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Tag: final effort

Do or Die

Do or Die

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Do or Die-little girl using chairs and stools to reach cabinet topHave you watched people fight to succeed when failure seemed certain? Their final effort is do or die. This little one was determined to get to her uncle’s chewing gum. She succeeded with her extra effort.

Do or die means we give our best to succeed and avoid failure.

We keep on keeping on despite:

  • Difficulties
  • Danger
  • Death

We refuse to give up.

Do or die also means our last chance.

  • Ballgames hinge on the last play.
  • Companies depend on end-of-year sales to stay in business.
  • Relationships rely on a final effort to stay together.

Results rest on our willingness to do our best.

We cannot depend on:

  • Past success
  • Reputation
  • Other people

Like the little girl above, let’s refuse to give up.

We all face hard times. That’s life. Turn to Jesus who helps us through every challenge and every storm.

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26 NIV).

Thanks to Chris J. Beam for the suggestion and to Debbie Tapscott for the photo.

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Swan Song

Swan Song

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Swan Song--swan with wings spreadSwans capture our attention like few other birds. Their grace and beauty amaze us. The image of a swan song increases their attraction.

A swan song is a last performance or work.

We usually relate it to singers or other performers. Farewell tours have become common. However, swan song refers to any worker’s final effort before death or retirement.

This expression comes from an ancient legend that swans sing before they die.

The legend says swans remain mute until their final beautiful, mournful music. According to The Phrase Finder, the legend is false. All swans “have a variety of vocal sounds and they don’t sing before they die.”

Yet, the legend does tell a beautiful story. It appears in several well-known works, including:

  • Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice
  • The Orlando Gibbons madrigal, “The Silver Swan”

May we never wait until our swan song to do our best.

God created us for a purpose. Whatever our gifts, let’s give life our best, from the beginning to the end of the road.

“I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live”
 (Psalm 104:33).

Thanks to Carole Fite for the suggestion. Image by miniformat65 from Pixabay.

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

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