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Category: Self-Improvement

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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Don’t Get Too Big for Your Britches

Don’t Get Too Big for Your Britches

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Don't Get Too Big for Your Britches 3Don’t get too big for your britches has nothing to do with our height, weight, or the size of our pants. Rather, it warns us against having too much pride. Similar expressions tell us not to put on a high hat or act high and mighty.

When life goes well, we should certainly enjoy it. However, we don’t want to grow arrogant over our good fortune. Circumstances can quickly change.

Let’s maintain balance in our lives.

  • Celebrate success, but give credit to those who helped us succeed.
  • Enjoy financial gain but share that wealth with those in need.
  • Seek the occupation of our dreams but express appreciation for the work of others.
  • Strive for self-improvement but never at anyone else’s expense.

We all put our britches on one leg at a time.

No one deserves to be viewed as less worthy than anyone else. Likewise, no one deserves to be viewed as more worthy than others.   Let’s treat everyone with the same respect we desire.

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18 NET).

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

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Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

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Don't Put All Your Eggs in One BasketAlthough not found in the Bible, egg hunts have become a common Easter tradition. Close to Easter seems a good time to remember we don’t put all our eggs in one basket.

As children find Easter eggs, they usually place them in brightly-colored baskets. Too many eggs make a basket overflow. Extra weight from the eggs can make a fragile basket break.

Using more than one basket, if needed, reduces the risk of losing or breaking their eggs.

Neither should we put all our eggs in one basket.

We don’t want to limit our resources to one possibility.

For a greater chance of success, we must diversify.

  • Invest money in more than one company.
  • Study more than one subject.
  • Learn more than one skill.
  • Apply to more than one school.
  • Develop more than one hobby.
  • Plan more than one vacation route.

We want to keep our options open.

If one goal fails, we have an alternative.

If our dream becomes a nightmare, we can follow a different dream.

“But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations” (Psalm 33:11 NIV).

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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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We Reap What We Sow

We Reap What We Sow

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We Reap What We SowIf we sow (or plant) tomato seeds, we reap (or harvest) tomatoes. If we sow corn seeds, we reap corn. If we sow bean seeds, we reap beans. If we sow flower seeds, we reap flowers. Do you see a pattern here?

Logic tells us that we reap what we sow.

That truth applies to behavior as well as gardens.

  • If we study hard, we make better grades.
  • If we practice regularly, we improve our performance.
  • If we work well, we advance in our career.

As with most of life, exceptions occur.

We can’t guarantee that our flower seeds will sprout and grow. Bad weather, hungry animals, and other conditions may result in a poor crop year. However, we can be certain that flower seeds will produce flowers, not potatoes.

Neither can we guarantee that positive behavior will always result in positive responses. In general, however, we live with the consequences of the choices we make — we reap what we sow.

  • If we ignore the rules, we get in trouble.
  • If we follow the rules, we stay out of trouble.
  • If we frown at people, they frown back.
  • If we smile at people, they smile back.
  • If we focus on the temporary, we reap temporary rewards.
  • If we focus on the eternal, we reap eternal rewards.

Let’s sow good seed, not just for our own sake but also for the sake of others.

Remember, whether beans or behavior, we reap what we sow.

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7 NIV).

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

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Rise and Shine

Rise and Shine

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Rise and Shine
Courtesy of Jeri Stone

“Rise and shine! Day has broken!” Regardless of the circumstances, that was our father’s morning wake-up call. Who needed an alarm clock with Dad around?

His greeting came:

  • After dates
  • After slumber parties
  • On weekends
  • On holidays
  • Every single day

Friends might sleep until noon, but not us. We crawled out of bed. Dad said it was time to face the day, so we faced the day. At times we:

  • Muttered under our breath
  • Wanted to throw a pillow at him
  • Wondered how any sane person could be cheerful that early

Nevertheless, Dad said to rise and shine. Rise we did. Shine … not so often.

I now know Dad didn’t always feel that cheerful either. But whether he felt it or not, he said it.

The message we received from that daily ritual included more than, “Get up you sleepyheads.” Dad was telling us:

  • Every day’s an adventure. Don’t waste it.
  • We have much to do. Let’s do it.

Of course, Dad was right. Every day holds adventure. To see it, we must open our eyes. To make the most of it, we have to open our hearts.

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you” (Isaiah 60:1 NIV).

Did your Dad or Mom have a favorite expression? If so, I’d love to hear it.

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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).

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

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Head in the Clouds

Head in the Clouds

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Head in the CloudsWe like the thought that every cloud has a silver lining. We don’t enjoy people saying we have our head in the clouds.

I should know.

I have my head in the clouds quite often.

While thinking about one thing, I totally forget what I was doing before. I don’t pay attention, and I suffer as a result.

  • Dinner burns while I read a book. (That’s why I love stove timers.)
  • Clothes wrinkle in the dryer while I write. (I also love dryer buzzers.)
  • I stumble over a step while gazing at the clouds. (I haven’t found a signal for that yet.)

You get the picture?

I grow absent-minded when doing something I enjoy.

I forget my present reality. Like clouds, my mind floats away.

An occasional head in the clouds moment may be okay.

We need to dream. We need to escape and refresh our minds. A break from routine is good for the soul. We just need to be sure nothing and no one suffers because of it.

“Watch your step. Stick to the path and be safe” (Proverbs 4:26 TLB).

How about you? What’s your worst head in the clouds experience? Please comment below.

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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).

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

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