Relationships Archives - Page 29 of 36

True Colors

November 3, 2015 Diana Derringer Comments 3 comments

I 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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Hardheaded

October 27, 2015 Diana Derringer Comments 2 comments

Are you hardheaded? The following test may help you decide.

1. Do you always want everything your way?
2. Do you refuse to listen to other opinions?
3. Do you have a hard time changing your mind?
4. Do other people call you stubborn? Worse, do they call you stubborn as a mule?

People have different levels of stubbornness or hardheadedness. Some are hardheaded about everything all the time. Others are a little hardheaded part-time.

Strong opinions can be helpful. Presidents and other leaders must stand firm on certain issues. At the same time, they must be willing to listen to all sides of any issue. That was true for the presidents carved on Mt. Rushmore. It remains true for leaders today.

A great plan for both leaders and followers: Listen well. Decide carefully.

“They have become as hardheaded as a rock. They refuse to change their ways” (Jeremiah 5:3 NET).

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You Can’t Take It with You

October 20, 2015 Diana Derringer Comments 7 comments

“You can’t take it with you.” “I’ve never seen a hearse with a trailer behind it.” Both expressions tell us that when we die, we leave our possessions behind.

So, why do we become so concerned about what we own? Those things won’t last.

What we spend most of our lives collecting will someday belong to someone else. Or they may be thrown in the trash or recycled. Yet, we keep buying stuff we don’t need, trying to live high on the hog.

A missionary friend once laughed and said she enjoys “returning to America every four years to learn what the latest gadgets are that we cannot live without.”

She knows what matters most can’t be purchased with cash, check, or credit card:

The love of family
A true friend
Peace of mind
Purpose for living
An eternal home in heaven

A meaningful life has no price tag. Why not make our lives more meaningful? Instead of buying useless items, why not spend our money for:

Disaster relief
World hunger
Scholarships
Church and missions programs
Crisis ministries

We live on earth such a brief time. If you can’t take it with you, why worry about it now? Let’s invest in true riches!

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21 NIV).

What are your favorite charities?

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Fill Someone’s Shoes

October 13, 2015 Diana Derringer Comments 2 comments

Charli likes to wear her parents’ shoes. She tries so hard to fill them, but she can’t. Her parents have big shoes to fill.

We often say it will be hard to fill someone’s shoes when that person leaves a position. We also say the person left big shoes to fill. We mean:

The person did a good job.
We will have a hard time finding someone else that good.
The next person will have to work hard to do as well.

None of us can fill someone’s shoes like that person. We may get close. Some people may see no difference. Yet differences remain.

That is true for:

Teachers
Business leaders
Family members
Anyone

We each fill our shoes in our own way. God made only one Charli. God made only one me. God made only one you.

Great workers and leaders challenge us to do our best. Yet, we will always be who we are. Therefore, Charli needs to be the best Charli possible. I need to be the best me possible. You need to be the best you possible.

Let’s all leave big shoes to fill.

“Work hard so God can say to you, “Well done.” Be a good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed when God examines your work” (2 Timothy 2:15 TLB).

Thanks to Natalie Parker for the photo.

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Fly off the Handle

September 29, 2015 Diana Derringer Comments 2 comments

Don’t fly off the handle — helpful advice for axes and for people.

An ax can do great good or great harm. Its heavy metal blade cuts through wood. That wood can provide heat, art, building supplies, and more

However, if the ax blade flies off the handle, look out. Anyone nearby is in danger of injury or death.

Likewise, anger can do great good or great harm. Controlled anger helps us:

Speak against evil.
Right a wrong.
Change ourselves.
Lead others to change.

However, we often let anger get out of control. Anger controls us rather than our controlling the anger. We fly off the handle (lose our temper). As a result, we suffer and cause others to suffer.

With an ax, we want to:

Keep it in good repair.
Hold the handle firmly.
Cut wood and never hurt people.

With anger we want to:

Understand its cause and purpose.
Keep it firmly controlled.
Use it for good, not harm.

Remember to treat anger like water off a duck’s back. Use it in a positive way, and gain tools for a better life.

An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins. (Proverbs 29:22)

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Hit the Nail on the Head

September 22, 2015 Diana Derringer Comments 0 Comment

These young people hit the nail on the head with their hammers. They also hit the nail on the head with their lives.

When we hammer nails, we try to hit the head (the top flat part). We want to hit it exactly right. We may suffer several ways if we miss.

The hammer hits a thumb or finger. Ouch!
The hammer bends the nail.
We damage what we are building or repairing.

However, if we hit the nail on the head, we achieve great results.

When we hit the nail on the head with our lives, we also achieve great results. We get it right.

We find the solution to a problem.
We give the correct answer.
We report a needed change.
We live a good life.

When we fail to live well, we suffer.

Focusing on ourselves, we miss the joy of service.
Ignoring laws and rules, we damage our reputation and influence.
Living right only part-time, people don’t trust us.

As this group with Kentucky Heartland Outreach learned, serving God and others is a great way to live. We can learn much from them.

It’s never too late to pick up life’s hammer and hit the nail on the head.

“‘Is not my word like fire,’ declares the LORD, ‘and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?’” (Jeremiah 23:29 NIV)

Thanks to Charity Powell for the photo.

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How Are You?

September 15, 2015 Diana Derringer Comments 3 comments

We often say, “How are you?” as a greeting, not a true question. It sounds like we want to know a person’s physical or emotional health. We usually don’t. Instead, we say it the same way we say:

Hi
Hello
Hey
Good morning (afternoon, evening)

Sometimes we alter “How are you?” to “How ya doin’?” (How are you doing?)

We expect people to answer, “Fine. How are you?” or “Fine. How about you?”

We don’t mean to be uncaring. Like most habits, we never think about our actions.

Next time we ask, “How are you?” why not pause long enough for a real response? As Piper did in this picture:

Stop what we are doing.
Look at the person.
Listen carefully.

We might be surprised at what we learn.

This tradition may never change. However, we all benefit by caring for one another. When we take time to listen, we show respect and concern. Our world can certainly use more of that.

“The wise man learns by listening” (Proverbs 21:11 TLB).

Thanks to Karen Atwood for the photo.

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

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Mind Your Ps and Qs

September 8, 2015 Diana Derringer Comments 3 comments

Sometimes parents or teachers tell children, “Mind your Ps and Qs.” Usually they mean to watch their speech or behavior. They want the children to act right – to mind their manners – to straighten up and fly right.

We need to hear that message too. How often do we:

Talk without thinking about the effect of our words?
Allow our emotions to control our behavior? We don’t feel well, so we don’t treat others well.
Embarrass ourselves by using bad manners?

One thoughtless word or deed can harm or destroy a relationship. Therefore, when we see Ps and Qs on children’s blocks, let’s remember to mind our Ps and Qs.

Think before speaking.
Think before acting.
Use proper manners.

People disagree on the origin of this phrase. It may have begun because the small (lower case) p and q look so much alike. They are the reverse (mirror image) of one another. Therefore, we must be careful when we write. We don’t want to confuse our lettters.

Likewise, we don’t want to confuse right and wrong. Whatever we do, let’s mind our Ps and Qs.

“He wanted them to be understanding, just, and fair in everything they did” (Proverbs 1:3 TLB).

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

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Between a Rock and a Hard Place

August 25, 2015 Diana Derringer Comments 1 comment

I 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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Stand Out

August 18, 2015 Diana Derringer Comments 9 comments

We have all seen them: those people who stand out. Something special about them demands our attention. They are like black-eyed Susan flowers surrounded by weeds and trees. We notice them first.

They may be in the middle of a crowded room. Yet, our eyes follow them. They stand out from everyone for many reasons:

Physical beauty
Laughter
Personality
Voice
Clothes
Behavior

However, if people seek attention, we soon tire of them. We don’t enjoy a constant attitude of look at me. If they focus their attention on others, we like to be around them.

The best way to stand out in a crowd is to point people to something greater than self. Standing tall and standing firm are far more important than standing out.

“Keep your eyes on Jesus, our leader and instructor” (Hebrews 12:2 TLB).

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