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Throw a Monkey Wrench into It

Throw a Monkey Wrench into It

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Throw a Monkey Wrench into It--Ann H. GabhartPlease welcome one of my favorite authors, Ann H. Gabhart, as today’s guest writer. Ann has been called a storyteller. She’s lived up to the title with thirty-five books published and more stories on the way. Ann keeps her keyboard warm out on her farm where she likes walking with her dogs or discovering the wonders of nature with her nine grandchildren. To find out more about Ann and her books, go to www.annhgabhart.com.

Have you ever heard the expression “throw a monkey wrench into it?” That means to sabotage or frustrate a project or plan. The saying came from early 1900s industrial sabotage–that is, throwing a tool inside machinery–to make the machine break or stop working.

Throw a Monkey Wrench into It--two monkey wrenchesWhere various products were once made one at a time by craftsmen, the industrial revolution factories had machines to mass produce items. Companies started competing for customers. Some knocked out competition by sneaking in to throw an actual wrench into the workings of the competitor’s industrial machines. With the machine broken, production came to a halt.

Now throwing a wrench into something can apply to any kind of ruined plans or projects. The current pandemic has thrown a wrench into a lot of our plans. Sometimes we can do nothing to fix things. We simply have to move on, plan something new or adjust to whatever has happened.

One thing for sure, the Lord will never throw a monkey wrench into your plans unless He has a better plan in mind for you.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).

Photo by Matt Artz on Unsplash.

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Grass Is Always Greener on the Other Side

Grass Is Always Greener on the Other Side

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Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side--pony eating through fenceThe grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Or so it seems.

That applies to both animals and people. Cows or horses stick their heads through fences to eat grass on the other side. People often try to reach the other side as well.

Many of us believe other people live a better life.

Therefore, we want what we don’t have:

  • Bigger homes
  • Nicer cars
  • Cooler clothes
  • Better-paying jobs
  • More travel
  • Well-behaved children

Life seems perfect for others, while we struggle from day to day. As a result, we get down in the mouth.

The grass is not always greener on the other side.

Most people have problems. No one may see those problems, but they are there. Their problems may differ from ours, but that does not make them any easier.

Happiness comes from within.

We never find happiness by:

  • Comparing our lives with others
  • Getting more than everyone else
  • Eating high on the hog

We find true happiness by:

  • Following God’s plan
  • Learning to be content in good times and bad
  • Valuing people more than things
  • Sharing what we have with those in need

Don’t believe the grass is always greener on the other side. It may be occasionally. Usually it is not.

“Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6 NIV).

Thanks to Shirley Redding Rice for the suggestion. Photo courtesy of Unsplash.

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