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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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Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

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Let Sleeping Dogs Lie--dog curled up in sleepLike several animals (and a few people) dogs can be dangerous when suddenly wakened. Therefore, we usually let sleeping dogs lie. We leave them alone to sleep in peace.

In daily life, we often choose to let sleeping dogs lie.

Instead of causing trouble, we avoid it. We don’t want to make a bad situation worse. If all is well and no one will benefit, why hurt anyone? We leave good enough alone.

Many words or actions only cause problems. Therefore,

Most situations are none of our business. Gossip and interference make us busybodies and do no one any good

However, at times we need to speak or act.

We must take a stand when necessary to:

  • Make a bad situation better
  • Help someone who hurts

Stay out of the doghouse. Unless actions will help, let sleeping dogs lie.

“It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel” (Proverbs 20:3 NIV).

Thanks to Brad Leverett for the suggestion. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

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A Lick and a Promise

A Lick and a Promise

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A Lick and a Promise--dog licking boy's faceLike Kaleb’s puppy, too many times, I have cleaned with a lick and a promise. What about you?

When we give something a lick and a promise, we do our work quickly and poorly.

We don’t take the time to do it right. This can apply to:

  • House work
  • Personal cleaning (Children often prefer a lick and a promise rather than a full bath.)
  • Jobs
  • School work

The lick is the fast work. The promise is to do better later.

A Lick and a Promise--two dogsSometimes we have to give a lick and a promise.

We have no choice. That can happen when we:

  • Don’t have time to do a job well
  • Get swamped with more work than one person can do
  • Become ill and need to rest

We can’t control everything. That’s life.

We may also choose to meet more important needs.

A lick and a promise then becomes the better plan. We focus on:

  • Children who hurt rather than house work
  • Friends in need rather than lawn care
  • A neighbor in the hospital rather than a perfect meal

When possible, we want to be Johnny on the spot and do our work well. However, when greater needs arise, we choose to tackle what matters most.

“We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:3 NIV).

Thanks to Becky Nash Rowe for the suggestion and to Trevor Gosser with Gosser Farms for the photos.

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In the Doghouse

In the Doghouse

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In the DoghouseDogs (especially puppies) often get in trouble. They:

  • Dig where they should not dig. We had a puppy dig a hole to the water line in our yard.
  • Chew things they should not chew. Our neighbor’s puppy loved our shoes and caps.
  • Jump on people at all the wrong times. Paw prints never look good on our best clothes.

When dogs get in trouble, their owners may put them in the doghouse.

Most dogs rather be with people than alone in their house.

Some people spend a lot of time in the doghouse.

They get in trouble with:

  • Bosses
  • Husbands or wives
  • Parents
  • Teachers
  • Friends

Because of their bad behavior:

  • Bosses give them more work or less pay.
  • Husbands or wives don’t want to spend time with them.
  • Parents take away fun activities.
  • Teachers give bad grades.
  • Friends stop being friends.

People in the doghouse don’t enjoy living a dog’s life.

Therefore, they need to watch their steps and stay out of trouble.

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2:11-12 NIV).

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