Self-Improvement Archives - Page 35 of 48

No Strings Attached

May 16, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 3 comments

People sometimes offer gifts with no strings attached.

They expect nothing in return.
They put no limits on the gifts’ use.

For example, if I give you $100, no strings attached, the money is yours.

You don’t have to give me anything.
You can use the money any way you want.

We often question offers with no strings attached.

We think:

That sounds too good to be true.
What do they want?
What is wrong with the gift?
We never get something for nothing.

Cee Cee’s gifts have no strings attached.

She began by knitting hand-sized elephants to raise funds for Joplin, Missouri tornado victims in 2011. Cee Cee was eight-years-old. Since then, she has helped people all over the world, expecting nothing in return.

Why does she do that?

Cee Cee loves people.
She wants to help anyone in need.
She serves the one who offers each of us the greatest gift.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23 NIV).

Who do you know with a heart like Cee Cee’s? Please comment below.

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Thanks to BeLinda Creech for the photo.

A Taste of Their Own Medicine

May 9, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 3 comments

A Taste of Their Own Medicine; child giving medicine to adult When people get a taste of their own medicine, they receive what they have given others. They don’t usually like it.

Medicine tastes better than it did in the past. Yet, most medicine still tastes awful. Children often fight taking it. The medicine lands on the child, adult, and anything else nearby.

Some adults pretend to taste the medicine. They act like it’s great. They know better. Many children know better too.

When adults get sick, they receive a taste of our own medicine. What they have given, they receive. The experience makes them better. Yet, the medicine still tastes awful.

A taste of their own medicine applies to behavior as well. What people give or do to others often returns to them. What goes around comes around.

When people hurt others, they invite hurt.
If people gossip, others feel free to gossip about them.
If people don’t respect others, they probably won’t receive respect.

That doesn’t mean people should return evil for evil. In fact, Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

However, the truth remains: People tend to treat others the way they are treated.

Therefore:

To be treated well, treat others well.
To avoid gossip, don’t gossip.
To receive respect, show respect.

Kindness to others does not guarantee kind treatment in return. However, it is the right thing to do.

“Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31 NIV).

Special thanks to Julie Posey Johnson for the photo of Ian giving Dad a taste of his own medicine.

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Hit the Hay

May 2, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 4 comments

Hit the Hay, morgueFile Years ago, people made mattresses from sacks stuffed with hay or straw. When it was time to go to bed, they would say:

“It’s time to hit the hay.”
or
“It’s time to hit the sack.”

My parents expected us to rise and shine early in the morning. They also wanted us to hit the hay early in the evening. They believed we needed a good night’s sleep to do our best. It prepared us for the next day’s plans.

A test
A long trip
A hard day’s work

Therefore, we received at least eight hours of sleep. We awoke rested and ready for that day’s tasks. Medical evidence supports the wisdom of this habit.

Unfortunately, many of us ignore sleep’s importance. We stay too busy. We fill our lives with too much activity.

School
Work
Clubs
Sports
Television
Internet

We have to do part of these. Many we choose instead of sleep. Think what we could gain from less activity and more rest. Try it.

Turn off the noise.
Let muscles relax and eyes close.
Enjoy the peace and quiet.

We might be surprised how much better we feel, think, and act.

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

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Photo courtesy of morgueFile.

Tie Ourselves in Knots

April 25, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 11 comments

We can easily tie ourselves in knots. I don’t mean with ropes, but with how we react to circumstances. We cause ourselves to suffer with:

Worry
Nervousness
Confusion

We can make ourselves sick. When our stomach ties in knots, we experience pain or cramping. The cause may be physical. Often it is emotional.

Fear
Impatience
Uncertainty
Anxiety

Other people can tie us in knots when they:

Expect too much
Hurt us or try to hurt us
Ignore us
Lie or gossip about us

So, how do we stop tying ourselves in knots or letting others tie us in knots? Don’t borrow trouble. Remember worry does no good. It changes nothing except how we feel. Instead, let go and let God. As we learn from The Serenity Prayer:

Change what we can change.
Accept what we can’t change.
Learn the difference.

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?^” (Luke 12:25 NIV).

How do you keep from tying yourself in knots? Please comment.

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Photo courtesy of morgueFile.

Burn the Candle at Both Ends

April 18, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 4 comments

We never want to burn the candle at both ends. Yet, sometimes we do.

Years ago, people needed candles for light. If they burned a candle at both ends, the candle could not stand. If they placed a candle flat to burn both ends:

The candle soon burned out.
People wasted much-needed light.

When we burn the candle at both ends, we get too busy. We work or play hard from early morning to late at night. We keep a full plate. We fail to get the rest and sleep we need.

Like candles burning at both ends, we wear out and waste our lives. We:

Lose energy.
Ruin our health.
Become unable to do what we want or need to do.

I admit I sometimes burn the candle at both ends. I have so much I want to do or believe I need to do. Yet, if I try to do too much, I can’t do anything well.

How about you? Are you tempted to burn the candle at both ends? If so, please comment how you handle it.

“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you” (3 John 2 NIV).

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Thanks to Emily Akin for the suggestion.

Photo courtesy of morgueFile.

A Drop in the Bucket

April 11, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 2 comments

A little bit of anything does not seem enough to make a difference. It is just a drop in the bucket. A drop in the ocean has the same meaning.

To understand this expression better, try carrying a bucket full of water. Then lift a bucket with one drop of water. We often think that one drop makes no difference or little difference. It is such a small part of the whole.

Compared to the greatness of God, we are like a drop in the bucket. God’s power, goodness, and love overflow like a waterfall.

A Drop in the Bucket At the same time, God loves each one of us and can use us for good. Working together, like many drops of water, we make a great difference in our world.

In addition, when we let God work in our lives, our buckets of blessings overflow.

“Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket” (Isaiah 40:15 NIV).

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Swamped

March 28, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 7 comments

Swamped Swamps 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.

Pick Up the Pieces

March 21, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 7 comments

Pick Up the Pieces-Judy Clark When we break a dish, we pick up the pieces. Occasionally we glue those pieces back together. The dish may not be as good as new, but it works.

Sometimes we must pick up the pieces of our lives. We return to normal or a new normal after a bad experience. We try to make a difficult situation okay. We may have:

Broken hearts
Broken bodies
Broken minds
A broken world

Yet, we decide to make the best of our trouble. We pick up the pieces, pull ourselves together, and move on. We may not be as good as new, but we still work.

Easter is all about picking up the pieces. However, we don’t have to pick up the pieces ourselves. Jesus did that for us when He:

Lived a sinless life to pay for our sins.
Died on the cross to give us eternal life.
Rose from the grave in victory over sin and death.

When we give Jesus control of our lives, we receive more than a return to normal. Jesus makes us new — better than ever. Like a potter forming a new creation, He gives us a fresh start.

We become God’s child.
God’s Spirit gives guidance and support.
We gain a home in heaven. There we never have to pick up the pieces again.

“Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isaiah 64:8 NIV).

Thanks to Judy Clark for the photo.

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A Stitch in Time Saves Nine

March 7, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 0 Comment

A Stitch in Time 2 I watched my Granny Childress sew many times. Sometimes she used a sewing machine like this one. Sometimes she sewed by hand. Either way, she knew a stitch in time saves nine. In other words, a little work now prevents a lot of work later.

Sewing a small rip in clothing now prevents a large rip later.
Stopping a little leak now prevents a big water bill later.
Replacing old brakes now prevents a car wreck later.

If we let things slide now, we suffer later. That’s true with clothing, houses, and cars. It’s also true in relationships. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

When we can, let’s stop problems now, so they will not get worse later.

“A sensible man watches for problems ahead and prepares to meet them. The simpleton never looks and suffers the consequences” (Proverbs 27:12 TLB).

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Follow in Someone’s Footsteps

February 22, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 8 comments

Follow in Someone's Footsteps 4 I wonder if wearing an apron will help me follow in the footsteps of my Granny Beasley.

Will it make me a better cook?
Will it give me a great sense of humor?
Will it give me arms big enough to hug the world?

I rarely saw her without her apron. She used it to:

Keep her clothes clean while she cooked or did other work
Dry tears from her own or children’s eyes
Fan herself during hot weather

She did take it off when people took her picture.

To follow in the footsteps of someone, we:

Follow the person’s example.
Take that person’s role or job.
Look to the person for guidance or an example.
Live like that person lived.

Follow in Someone's Footsteps7 I doubt that my WorldCrafts apron will make me like Granny. However, it does:

Provide great memories
Challenge me to follow in the footsteps of Granny Beasley (and the many other positive examples in my life)
Encourage me to create good footsteps for others to follow

“Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me” (Psalm 119:133 NIV).

Whose footsteps do you follow? Please comment.

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