Wisdom Archives - Page 39 of 49

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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A Full Plate

October 6, 2015 Diana Derringer Comments 3 comments

We find the world’s largest apple pie at the Casey County Apple Festival in Liberty, Kentucky. During that September festival, Liberty grows to five times its normal size. Local people and visitors all want a full plate of pie. However, no one wants the entire 10-foot pie on their plate.

Occasionally most of us put more food on our plate than we should. If we try to eat everything on that full plate, we get sick or feel awful.

To prevent such feelings, we can:

Share the food with someone else.
Eat what we want and throw the rest away.
Eat part of the food now and part later.

Sometimes we have more to do than we can manage. Problems overwhelm us. We have a full plate or a lot on our plate. If we try to do everything ourselves, we get sick or feel awful.

We can avoid those feelings if we:

Ask someone to help us.
Leave less important things undone.
Work on part now and part later.

Everyone has limits. We can’t do everything alone. Accepting that truth usually means a longer, happier, and healthier life.

“Share each other’s troubles and problems, and so obey our Lord’s command” (Galatians 6:2 TLB).

Have you attended the Apple Festival? If so, what did you think of the pie?

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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.

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Mind Your Ps and Qs

September 8, 2015 Diana Derringer Comments 2 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).

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Fly by the Seat of Our Pants

September 1, 2015 Diana Derringer Comments 2 comments

Paragliders often fly by the seat of their pants. They depend on wind and weather for safety and success. Those can change quickly.

Sometimes airplane pilots must also fly by the seat of their pants.

They can’t see because of bad weather.
The plane’s instruments stop working.
They hope to arrive safely on a wing and a prayer.

Like pilots and paragliders, we occasionally face new challenges or problems. We can solve those several ways.

Organize our information
Explore possible solutions
Ask experts
Fly by the seat of our pants

When we fly by the seat of our pants, we:

Have no experience or skills with the situation
Do the best we can by ourselves
Work without a plan

Many people fly by the seat of their pants and do well. Some of us end up in a mess. Often those messes cause no great harm. At times, however, we hurt ourselves and others.

With our most important decisions, let’s choose a better way.

“As for God, his way is perfect; The word of the Lord is true. He shields all who hide behind him” (2 Samuel 22:31 TLB).

Have you experienced a fly by the seat of your pants moment? If so, please comment below.

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Photo courtesy of morgueFile.

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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Make Waves

August 11, 2015 Diana Derringer Comments 2 comments

People sometimes warn us not to make waves. Other times, we realize we must. When we choose to make waves, we:

Rock the boat
Upset someone or something
Shock or disturb
Risk being called a trouble maker

Two truths about making waves help us decide what to do.

Waves can do great good, by:

Continuing earth’s natural flow
Calming us
Providing beauty and pleasure

Waves can also do much harm, by causing:

Ship wrecks
Drowning
Destruction of houses or communities.

Likewise, we can do great good or much harm by:

Improving or damaging our world
Correcting or increasing mistakes

Before we make waves, let’s be certain our actions make a positive difference.

“If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea” (Isaiah 48:18 NIV).

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