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If You Lie Down with Dogs, You Will Get Up with Fleas

If You Lie Down with Dogs, You Will Get Up with Fleas

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If You Lie Down with Dogs, You Will Get Fleas--two dogs on a bedIf you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas was a greater certainty before flea collars and other medications for dogs became common.

However, dogs still get fleas. When dogs get them, people who come in contact with the dogs also get fleas. Not a pleasant thought but a realistic one.

If you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas applies to more than dogs and fleas.

This proverb means you tend to become like the people around you.

  • Choose dishonest friends, and threaten your honesty.
  • Hang out with criminals, and chance arrest for crimes.
  • Spend time with drug users, and risk drug use yourself.
  • If you play with fire you get burned.

Like disease, behavior can be contagious.

Therefore, you do well to choose friends wisely, those who are on the up and up. Definitely treat everyone well. Show respect to all, regardless of their background. At the same time, choose close friends who will influence you for good, not evil.

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)

Thanks to Emily Akin for the suggestion and to Tammy Cheatham Page for the photo.

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Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right

Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right

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Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right--two doves above an extended handWhen people wrong us, our natural reaction is to get even. We want to hurt them, to give them a taste of their own medicine. However, two wrongs don’t make a right.

If we keep hurting one another, everyone loses. In a battle of revenge, no one wins. Instead, we cut off our nose to spite our face. We never resolve a conflict with more conflict.

Two wrongs don’t make a right means a second offense does not cancel the first one.

  • Insulting someone who insults us does not erase our pain.
  • Attacking someone who attacked us does not take away the injury.
  • Lying about a person who lied about us only means neither of us can be trusted.

When we harm others, we harm ourselves.

Getting even may release part of our stress. Yet, bad feelings continue. When revenge rises, let’s nip it in the bud. Get rid of it before it gets out of control.

Don’t nurse negative emotions.

Jesus offers a better way.

  • Love
  • Compassion
  • Grace
  • Forgiveness.

Jesus’ life on earth demonstrated the words He taught. As soldiers nailed Him to a cross, Jesus forgave them. He was dying for them.

None of us deserve Jesus’ salvation, but He offers it anyway. Only when we follow His example will be experience inner peace. Problems may continue. Others may cause trouble. Yet, we have peace because we know the Prince of Peace.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-44 NIV).

Thanks to Jason Smith for the suggestion. Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.

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Eyes Bigger than Our Belly

Eyes Bigger than Our Belly

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Eyes Bigger Than Our Belly--buffet tableMany times, our eyes are bigger than our belly. We see good food and want it. All of it. The more we see, the more we want. This happens frequently at:

  • Buffets with endless choices
  • Thanksgiving feasts
  • Potluck dinners where everyone brings food
  • Family meals with all our childhood favorites
  • Cookouts with piping hot food from a grill

Eating small amounts at such events takes more willpower than many of us possess. Instead, we fill our plates to the top and eat until we feel like we will pop.

The taste is wonderful. The misery later, not so great.

Eyes bigger than our belly means we take more food than we can eat.

Eyes bigger than our stomach means the same.

We love what we see. We want to eat everything we see. Yet, we cannot possibly digest all we pile on our plates.

Rather than eating until we get sick, why not share our food with others?

Most communities have food pantries or crisis centers to help the hungry. Churches frequently sponsor food programs. We may have neighbors who would enjoy our extra.

Instead of eyes bigger than our belly, why not hearts bigger than our hunger? A little food for thought for all of us.

“If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday” (Isaiah 58:10 NIV).

Thanks to Carole Fite for the suggestion and to Diann Paxton with Caterpillar Crossing for the photo.

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Smack Dab in the Middle

Smack Dab in the Middle

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Smack Dab in the Middle--chandelier in center of Biltmore Estate staircaseI discovered this lovely chandelier smack dab in the middle of a winding staircase at Biltmore Estate. It helps light the way for anyone climbing the stairs. It also adds beauty to the climb.

Smack dab in the middle means exactly in the middle.

It may apply to place, like the location of this light fixture. Place also refers to geography, such as the center of a town, state, or country.

In addition to place, smack dab in the middle refers to:

  • Size – between the largest and the smallest
  • Level – straight rather than crooked
  • Position – in the middle of other people
  • Opinion – agreement with points on both sides of an issue

Smack dab in the middle can be good or bad.

  • People choose the size of their meal by how hungry they are.
  • Homeowners usually want straight walls. Artwork with crooks and curves adds interest.
  • Some people hate a middle position. Others like it. Relationship matters more than position.
  • A middle opinion or compromise often works. However, people must occasionally stand firm.

Whether people are smack dab in the middle or not, this chandelier offers important lessons.

It also offers a lovely reminder to remain smack dab in the middle of God’s will.

“Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil” (Proverbs 4:27 NIV).

Thanks to Margaret Bertram for the suggestion.

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Go Overboard

Go Overboard

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Go Overboard--boat below Niagara Falls“Mama, get the hammer. There’s a fly on Grandpa’s head.” When I read that quote, shared by Tillie Cowherd, I laughed out loud. How perfectly it describes when we go overboard.

We may not realize how easily we go overboard until:

  • We pay special attention to our actions
  • Another person mentions our behavior to us

To go overboard on a boat or ship means to jump or fall into the water.

That may be okay if we:

  • Can swim
  • Land in safe water.

However, we risk our lives if we:

  • Cannot swim
  • Enter dangerous water

 Figuratively, to go overboard means to go to extremes.

We fail to think before we act. Our enthusiasm exceeds our good sense. Therefore, we:

  • Act highfalutin
  • Spend more money than we can repay
  • Tackle more responsibilities than we can complete

We go too far, and we usually suffer.

Enthusiasm can be good.

It helps us:

However, we don’t want to get in over our heads.

Better to use wisdom than to suffer from extreme behavior.

Don’t kill a fly with a hammer … especially if the fly lands on grandpa’s head.

“Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes” (Ecclesiastes 7:18 NIV).

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A Day Late and a Dollar Short

A Day Late and a Dollar Short

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A Day Late and a Dollar Short--several dollar bills spread outAs a child, I often heard people say they were a day late and a dollar short. They usually meant they did not have enough money to buy something or pay a bill.

However, I learned the expression has a greater meaning.

A day late and a dollar short means to be unprepared and too late.

That can be money for purchases or bills, as I thought. It can also mean not enough effort in:

  • Relationships
  • Work
  • Personal goals

In each one, people fail to get the ball rolling. They dillydally when they need to get to work.

Lack of effort and failure to be on time benefit no one.

Everyone loses.

  • Family members who ignore one another threaten their relationships
  • Lazy workers hurt their employers and risk losing their jobs.
  • Anyone who invests little time or effort fails to achieve their best.

Prepare. Work well. Use time wisely.

A good plan for now and eternity, don’t you agree?

“Jesus replied, ‘My light will shine out for you just a little while longer. Walk in it while you can, and go where you want to go before the darkness falls, for then it will be too late for you to find your way’” (John 12:35 TLB).

Thanks to Emily Akin for the suggestion.

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Congratulations to Betty Johnson whose name was randomly drawn from my mailing list for a free copy of Tracy Crump’s book, Health, Healing, and Wholeness: Devotions of Hope in the Midst of Illness.

On the Up and Up

On the Up and Up

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On the Up and Up--hot air balloons in front of cloudsOn the up and up sometimes refers to people becoming successful.

With high goals and hard work, they strive for a good:

  • Income
  • Reputation
  • Position

They rise in the business world.

On the up and up also refers to anything improving.

  • Health
  • Work
  • Relationships

Today’s focus relates to behavior.

People on the up and up are:

  • Honest
  • Dependable
  • Respectable
  • Fair

Anything they say can be taken to the bank. As good as their word, they have no need to hide anything they do.

  • When they make a deal, they honor their agreement.
  • If they share information, no one doubts its truth.
  • When they promise to do something, they do it.

People whose behavior is on the up and up live clean, moral, legally upright lives.

They want to do what is right. They may not become rich or famous. However, they find far greater success than money or fame. Their choices give them a clear conscience – a gift money can never buy.

“May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you” (Psalm 25:21 NIV).

Thanks to Brad Leverett for the suggestion. Image by Gerhard G. from Pixabay

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Let It Be

Let It Be

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Let It Be--Green River Lake sceneLet it be. Let it lie. Let sleeping dogs lie. All mean about the same.

To let it be means to leave a situation alone.

  • Wait rather than discuss it.
  • Don’t think too much about it.
  • Choose not to act yet.
  • Don’t dwell on the negative.
  • Get away from it.
  • Relax.

Let it be also relates to people.

We give people space when we let them be. We don’t bother them. They (or we) may need time, so we leave them alone for a while.

We may have to deal with the situation or person later.

However, extra time allows us to:

  • Gain more understanding
  • Think more clearly
  • Prepare a plan

Added time also helps us avoid getting in a jam or opening a can of worms.

 A few situations demand immediate attention.

We must act quickly. When that happens, let’s act wisely. We want to use our information and resources in the best possible way.

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7 NIV).

Thanks to Laura Lee Leathers for the suggestion.

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Big Head

Big Head

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Big Head--Closeup of lion's headLions have a big head, a loud roar, and a reputation as king of the jungle. Although big, strong, and fast, lions can be caught and controlled by smaller, weaker, and slower lion tamers.

People with a big head think they are better or more important than everyone else.

They:

Their actions say:

  • I am better than you.
  • Look at me.
  • I am number one.

Pride controls people with a big head.

Self rules. Everything and everyone else take second place.

However, like lions, pride often leads to a fall.

Humility offers a better way.

Humble people recognize the worth in everyone. They treat others with:

  • Respect
  • Love
  • Wisdom
  • Compassion

When people treat one another as they wish to be treated, everyone wins. Our world becomes a better place.

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2 NIV).

Thanks to Betty C. Johnson for the suggestion. Image by Kevinsphotos from Pixabay

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Bite the Bullet

Bite the Bullet

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Bite the Bullet-bullet between teethI recently had to bite the bullet. In one week, I made two major house repairs and replaced the brakes on my car. I was out of town when the brakes stopped working.

I did not enjoy any of those events. Yet, they had to be done.

A friend talked about having to bite the bullet when she learned to operate a new computer program. Many of us have had to do the same.

To bite the bullet is to accept a difficult situation.

Although not pleasant, we:

  • Prepare ourselves for what lies ahead
  • Do what must be done
  • Act brave whether we feel brave or not
  • Learn to live with the pain

This phrase may have originated with soldiers biting a bullet during painful medical treatment.

Without anesthesia, they would bite a bullet to prevent:

  • Crying out in pain
  • Biting their tongue

As with most of life, we choose our response.

When life gets hard, will we get down in the dumps? Or will we bite the bullet and make the best of a bad situation?

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV).

Thanks to Carole Fite, Janna Babak, and Ann Knowles for this suggestion. Thanks to Travis Gosser for the photo.

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