Put to Bed
Following baths, brushed teeth, prayers, and other routines, children are put to bed every night.
Some of us also put our pets to bed. This puppy receives lots of love and care from its owner. A hand-made cherry bed waits anytime puppy needs a nap. Not a typical dog’s life.
We understand the literal meaning of put to bed.
People and animals need sleep. Going to bed may be voluntary or it may be required. Sometimes it serves as punishment for bad behavior.
It also means to stop discussing or arguing about an issue.
Whether we agree or disagree, we drop the subject. We let sleeping dogs lie.
It often means to complete all or part of an activity.
Final preparation begins or is already finished.
It’s a common saying for newspapers and other printing and means no more edits. Papers or books are ready to print.
The most important decision to put to bed is our eternal destination.
We don’t want to leave our relationship with Jesus up in the air. At the end of the day, nothing matters more.
“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4 NIV).
Thanks to J.D. Wininger for the suggestion and to Ina Ree Pickett for the photo.
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8 thoughts on “Put to Bed”
“Put it to bed”, “Give it a rest”, “Let it go”, they all mean to move something from the “front burner” and either put it on the “back burner” to simmer slowly for a while more or, hopefully, retire it completely so that it will never have to be addressed again. Isn’t it amazing how many ways we can say nearly the same thing, each with its own nuance? Thank you Ms. Diana. I still owe you one ma’am.
Thank you, J.D. I continue to be amazed at the number of expressions we have and the multiple ways we say the same thing. I look forward to your work. Watch for a link soon to an old post for “back burner.”
I am so very grateful we can “put to bed” our eternal destination. Never have to worry about it. I enjoyed this post!
Thank you, Joanne. I’m so grateful for that great gift as well.
Loved that ultra-fancy dog bed, Diana. He/she is one comfortable, and spoiled, pet! I do love that the English language has a seemingly endless amount of idioms and sayings. Sure makes our language a rich and imaginative one.
Blessings!
I loved the dog’s bed too, Martha. We used to have a human bed just like it. Hand-made cherry furniture is a local craft.
When we hosted international students, they loved to learn idioms and other sayings.
This is a familiar saying around my parts. In fact, we have a situation at church that I’ll be really REALLY glad when it is “put to bed.” Thank you, Diana.
This expression can carry strong feelings, can’t it, Katherine? Thank you.