ears and Put It in Your Mouth

November 1, 2021 Diana Derringer Comments 6 comments

A friend’s mother-in-law used to tell family members, “Take the cotton out of your ears and put it in your mouth.” Many of us have probably heard the same or similar expressions.

Take the cotton out of your ears and put it in your mouth means to stop talking and start listening.

When we talk all the time, we fail to hear what others say. Their words go in one ear and out the other.

God gave us two ears and one mouth. That tells us something important, don’t you think? If we listen more than talk, we have fewer conflicts and greater cooperation.

We learn more when we listen.

If we listen closely, all ears, we hear – not just noise or words, but also what the other person means.

We regret less when we listen.

If we wait to talk until we hear the other person’s point of view, we have fewer problems. We avoid putting our foot in our mouth.

The next time we want to talk too much rather than listen, let’s remember how God created us– one mouth, two ears.

“You have seen many things, but you pay no attention; your ears are open, but you do not listen” (Isaiah 42:20 NIV).

Thanks to Brad Palmer for the suggestion and to Travis Gosser for the photo.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

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Butterflies in My Stomach

October 11, 2021 Diana Derringer Comments 2 comments

Butterflies in My Stomach--butterfly on flower I love butterflies, don’t you? I watch for them in gardens, yards, and on walks. Their colors and the way they flutter through the air thrill me. A butterfly makes any day better. However, I don’t love butterflies in my stomach.

Butterflies in my stomach mean I feel nervous.

Finding butterflies brings joy. Feeling them in my stomach … not so much.

Common causes for butterflies in my stomach include:

Public speaking
Job interviews
Singing or acting in public
Tests

Feeling a little nervous can be a good thing.

It makes me:

Prepare better
Try harder
Do my best

Feeling too nervous hurts my health.

It causes me to tie myself in knots, I suffer physically, mentally, and emotionally.

When butterflies flutter too long or hard, I remind myself not to sweat it. If I shake off the stress and give God control, God leads me through every challenge.

Thanks to Darrin Jenkins for the suggestion and the picture.

What causes butterflies in your stomach? Please comment .

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Like a Broken Record

September 27, 2021 Diana Derringer Comments 3 comments

Like a broken record--an open record player For young people unfamiliar with vintage audio, saying someone sounds like a broken record fails to compute. Many can’t relate to a record player needle landing on a scratched vinyl record—a sound definitely not music to our ears.

The needle gets stuck in a record groove.
The same line plays over and over again.
We must manually correct our broken record before the music proceeds.

How like those records we sound when we constantly beg for something. We may rephrase our requests, but the sound comes out the same — nag, nag, nag. I want it. I want it. I want it. Did you hear me? I want it!

We may receive our request, just so we will shut up and go away. Granted, the squeaky wheel gets the oil. Yet we also know that most people try to avoid that squeaky wheel.

Many of us could benefit from a little assertiveness training. We don’t want to sit back, never sharing our needs. At the same time, we don’t want to annoy people until we drive them away.

Speak well. Speak clearly. Know when to stop repeating.

“Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God” (Ecclesiastes 5:7 NIV).

Thanks to Karen Hart for the suggestion.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

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Katy Bar the Door

September 20, 2021 Diana Derringer Comments 0 Comment

Katy Bar the Door: old double doors with bar across them Get ready. Beware. Katy bar the door.

My dad often used this expression if he expected trouble, such as:

Bad weather
Economic problems
Political unrest
Broken relationships

Katy (or Katie) bar the door warns of danger ahead.

A common southern expression, it tells people to be careful. They need to watch their step and prepare for hard times ahead.

If people expect someone to try to break in their house, they lock (or bar) their door. They take necessary precautions.

The origin of Katy bar the door is uncertain.

According to The Phrase Finder, possibilities include:

A Scottish folk song, “Get Up and Bar the Door”
The attempt of Catherine Douglas to save the Scottish King James I

Whatever the origin, use caution when facing danger.

Better safe than sorry. Take the right steps to protect against possible threats.

“The clever see danger and hide; but the simple go on, and suffer for it” (Proverbs 27:12 NRSV).

Thanks to Brad Leverett for the suggestion. Image by József Kincse from Pixabay.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

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Can’t Hear Myself Think

September 6, 2021 Diana Derringer Comments 4 comments

Can't Hear Myself Think--stream of water in a wooded area Sometimes life gets so loud I can’t hear myself think.

Too much noise makes concentration difficult.

Phones ring and ding. Traffic buzzes and beeps. Timers chime. Alarms sound. Emergency alerts test. Televisions and radios blare. Dogs bark. People talk, laugh, and cry.

When the noise becomes too great, I try to get away. Although I prefer to walk, any exercise helps.

Inner noise also makes it hard to think.

My brain gets overloaded with:

Chores to do
Bills to pay
People to contact
Problems to solve
Paperwork to complete

When I can’t hear myself think, my mind needs a rest.

Although exercise gives some relief, my greatest help comes through time alone with God in prayer. If I remember to be still, God soothes my soul. When I can’t hear myself think, such moments of silence are golden – priceless treasures of time.

“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10 NIV).

Can you identify? What helps you quieten the noise? Please comment.

Thanks to Janna Babak for the suggestion.

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The Squeaky Wheel Gets the Oil

August 30, 2021 Diana Derringer Comments 6 comments

Old wagons, carts, and carriages remind us that the squeaky wheel gets the oil (or grease). Their rides equal hours of fun — if the wheels work well.

However, when a wheel starts to squeak, it stands out from the others. It differs, but not in a good way. It:

Irritates
Angers
Makes us wish it would stop

A squeaky wheel demands attention.

No one likes that constant noise. It gets on our nerves, so we give it the attention it demands. We oil (or grease) it.

The person who complains the loudest and longest also gets the most attention.

Yet, choose carefully when to squeak and when to stay quiet.

Several situations compel us to speak up.

We should voice our concerns about:

Abuse or neglect
Serious consumer complaints
Obvious needs we can help

Yet, noise about everything all the time makes people avoid us.

Remember, silence can be golden. If we constantly fly off the handle, we harm ourselves as well as others.

A word to the wise: Speak up when we should make noise. Shut up when we need peace and quiet.

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute” (Proverbs 31:8 NIV).

Thanks to Phyllis Patton for the suggestion.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

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Nest Egg

August 23, 2021 Diana Derringer Comments 4 comments

Nest Egg--robin's nest in a hole in a tree trunk Do you have a nest egg? Perhaps you hide it in a special place at your home. Maybe in a sock or a cookie jar? Or you might keep it in a bank or other financial institution.

Family members might be aware of your nest egg. Or maybe only you know about it.

A nest egg is money saved for a later time.

Planned uses include:

Buying a house
Retirement
Emergencies
Travel
A rainy day

Nest eggs may be large or small.

Small ones help with:

Christmas or birthday gifts
Toys
Clothes or shoes
A fancy meal

This expression comes from leaving an egg in a chicken’s nest.

A nest egg can be real or fake. Its purpose is to encourage the chicken to lay more eggs.

Most people think of nest eggs for personal use. However, the idea can be expanded to the needs of others. Since you can’t take it with you, what fun to save in order to give it away.

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV).

(I know the above picture is a robin’s egg rather than a chicken’s. Yet isn’t it lovely?)

Thanks to Regina Graham for the suggestion. Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

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Let It Be

August 9, 2021 Diana Derringer Comments 2 comments

Let It Be--Green River Lake scene Let it be. Let it lie. Let sleeping dogs lie. All mean about the same.

To let it be means to leave a situation alone.

Wait rather than discuss it.
Don’t think too much about it.
Choose not to act yet.
Don’t dwell on the negative.
Get away from it.
Relax.

Let it be also relates to people.

We give people space when we let them be. We don’t bother them. They (or we) may need time, so we leave them alone for a while.

We may have to deal with the situation or person later.

However, extra time allows us to:

Gain more understanding
Think more clearly
Prepare a plan

Added time also helps us avoid getting in a jam or opening a can of worms.

A few situations demand immediate attention.

We must act quickly. When that happens, let’s act wisely. We want to use our information and resources in the best possible way.

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7 NIV).

Thanks to Laura Lee Leathers for the suggestion.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

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Meet Yourself Coming and Going

August 2, 2021 Diana Derringer Comments 5 comments

Do you ever meet yourself coming and going? With too many irons in the fire, you start one job, walk away, and see another job that needs attention. You begin the new chore, turn around, and see something else to do. After moving from one task to another, you realize you have finished nothing.

Does that sound familiar?

To meet yourself coming and going, you feel pulled in several directions.

You find yourself with:

Too much to do
Little time to do it
Uncertainty when you will get everything done

Too many chores usually mean too little rest.

You never find time to:

Sleep
Relax
Enjoy life

You must slow down or you will get down.

Failure to rest eventually means you run out of steam. You either give up or get sick. No one can go forever. You have to take care of yourself in order to do what needs to be done.

In order to keep going, you first learn to be still — how to:

Rest
Relax
Recharge your strength.

You focus on what must be done rather than all you want to do.

“The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (Psalm 121:8 NIV).

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

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Thank you to the person who made this suggestion, based on my recent activity. I confess I must plead guilty as charged.