difficulties Archives - Diana Derringer

Dirt-poor

May 13, 2024 Diana Derringer Comments 5 comments

Although I did not know it, our family was close to dirt-poor during my early childhood. In addition to our share of my grandparents’ farm, Dad bought surrounding farmland.

Dirt-poor means extremely poor.

Since we had the basics for survival, we were not extremely poor. However, we had little cash and few luxuries.

Yet, who needed luxuries? The farm provided:

Woods and fields to explore
A large yard for play
Animals, a garden, and an orchard for food and milk

We also enjoyed lots of books (We were book poor too!), games, and family time.

Our financial resources grew over the years, but I would take nothing for those early lean years.

Rather than dirt poor, many families today are house poor.

They may not have much land, but they buy large houses with large mortgages to match. Like our young family, that leaves them little extra money.

Evidence fails to support a popular internet story that dirt poor relates to dirt floors.

Although it makes an interesting story, it offers no proof.

Financial wealth holds no eternal importance.

If all we do is hoard our money, it does no good. Remember, you can’t take it with you when you die.

Whether poor as a church mouse or filthy rich, let’s use the resources we have to make our world a better place.

“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed” (Psalm 82:3 NIV).

Thanks to Gail Gosser for the suggestion.

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A Fine Kettle of Fish

March 11, 2024 Diana Derringer Comments 2 comments

Whether we know it or not, we have all probably ended up in a fine kettle of fish. Life gets messy, and we suffer as a result.

A fine kettle of fish means a difficult situation.

It may be:

Awkward
Worrisome
Frustrating
Puzzling
Confusing
Unpleasant

A pretty kettle of fish means the same.

A fine kettle of fish applies to a variety of circumstances.

A few examples include:

Special plans suddenly fall apart.
People who dislike one another must work together.
Car trouble occurs in the middle of a long trip.
Unexpected bills exceed a family’s ability to pay.

This expression probably originated from a Scottish custom.

According to The Free Dictionary, a riverside picnic was called a kettle of fish. Freshly caught salmon were boiled in a kettle over an open fire. The picnics were messy, because everyone ate out of their hands.

People later applied the expression to other messy situations.

When we end up in a fine kettle of fish, we don’t have to stay there.

Our messes may be blessings in disguise. Look for the opportunities they offer.

When possible, let’s turn our messes into ministry.

We often learn the most from our hardest circumstances. In the process, we:

Grow stronger.
Discover new and better ways to live.
Learn how to help others who encounter similar problems.

“For Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV).

Image by shumkovpro from Pixabay. Thanks to Laurel Blevins and Karen Hart for the suggestion.

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Bumfuzzled

February 26, 2024 Diana Derringer Comments 10 comments

All of us occasionally feel bumfuzzled. No matter what we do, we cannot find the answers we need.

We don’t know which way to turn or where to look for help. Our brains refuse to work. We are up a stump.

Bumfuzzled means confused.

We feel:

Inadequate
Frustrated
Perplexed
Anxious
Bewildered

The answer to our bumfuzzled feelings often lies within our reach.

We may simply need to wait, to let it be. For example:

If we relax, the answer frequently pops into our minds.

This happens for many of us in the middle of the night. I keep paper and pens in a bedside drawer for such moments.

Physical activity also helps.

Increased blood flow improves our brains as well as our bodies.

Our change of focus makes everything fall into place.

Confusion melts away.
Vexation turns to vision.
Purpose and meaning return.

We don’t need to sweat it when we find ourselves overwhelmed and unable to function.

However, we don’t want to stay there.

When we finally find what we need, we make a remarkable discovery. Along with the answers we sought, we also gained persistence and endurance.

“The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans”. (Romans 8:26)

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Misery Loves Company

January 15, 2024 Diana Derringer Comments 12 comments

When we feel bad, knowing other people share our feelings encourages us. Misery loves company.

To have friends or family tell us they have experienced our troubles helps us feel better. If they go through their problems the same time as ours, we support one another.

Misery loves company means we hate to suffer alone.

Mutual pain makes our pain easier to bear.

Misery loves company sometimes comes from a mean motive.

If we hurt, we want others to hurt.
If we feel down in the dumps, we want everyone down in the dumps too.
If we fail, we want the world to fail.

We think everyone should feel as bad as we do.

Other times, our motives remain pure.

We don’t want others to suffer. Yet, it helps to know we are not alone. Having someone who understands from experience makes a big difference. We:

Trust them
Feel comfortable with them
Cry with them
Laugh with them
Pray for better days ahead

Friends help friends in good times and bad.

In all life’s ups and downs, we remain there for one another. I appreciate the prayers and love so many of you have expressed in recent years.

“It was good of you to share in my troubles” (Philippians 4:14 NIV).

Thanks to Janna Babak for the suggestion.

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Break a Leg

November 6, 2023 Diana Derringer Comments 11 comments

No one wants to break a leg or any other body part. Just ask our worship pastor. He has spent months in pain from a broken foot. His injuries have required surgeries, casts, boots, and a wheelchair. He has also endured a walker, cane, crutches, and numerous therapy sessions.

With that in mind, why do people tell others to break a leg? The expression sounds cruel.

Break a leg means to wish people good luck.

It offers encouragement, especially to performers on opening night. The speaker hopes the actors bring down the house.

Some believe wishing actors good luck causes bad luck. Therefore, they say the opposite of what they mean. The Phrase Finder offers several possible origins for this superstition.

Although they understand the idiom, some people choose not to use it.

Not everyone understands the meaning, so it could result in hurt feelings. However, others use the expression as a fun tradition. If necessary, they explain what they mean.

Prayer offers a better alternative.

Whether a person says to break a leg or not, prayer remains the greatest gift. Prayer does not rely on superstition. It also removes the need for worry. As my friend Marian Woosley often said, “Why worry when we can pray?” True for actors. True for everyone.

Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony” (Psalm 6:2 NIV).

Thanks to Candyce Carden for the suggestion and to Katherine Bonds for the photo.

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Beside Myself

October 23, 2023 Diana Derringer Comments 12 comments

The first time I went on an international mission trip, I was beside myself with joy. The opportunity before me almost took my breath away.

Beside myself refers to extreme emotion.

In addition to awe or joy, I may feel intense:

Shock
Anger
Excitement
Sadness
Worry
Panic

Recent news about some of the areas I served leaves me beside myself with grief. I ache for the difficulties my friends now face.

When I am beside myself, I feel out of control.

Strong emotions overwhelm me. I must work to regain a sense of balance—to get a grip.

This phrase appears in the Bible.

The Apostle Paul had shared the story of his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. He had also discussed his life since that time. Festus, the Roman governor, responded in a loud voice, “Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad” (Acts 26:24 KJV). Paul explained that he was not crazy but was sharing God’s truth.

If anyone says I am beside myself, I can think of no better reason than God’s call to share eternal truth and love.

“They were all amazed at the greatness of God” (Luke 9:43 NIV).

What about you? What makes you beside yourself?

Thanks to Stan Crump for the suggestion.

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All Hands on Deck

September 11, 2023 Diana Derringer Comments 8 comments

If a ship requires help from the entire crew, it calls for all hands on deck. Everyone must get in position to batten down the hatches. They prepare for the storm ahead. The crisis may result from:

Severe weather
Enemy attack
Mechanical problems

According to The Free Dictionary, a ship’s crew members are also known as hands. The ship’s floor is its deck.

However, the definition for this expression has expanded beyond ships.

All hands on deck means everyone needs to help.

After recent natural disasters, calls came for assistance from every available resource. Troubles included:

Floods
Wildfires
Earthquakes
Drought
Tornadoes

In addition to government agencies, volunteer groups assisted.

Several in our church help with disaster relief services. They keep supplies and vehicles ready to go when calls come.

This expression applies to small problems as well as large ones.

Everyone has a role to play in:

Families
Sports teams
Offices
Schools

In every situation, many hands make light work.

Whatever our position, God calls us to remain ready.

That applies regardless of our age, abilities, or social status. God’s call is not always easy. However, it is always worthwhile.

“Stand steady, and don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Bring others to Christ. Leave nothing undone that you ought to do” (2 Timothy 4:5 TLB).

Thanks to Jane Ashley Pace for the suggestion. Image by Brigitte Werner from Pixabay

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All Thumbs

September 4, 2023 Diana Derringer Comments 8 comments

When we try to do detailed work, many of us become all thumbs. Although texting has made thumbs an important part of daily life, we still prefer not to be all thumbs.

All thumbs means clumsy, especially with our hands.

Like a person with two left feet, we have trouble with physical coordination. Awkward and unskilled, we can’t get everything to work together.

We might experience this out-of-whack feeling with:

Crocheting, knitting, or other needlework
Playing a musical instrument
Handwriting, especially calligraphy
Anything that requires fine motor skills

If all thumbs, we lack grace.

It’s hard to look dignified when we can’t manage our physical reactions. Often, the harder we try, the worse everything grows.

With work, we can usually improve.

That is why we take lessons. Practice may not make us perfect. It does usually make us better.

When we can’t improve, we look for other abilities.

God created each of us with unique skills. If we don’t have certain talents, we can enjoy the work of those who do. We can also grow in what we do best.

I doubt the woman described in Proverbs 31 could do everything. Nevertheless, she did her best at what she did in service to God, her family, and others.

“She is clothed with strength and dignity. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate” (Proverbs 31:25, 31 NIV).

Subscribe to receive Diana’s weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.” On September 9, 2023, one name will be randomly selected from Diana’s mailing list to also receive a free copy of Kristy Horine’s In a Season of Mondays. If your name is already on the mailing list, you are automatically entered. Please encourage your friends to subscribe.

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

Thanks to Debbie Tapscott for the suggestion.

Down the Drain

July 24, 2023 Diana Derringer Comments 14 comments

We love to watch water fall into a river. However, we rarely want to watch water go down the drain. We lose that water, and it costs us.

Down the drain means wasted.

Our resources have:

Failed
Disappeared
Ruined

This may apply to:

Companies
Finances
Relationships
Personal or professional plans

Sometimes, we control what goes down the drain.

We do that when we:

Make risky investments.
Spend money recklessly.
Fail to nurture relationships.
Focus only on ourselves.

Other times, we have no control.

Banks or companies make poor decisions.
Thieves rob us.
People desert us.

Whether we have control or not, we lose.

Similar metaphors include:

Down the tubes
Down the pan
Down the toilet
Down the plughole

Life constantly changes.

With all its ups and downs, we look for a constant. We find that in a relationship with Jesus. Whatever the situation, Jesus remains with us and will guide us through it.

Circumstances may go down the drain. With Jesus, our eternity remains secure.

Thanks to Beckham Wilson for the suggestion.

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Get to the Root of

July 10, 2023 Diana Derringer Comments 6 comments

For trees or other plants to grow, they need good roots. If they start to die, we look for a reason. We get to the root of the problem.

Recently, we had two large trees cut. We loved the trees. However, they were dying. Their roots no longer supplied what they needed to survive.

If we find the source of any problem, we get to the root of it.

We may not find physical roots like a tree. Yet, any problem has a cause.

My husband suffered several physical symptoms in 2003 and 2004. No one found a reason at first. Because we did not give up, doctors finally got to the root of it. He had a brain tumor.

We get to the root of most problems the same way.

We determine:

Signs of the problem
Probable causes
The actual cause
Ways to correct it

Those steps apply to a variety of difficulties.

Medical
Relationship
Employment
Property

We often need experts to help us get to the root of it.

Regardless of our abilities, none of us has all the answers. Two heads are better than one. Especially if one of those heads has special training and skills. Even more so, if both heads bow in prayer to seek God’s direction.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. (Jeremiah 17:7-8 NKJV).

Thanks to Becky Nash Rowe for the suggestion. Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash.

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