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Idle Hands Are the Devil’s Tools

Idle Hands Are the Devil’s Tools

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Idle Hands Are the Devil's Tools-hands shaping potteryWe can use our hands for great good or great evil. Too much free time often leads us the wrong direction. Idle hands are the devil’s tools.

Idle hands are the devil’s tools has several similar proverbs.

They include:

  • Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.
  • An idle brain (or mind) is the devil’s workshop.
  • Idle hands do the devil’s work.

All mean we are more likely to get into trouble when we have nothing to do.

Busy minds and hands leave little time for mischief.

We need free time and rest, but not too much.

Children (and adults) need time to use their imaginations. They also need to learn the value of work and helping others. Good habits learned early in life help us the rest of our lives.

Hands that create beautiful pieces of art can also destroy that beauty.

However, if we pick up the pieces of the messes we make, we can create something lovely again.

Give God your hands, the broken pieces of your life — all of you — and watch Him work.

“Let your hands not be idle” (Ecclesiastes 11:6 NIV)

Thanks to Judy Corbin for the suggestion. Thanks also to Judy Clark for finding the photo of Tommy Clark and to Richard Robards for permission to use it.

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Two Shakes of a Lamb’s Tail

Two Shakes of a Lamb’s Tail

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Two Shakes of a Lamb's Tail--two lambsLambs are small and have short tails. I don’t know if that has anything to do with the origin of two shakes of a lamb’s tail. However, it makes sense to me.

Two shakes of a lamb’s tail means a short period of time.

We use the expression if we plan to do something quickly:

  • Work
  • School assignments
  • Home chores
  • Exercise

However, anything completed too quickly leads to problems.

Haste makes waste if we do a poor job. We frequently give a lick and a promise when we need to take one step at a time and do our job right.

Fast work is good. Correct work is better.

Moving too slowly also causes problems.

If we dislike what we do, we are tempted to put it off as long as possible.  We become slow as molasses starting and often slower finishing.

Whatever we do, whether fast or slow, let’s give our best.

“Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind” (Proverbs 21:5 MSG).

Thanks to Liz Gray for the suggestion. Image by Michael Grundmann from Pixabay.

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Work Like a Mule

Work Like a Mule

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Work Like a Mule-two mules carrying packs down a mountainMany of us complain that we have to work like a mule. Our complaints increase if we:

  • Hate the job
  • Think the job has no purpose
  • Believe we should be doing something more important
  • Feel no one cares how hard we work
  • Think other people have an easier life

We work like a mule when we work hard for a long time.

Mules make good work animals because they:

  • Have tough, strong bodies
  • Are sure-footed — not likely to slide or stumble
  • Carry heavy weight with little trouble
  • Endure heat well

If we work like a borrowed mule, we work even harder.

Sadly, we may work a borrowed animal harder than one of our own. Since it costs us nothing, we care less. That should never be the case. Yet, it happens.

Whether we have to work like a mule (our own or borrowed) or have an easy job, let’s work to the best of our ability. Each day we put our hand to the plow, we make a difference for good or bad. When we do our best, we rest in the knowledge we give a good day’s work for a good day’s pay.

“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance” (Revelation 2:2 NIV).

Have you heard similar expressions about other animals? Please comment.

Thanks to Stephanie Buis for the suggestion. Image by Simon Matzinger from Pixabay.

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Chomp at the Bit

Chomp at the Bit

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Chomp at the Bit-Horse with bridle and bitOur family had horses when I was a teenager. I loved to ride, but my sister preferred to keep both feet on the ground. She did not trust horses, especially when they chomped at the bit.

Like many horses, ours wanted to go immediately, and they wanted to go fast. That was especially true when they saw water or food ahead.

A cousin convinced my sister to ride with him one afternoon. The closer they came to the end of their trip, the faster the horse ran. When they went under an apple tree branch, our cousin lowered his head. Gail did not see the branch, and it knocked her to the ground. That was the end of her horseback riding.

To chomp at the bit refers to a horse biting its bit (mouthpiece).

According to The Phrase Finder, the original phrase was champ at the bit. Both chomp and champ refer to biting or chewing. Excited horses chomp at the bit before a race begins. They have a hard time waiting.

People also chomp at the bit.

We may not have a piece of metal in our mouths. However, we definitely get impatient. Few of us enjoy delay. We want everything immediately, if not sooner.

  • Babies want to be fed.
  • Children want to play.
  • Teenagers want to drive.
  • Adults want good jobs.
  • Almost everyone wants love and acceptance.

We want what we want when we want it.

Like bits guide horses, wisdom guides people.

Yet, we need to find trustworthy sources for truth. Let’s never chomp at the bit until we know we are:

  • Following the right source.
  • Going the right direction

Until then, let’s hold our horses.

“Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you” (Psalm 32:9 NIV).

Thanks to Tracy Crump for the suggestion. Image by Ainslie Gilles-Patel from Pixabay.

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Highfalutin

Highfalutin

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Highfalutin--four young girls in fancy dresses on steps

Children love to pretend. Many enjoy acting highfalutin. They want to look like someone else – a parent, hero, older sibling, or friend.

They often dress in the other person’s clothes or shoes. Many times, they try to walk or talk like the person. What they see is what they want to be and do.

We smile or laugh at their behavior. However, many never outgrow that desire to be someone they are not.

Highfalutin people pretend to be more important than they are.

They want to appear:

They act proud, trying to impress everyone. However, they usually fall flat.

Acting highfalutin usually makes people look silly.

Years ago, I served as juvenile counselor for a young man on probation. He made several improvements. Then he ran away to a large city. When he returned about two weeks later, everything about him changed. He:

  • Spoke with an artificial accent
  • Walked with a defiant swagger
  • Wore fancy clothes with his hat cocked on the side of his head.

He tried so hard to rid himself of his country background. Instead, he made everyone laugh.

All people have worth without having to pretend.

God created each one:

  • Not better than anyone else
  • Not worse than anyone else
  • Not to be anyone else
  • To be the best unique person possible

A simple down-to-earth life far outweighs a highfalutin one.

“The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day” (Isaiah 2:11 NIV).

Thanks to Harriet Michael for the suggestion and to Jennifer Van Mersbergen for the photo.

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Bring Down the House

Bring Down the House

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Bring Down the House-cast of Once Upon a MattressUniversity and community plays often bring down the house. Audiences love local drama and give frequent standing ovations.

Actors have a great time too, as we see with this Campbellsville University cast.

Entertainers bring down the house when the audience claps, stands, or cheers for a long time.

 The greater the approval, the longer the ovation. Comedies bring down the house with laughter.

According to The Free Dictionary, “The term comes from the mid-eighteenth-century theater.” It implied noise loud enough to endanger a house. Back then, if audiences did not laugh or clap at a joke, comedians would say, “Don’t clap so hard; you’ll bring the house down (it’s a very old house).”

Real life rarely brings down the house.

We don’t receive applause for activities such as:

  • Cleaning
  • Going to work
  • Cooking
  • Mowing
  • Caring for family needs

However, all that work needs to be done – over and over again.

Keeping up the good work means far more than bringing down the house.

May we always prove worth our salt, whether we receive praise or not.

  • Faithfully follow God’s call.
  • Work well.
  • Serve others.
  • Live the best life possible.

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?” (Galatians 1:10 NIV).

Thanks to Jane Ashley Pace for the suggestion and to Ariel C. Emberton for the photo.

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Cat Got Your Tongue?

Cat Got Your Tongue?

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Cat Got Your Tongue--cat with tongue out and paw up“What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?” I have heard several older relatives ask this, especially to children. Sometimes the children were shy. Other times, little ones feared a truthful answer would get them in trouble.

Rarely have I heard the full question, “Has the cat got your tongue?”

Many people wonder what cats have to do with people not talking. Although a few ideas exist for this expression’s origin, none can be proved.

People usually ask, “Cat got your tongue?” if they think people should be talking.

They may ask the question for fun. Other times, they ask with anger or impatience.

Sometimes we should stay quiet.

We never want to put our foot in our mouth. Better to bite our tongue than speak hurtful or foolish words.

Other times, we should speak.

Whether easy or hard to say, we need to speak up if we know our words will:

  • Improve a situation
  • Help other people
  • Spread love rather than hate

Whatever we say, may we always speak from loving hearts of gold.

“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.” (Psalm 34:13 NIV).

Thanks to Ann Maniscalco for the suggestion and to Jacqueline Graves for the photo.

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See the Light

See the Light

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See the Light -- light over nativity“I see it!” I see the light!” When my brother was little, he loved lights. That was especially true at Christmas.

I share that love. Nighttime drives to view Christmas lights remain a favorite activity. They fill me with peace and joy.

To see the light means to finally understand or accept something.

Its meaning becomes clear. Until then, we may:

  • Think or wonder about an issue
  • Feel confused by it
  • Doubt it
  • Reject it

When we see the light, we change.

Understanding or accepting a new idea or belief affects our feelings and actions. We turn away from our previous behavior. We realize we have found a better way.

The Wise Men in the Christmas story searched for the light.

When they finally saw the star in the east, they followed it until they found Jesus.

To see the light often means to believe – to have a religious experience.

Such faith makes all the difference. The song, “I Have Seen the Light,” offers a beautiful description of that event.

Have you seen the light? If not, search for it today. If you have seen it, don’t leave others in the dark. Share the light of God’s love with them.

Merry Christmas!

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy” (Matthew 2:10 KJV).

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Image courtesy of  Pixabay

Needle in a Haystack

Needle in a Haystack

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Needle in a Haystack--field of haystacksHave you tried to find a needle in a haystack? Believe me, it is not easy. I have never looked for a real needle in a stack of hay. However, I have hunted for several hard-to-locate items.

I have searched high and low and looked up one side and down the other for:

  • A black button in a pile of black clothing
  • A needle in a box of pins
  • A four-leaf clover in a three-leaf clover field

A needle in a haystack means anything hard to find.

A few items are almost impossible to locate. When mixed with other things that look about the same, I can spend hours hunting. Sometimes I succeed. Other times I fail.

Some needles are worth the effort. Others are not.

  • When I need a black button, I keep looking for it.
  • If I have to sew that button on a shirt, I keep looking for the needle.
  • Only when I have free time do I look for four-leaf clovers.

Opportunities to help others require little searching.

Needs exist everywhere.

  • News reports tell of recent events.
  • Churches use volunteers and offerings for local and world-wide ministry.
  • Crisis relief centers meet daily emergencies.

Search for and help with God’s work wherever you find it.

[There is] “a time to search and a time to give up.” (Ecclesiastes 3:6 NIV).

Thanks to Janna Babak for the suggestion. Image by Bronisław Dróżka from Pixabay.

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Ups and Downs

Ups and Downs

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Ups and Downs--Grand Tetons behind the Snake RiverWe all have our ups and downs.

  • Good and bad times
  • Positive and negative relationships
  • Happy and sad days
  • Successes and failures

That’s life.

Like a hike up a mountain, our journey through life often feels like an uphill battle. However, once we reach the top, the view takes our breath away.

When we look down, we see how far we have come. A look around reveals the possibilities on every side of us. If we look up, we realize we have hope for future mountains.

We choose whether to focus on the good or the bad.

The choices we make determine how we feel.

When hard times hit, we can dwell on the negatives. Or, on the other side of the coin, we can focus on the positives and hope for the future.

Ups and downs occur in every area of life, including:

  • Marriage
  • Work
  • School
  • Parenting
  • Social activities
  • Health

All our experiences offer opportunities to grow.

Through each one, let’s keep on keeping on. Remember, like a mountain climb, our hardest times often teach the greatest lessons.

“He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights” (2 Samuel 22:34 NIV).

Thanks to Laura Lee Leathers for the suggestion.

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