behavior Archives - Page 9 of 9

Face the Music

August 8, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 7 comments

I love to listen to music.

Music makes me laugh, cry, dance, worship, and more. Few things in life offer as much pleasure.

I still remember the first time I saw the opening scene of The Sound of Music. I wanted to run up that mountain with Julie Andrews and sing just like her. I could probably run up the mountain. I will never sing like that.

I don’t like to face the music.

I don’t want to accept the results of my actions when I have done wrong. When other people do wrong, I usually think they should face the music. They should pay for their mistakes. Yet, I don’t want the same for myself.

However, I live with the consequences of the choices I make.

Most of the time, good choices result in a good life. Bad choices usually result in a bad life. That is not always true, but it is most of the time.

The choices I make also affect other people. I want to help them make good choices and avoid bad ones.

Likewise, I want to choose carefully the people who guide me. Although I see many examples, I choose the ones I follow.

Whether I have good or bad teachers, I choose my actions.
Whether I have good or bad friends, I choose my actions.
Whether I have a good or bad family, I choose my actions.

Making right choices is not always easy. When I fail, I ask God for forgiveness and thank God for a fresh start. God offers that same forgiveness and fresh start to everyone.

I pray you always enjoy beautiful music. I also pray you make good choices so you don’t have to face the music.

“Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19 NIV).

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

Subscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.

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.

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

Subscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.

Mind Your Ps and Qs

September 8, 2015 Diana Derringer Comments 3 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).

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

Subscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.

Rock Bottom

August 5, 2014 Diana Derringer Comments 1 comment

Have you ever hit rock bottom, when you have gone as low as you can go?

Rock bottom may mean you have lost any or all of the following, plus more:

Money
Home
Job
Friends
Family
Self-respect
Energy
Desire to live

Our suffering may be no fault of our own. However, we often hit rock bottom because of poor choices. In addition, we may have to hit the bottom before we see the need to change.

At the bottom, we realize we can’t keep making the same mistakes. Like hiking to the bottom of Bryce Canyon, going down is easier than going up. Yet, in order to survive, we must get out. So one step at a time, we slowly make our way to the top.

Once we make it, we look back and understand how far we have come.

At the same time, poor choices may continue to tempt us. When that happens, how do we keep from hitting rock bottom again?

Remember where we were and where we want to be.
Don’t go places that will tempt us.
Don’t spend time with people who will tempt us.
Find support from people who have also come up from the bottom.
Base our lives on a foundation that is as solid as a rock.

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge” (Psalm 18:2 NIV).

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

Subscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.

Straighten Up and Fly Right

June 3, 2014 Diana Derringer Comments 6 comments

When my parents told me to straighten up and fly right, they were not telling me I had poor posture. Neither were they saying I should suddenly sprout wings or buy a plane ticket. Instead, they were ordering me to improve my behavior … now!

If they were extremely upset, the full sentence was usually, “Young lady, you’d better straighten up and fly right … and I don’t mean maybe!” I knew I was in trouble as soon as I heard, “Young lady.”

I had pushed all the wrong buttons or become too big for my britches. My parents would tolerate no further misbehavior.

I knew what rule had been broken.
They knew my actions were no accident.
Humor, hugs, kisses, and innocent looks would not help.

I needed to obey, the sooner the better.

Their warning usually achieved its goal. I tried to straighten up and fly right. If I succeeded, I avoided their wrath. If I ignored them, I suffered. What I failed to understand at that time was that my parents were trying to teach me:

How to succeed in life
How to avoid difficulties and danger
How to get along with others.
How to be my best

As adults, we may not have anyone telling us to straighten up and fly right. That does not mean we don’t need to do so.

It’s never too late. Listen and learn.

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. (1 Peter 1:14 NIV)

Do you have a favorite expression or one you want explained? If so, please comment.

Subscribe now and receive weekly posts by e-mail.

Caught Red-Handed

December 10, 2013 Diana Derringer Comments 5 comments

One of my favorite cartoons features a cute little boy. His mom told him he couldn’t have a cookie. So what did he do? When he thought Mom wasn’t looking, he took a cookie, of course.

What he didn’t know: Mom was watching. He was caught red-handed.

He tried to deny his guilt. But they both knew better. He held in his little hand clear and undeniable evidence.

That doesn’t sound much different from adult behavior, does it?

Every day people get caught red-handed.

Yet, they:

Blame others.
Twist the truth.
Try to cover up the facts.
Deny the facts.

Everyone knows what happened and who did it. The evidence convicts them. Like someone with blood on his hands after killing a person or animal, they get caught red-handed.

What kind of example does that set for children and youth? How can adults expect young people to do what’s right if they don’t?

It’s time to set the standard for good behavior.

Admit guilt when wrong.
Apologize for damage done.
Correct the problem, if possible.

“I’m sorry.” “Will you forgive me?” Short simple words that need to be used more often.

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16, ESV).

Thanks to my great-nephew Kaleb for modeling a behavior I’m sure he would never do.

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

Subscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.