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Keep Your Ear to the Ground

Keep Your Ear to the Ground

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Keep Your Ear to the Ground--bison grazing

Stampedes of cattle, horses, or bison occur frequently in old Western movies. The herds can often be heard before they can be seen. A few movies teach that if you keep your ear to the ground, you detect the stampede’s vibrations.

That also holds true for:

  • People
  • Trains and other vehicles

If you keep your ear to the ground, you stay alert to what is going on around you.

You listen for what is happening or may happen. That helps you keep up with:

  • Current events
  • Changes
  • Opportunities

You benefit if you stay well-informed.

For example, you learn quickly of

  • Job openings
  • Special events
  • Investment options
  • Trends

If you keep your ear to the ground, you may also learn the latest gossip.

Of course, gossip may or may not be true. You usually benefit if you stay away from busybodies. Even if what they say is true, it is often unkind and unnecessary.

To stay informed, keep your eyes peeled and your ear to the ground.

To learn about the best life, focus on the one who created you and can guide you through all life’s changes. At the end of the road, that’s all that matters.

“The Master told me, ‘Go, post a lookout. Have him report whatever he spots. When he sees horses and wagons in battle formation, lines of donkeys and columns of camels, Tell him to keep his ear to the ground, note every whisper, every rumor.’” (Isaiah 21:6-7 MSG)

Thanks to Lindy Pierce for the suggestion.

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

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Bury the Hatchet

Bury the Hatchet

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Bury the Hatchet--a hatchet surrounded by pieces of woodHow I wish our world would learn to bury the hatchet. Divisions occur everywhere.

People have always disagreed, and that’s okay. However, why not learn to disagree agreeably? Instead, we:

  • Hate
  • Argue
  • Gossip
  • Fight

We war against one another with words and actions.

This happens among:

  • Family members
  • Friends
  • Neighbors
  • Cities
  • States
  • Countries

Bury the hatchet originated as a Native American tradition.

According to The Phrase Finder, “Hatchets were buried by the chiefs of tribes when they came to a peace agreement.” What a powerful symbol.

We can bury the hatchet too.

When we recognize destructive speech or behavior, we have a choice. We can follow the same pattern, or we can break the cycle.

Peace requires strength.

To choose not to harm another person or group of people calls for courage. If someone hurts us, our natural reaction is to hurt them. We are ready to lock horns. Yet, two wrongs don’t make a right. Suffering continues on both sides.

Jesus taught and lived love and forgiveness for everyone. Although not easy, that remains the only way to true and lasting peace.

“Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace” (Psalm 37:37 NIV).

Thanks to Ann Knowles for the suggestion. Image by Davie Bicker 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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Spill the Beans

Spill the Beans

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Spill the Beans--glass jar with lid off and beans spilling outMost of us know people who cannot keep a secret. They always find a way to spill the beans.

Although they act surprised after they tell what they know, they never fail to share it. Then, they ask us not to tell anyone else.

The origin of this expression is uncertain.

One possible explanation comes from an ancient voting practice of placing different colored beans in pots or jars. No one was supposed to spill the beans until the proper time.

People may spill the beans on purpose.

Telling private information can cause great harm. Words often hurt.

People may also spill the beans by mistake.

Although they don’t intend to reveal the information, it can still hurt.

Not all secrets hurt when told.

Examples include:

  • Plans for a surprise party
  • The contents of a gift
  • Whether an unborn baby is a boy or girl

Some secrets should be told.

  • Abuse
  • Crimes
  • Evil plans

Busybodies need to bite their tongues. However, everyone needs to speak up to right wrongs.

“Watch your words and hold your tongue; you’ll save yourself a lot of grief” (Proverbs 21:23 MSG).

 Thanks to Regina Graham for the suggestion.

Do you have an expression you want explained? If so, please comment below.

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Bite Your Tongue

Bite Your Tongue

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Bite Your TongueBite your tongue tells another person to remain silent.

We might say bite your tongue to:

  1. Declare we don’t want to hear what the other person has to say. That person’s statement may or may not be true. For example, someone might predict a snowfall. If we don’t want snow, we say, “Bite your tongue!”
  2. Encourage someone to remain silent when another person hurts or displeases her. We will explore this meaning today.

People may hurt us, yet we can choose not to hurt them.

We can’t bite our tongue and talk at the same time. If we wait before we speak, we save ourselves and others much heartache. I don’t want to say something I will regret, do you?

Gossips or busybodies talk when they shouldn’t. They should bite their tongues. However, if we try to hurt them or anyone else because they hurt us, we only make the problem bigger.

Everyone benefits when we think before we speak or act.

Instead of fighting back with our words, why not try one of the following?

  1. Walk away.
  2. Count to 10 (or more) before we respond.
  3. Explain how the person’s words or actions made us feel, when we can do so calmly.
  4. Pray for the person.
  5. Say or do something nice for that person. We may gain a friend. If not, we still know we did the right thing.
  6. Try to understand why the person acts the way he does.
  7. Remember: We can’t control the other person, but we can control ourselves. Charles R. Swindoll said, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.”

“Help me, Lord, to keep my mouth shut and my lips sealed” (Psalm 141:3 TLB).

Do you have other helpful ideas for dealing with people who hurt us? Please comment below.

Thanks to Jenny Kuo for suggesting and modeling this expression.

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A Little Bird Told Me

A Little Bird Told Me

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A Little Bird Told MeWhen people don’t want to reveal their source of information, they may say, “A little bird told me.”

Sometimes they share positive news that gives the listener joy. At other times, their negative words cause great pain.

The information source may never be known. Yet, with modern technology, the origin can usually be found. We hear and read daily of politicians, entertainers, and even working class people who get embarrassed by what they have said or done. They didn’t think anyone heard or saw them. They were wrong.

If we don’t want our words repeated, we’d better not say them.

If we don’t want our actions shown, we’d better not do them. Who knows what little bird may be listening or watching, waiting to reveal what we say and do.

“Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.” (Ecclesiastes 10:20 NIV).

Thanks to all who suggested this and other expressions. Do you have a favorite expression or one you want explained? If so, please comment.

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Busybody

Busybody

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BusybodyI don’t want to tell my secrets to a gossip (a busybody), do you?

If someone talks about everybody else, that person will talk about us.

Gossips “stick their noses into other people’s business.” They try to learn all they can about others, especially anything negative. Then they tell everyone else about it. This usually makes the gossip look far worse than the one discussed. No one trusts such negative attitudes, actions, or words.

Many people would never spread a falsehood about others, yet they freely share negative truths. Truly, a shameful truth hurts just as much as a shameful lie. As a result, some words are better left unsaid.

Years ago a teacher gave our class three questions to ask before we speak:

  1. Is what I plan to say true?
  2. Is what I plan to say kind?
  3. Does what I plan to say glorify God?

Answering the first question is easy. The second becomes more difficult. The third has a much better chance of keeping our mouths closed.

Use these three questions. You won’t regret it.

“A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much” (Proverbs 20:19 NIV).

Do you have a favorite expression or one you want explained? If so, please comment.

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