Please welcome my friend Gail Johnson as today’s guest writer. Gail wrote her first song when she was twelve years old. Since then, she’s written more than 100 songs. She’s currently writing a contemporary romance series on the family farm where she enjoys her husband, kids, animals, and nature. To learn more about Gail, visit www.gailjohnsonauthor.com.

I’ve heard the phrase “Happy as a pig in the sunshine” all my life. In fact, I’ve used it several times when describing the animals on the farm.

According to Google, the correct saying is “Happy as a dead pig in the sunshine.” Eww! Big difference. When a pig dies, the sun will dry the skin, pulling it tight and leaving a grin on the face.

The old southern phrase describes someone who is blissfully ignorant of reality.

Rather than face the truth of a matter, one happily ignores it.

Examples include:

• Ignoring chores to sit in the sunshine with a child or a friend.
• Turning off the news for a quiet day of rest.
• Avoiding social media for alone time.
• Escaping current problems for a day at the beach.

Ignorance is not bliss.

Contrary to popular belief, ignoring something doesn’t make it go away. Disregarding something for too long can cause a person to be caught unaware or become overwhelmed. Think of the mess that would accumulate if we didn’t do our housework. How would we keep up with the world around us if we never listened to the news? What about our online responsibilities? The people who depend on us don’t disappear when we disengage. Finally, who wants to become a beach bum.

Be disciplined when choosing to ignore something.

Checking out occasionally is great for refilling our hearts, souls, and minds. But there comes a time to face reality once more. When thinking about ignoring something, think about the pig in the sunshine and remember he died to get that smile. Know when to stop ignoring the issue and start engaging with life again.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24 NIV).

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

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Photo courtesy of Gerhard G. from Pixabay.