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Cut and Dried

Cut and Dried

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Cut and Dried--bunches of dried flowersI love to go outside to look at flowers. A stop to smell the roses refreshes my body and mind. I rarely cut them to bring inside. They wilt and die too quickly. However, I do decorate with cut and dried flowers.

Dried flowers remind me to find beauty following tough times. They also match my love for a vintage look. Most of all, I appreciate their lasting value. They bring smiles for years rather than days.

Cut and dried means unchanging.

Like cut and dried flowers, a situation remains the same over time. It is:

  • Decided
  • Settled
  • Clear
  • Definite

This description can refer to plans or solutions to problems.

Cut and dried can also mean dull or boring.

A situation is:

  • Uninteresting
  • Common
  • Routine

Writers and speakers never want to appear cut and dried.

Not everything cut and dried is dull or boring.

Many plans, solutions, and presentations never change. Yet they challenge and inspire. Like dried flowers, they endure.

For example, a man asked Jesus for the greatest commandment. Jesus said to love God and love others. His response, in a nutshell, was clear and unchanging. It was not boring then. It is not boring now.

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘… Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31 NIV).

Thanks to Joe Klotz for the suggestion. Image by Richgold from Pixabay.

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Fill Someone’s Shoes

Fill Someone’s Shoes

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Fill Someone's ShoesCharli 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.

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

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