idioms Archives - Page 50 of 57

The Other Side of the Coin

June 20, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 5 comments

I’m not always right.

I wish I were, but I’m not. Therefore, I need to look at life from other points of view. I need to consider ideas other than my own — the other side of the coin.

By looking at the other side of the coin, I give myself the opportunity to grow. I may learn I was wrong. If not, I strengthen my original belief. I gain from either of those possibilities.

We don’t have to agree with others to remain friends.

Rather, we learn to disagree agreeably. My husband and I share many of the same values and beliefs. We also disagree on several issues. We have learned to accept that reality. Occasionally we begin a sentence with, “I know you’re going to disagree with this, but …”

I wonder:

How many wars could have been prevented by looking at the other side’s opinions?
How many couples could have avoided divorce by focusing on one another’s feelings?
How many friendships could have been preserved by listening more than talking?

Not everything in life revolves around us and our outlook.

Let’s not be hardheaded. Rather, let’s check out the other side of the coin. In the process we:

Stretch our minds.
Enrich our resources,
Share one another’s burdens and joys, whether we agree or not.

When we look at the other side of the coin, we gain another viewpoint. We choose whether to accept or reject that viewpoint. Let’s use wisdom as we choose.

“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance” (Proverbs 1:5 NIV).

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Throw in the Towel

May 30, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 6 comments

Throw in the Towel--two women at a Relay for Life event These cancer survivor friends refuse to throw in the towel. Life knocked them down, but they got up again. They did not quit.

Throw in the towel comes from boxing. I don’t like boxing. Yet, many expressions we use come from that sport.

When someone throws a towel into the boxing ring, that team admits defeat. To avoid further pain, they give up. They don’t want the boxer hurt any more. Because the boxer is caught between a rock and a hard place, hard choices must be made.

We may decide to throw in the towel when we:

Can go no further
Have no hope
Need to focus on something else

However, sometimes we throw in the towel too soon. We:

Give up before we try everything
Rely on our own strength rather than God’s
Need to take a break and then try again.

If we do our best, we should feel no shame when we must throw in the towel. We just don’t want to throw it in too soon.

“Be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded” (2 Chronicles 15:7 NIV).

Thanks to Debbie and Karen for the photo and life example. Thanks to Emily Akin for the suggestion.

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Handwriting on the Wall

May 23, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 2 comments

Please welcome my friend Emily Akin as today’s guest writer. Emily and I met at Kentucky Christian Writers Conference. She continues to be one of my greatest sources for writing information. Emily lives in northwest Tennessee with her husband of 47 years and their Jack Russell terrier, Jeb.

Handwriting-on-the-Wall “I should have seen the handwriting on the wall,” she said. “Company profits were down. I saw my friends being laid off month after month. I knew my turn was coming.”

What does it mean — seeing the handwriting on the wall?

The expression comes from the Bible story of Belshazzar’s Feast in the book of Daniel. Many Jewish people were in exile in Babylon during Belshazzar’s reign. At a court feast, Belshazzar served wine in gold and silver goblets. He had taken the goblets from the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Later, a hand with no body appeared. It wrote terrifying words on the wall. Daniel, a Jewish exile who had become a court advisor, was called. He interpreted the writing.

This is what was written: mene, mene, tekel, parsin. “Here is what these words mean: Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Parsin: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two. (Daniel 5:25-28, 30-31, NIV).

Someone who has seen the handwriting on the wall may have

Had warning that disaster was coming.
Been doing something that he/she knew was wrong.
Realized a certain situation would not end well.

We sometimes continue in denial even when we have seen warning signs of

Job loss (company had been cutting employees for months).
Health problems (hereditary or lifestyle choices).
Personal problems (relationship with God or other people).

When we follow God’s rules for living and seek His guidance, we can learn to interpret the handwriting on the wall for ourselves.

“Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands.” (Psalm 119:66, NIV).

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No Strings Attached

May 16, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 3 comments

People sometimes offer gifts with no strings attached.

They expect nothing in return.
They put no limits on the gifts’ use.

For example, if I give you $100, no strings attached, the money is yours.

You don’t have to give me anything.
You can use the money any way you want.

We often question offers with no strings attached.

We think:

That sounds too good to be true.
What do they want?
What is wrong with the gift?
We never get something for nothing.

Cee Cee’s gifts have no strings attached.

She began by knitting hand-sized elephants to raise funds for Joplin, Missouri tornado victims in 2011. Cee Cee was eight-years-old. Since then, she has helped people all over the world, expecting nothing in return.

Why does she do that?

Cee Cee loves people.
She wants to help anyone in need.
She serves the one who offers each of us the greatest gift.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23 NIV).

Who do you know with a heart like Cee Cee’s? Please comment below.

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Thanks to BeLinda Creech for the photo.

A Taste of Their Own Medicine

May 9, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 3 comments

A Taste of Their Own Medicine; child giving medicine to adult When people get a taste of their own medicine, they receive what they have given others. They don’t usually like it.

Medicine tastes better than it did in the past. Yet, most medicine still tastes awful. Children often fight taking it. The medicine lands on the child, adult, and anything else nearby.

Some adults pretend to taste the medicine. They act like it’s great. They know better. Many children know better too.

When adults get sick, they receive a taste of our own medicine. What they have given, they receive. The experience makes them better. Yet, the medicine still tastes awful.

A taste of their own medicine applies to behavior as well. What people give or do to others often returns to them. What goes around comes around.

When people hurt others, they invite hurt.
If people gossip, others feel free to gossip about them.
If people don’t respect others, they probably won’t receive respect.

That doesn’t mean people should return evil for evil. In fact, Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

However, the truth remains: People tend to treat others the way they are treated.

Therefore:

To be treated well, treat others well.
To avoid gossip, don’t gossip.
To receive respect, show respect.

Kindness to others does not guarantee kind treatment in return. However, it is the right thing to do.

“Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31 NIV).

Special thanks to Julie Posey Johnson for the photo of Ian giving Dad a taste of his own medicine.

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Hit the Hay

May 2, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 4 comments

Hit the Hay, morgueFile Years ago, people made mattresses from sacks stuffed with hay or straw. When it was time to go to bed, they would say:

“It’s time to hit the hay.”
or
“It’s time to hit the sack.”

My parents expected us to rise and shine early in the morning. They also wanted us to hit the hay early in the evening. They believed we needed a good night’s sleep to do our best. It prepared us for the next day’s plans.

A test
A long trip
A hard day’s work

Therefore, we received at least eight hours of sleep. We awoke rested and ready for that day’s tasks. Medical evidence supports the wisdom of this habit.

Unfortunately, many of us ignore sleep’s importance. We stay too busy. We fill our lives with too much activity.

School
Work
Clubs
Sports
Television
Internet

We have to do part of these. Many we choose instead of sleep. Think what we could gain from less activity and more rest. Try it.

Turn off the noise.
Let muscles relax and eyes close.
Enjoy the peace and quiet.

We might be surprised how much better we feel, think, and act.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NIV).

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Photo courtesy of morgueFile.

Tie Ourselves in Knots

April 25, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 11 comments

We can easily tie ourselves in knots. I don’t mean with ropes, but with how we react to circumstances. We cause ourselves to suffer with:

Worry
Nervousness
Confusion

We can make ourselves sick. When our stomach ties in knots, we experience pain or cramping. The cause may be physical. Often it is emotional.

Fear
Impatience
Uncertainty
Anxiety

Other people can tie us in knots when they:

Expect too much
Hurt us or try to hurt us
Ignore us
Lie or gossip about us

So, how do we stop tying ourselves in knots or letting others tie us in knots? Don’t borrow trouble. Remember worry does no good. It changes nothing except how we feel. Instead, let go and let God. As we learn from The Serenity Prayer:

Change what we can change.
Accept what we can’t change.
Learn the difference.

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?^” (Luke 12:25 NIV).

How do you keep from tying yourself in knots? Please comment.

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Photo courtesy of morgueFile.

Burn the Candle at Both Ends

April 18, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 5 comments

We never want to burn the candle at both ends. Yet, sometimes we do.

Years ago, people needed candles for light. If they burned a candle at both ends, the candle could not stand. If they placed a candle flat to burn both ends:

The candle soon burned out.
People wasted much-needed light.

When we burn the candle at both ends, we get too busy. We work or play hard from early morning to late at night. We keep a full plate. We fail to get the rest and sleep we need.

Like candles burning at both ends, we wear out and waste our lives. We:

Lose energy.
Ruin our health.
Become unable to do what we want or need to do.

I admit I sometimes burn the candle at both ends. I have so much I want to do or believe I need to do. Yet, if I try to do too much, I can’t do anything well.

How about you? Are you tempted to burn the candle at both ends? If so, please comment how you handle it.

“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you” (3 John 2 NIV).

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Thanks to Emily Akin for the suggestion.

Photo courtesy of morgueFile.

A Drop in the Bucket

April 11, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 2 comments

A little bit of anything does not seem enough to make a difference. It is just a drop in the bucket. A drop in the ocean has the same meaning.

To understand this expression better, try carrying a bucket full of water. Then lift a bucket with one drop of water. We often think that one drop makes no difference or little difference. It is such a small part of the whole.

Compared to the greatness of God, we are like a drop in the bucket. God’s power, goodness, and love overflow like a waterfall.

A Drop in the Bucket At the same time, God loves each one of us and can use us for good. Working together, like many drops of water, we make a great difference in our world.

In addition, when we let God work in our lives, our buckets of blessings overflow.

“Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket” (Isaiah 40:15 NIV).

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A Dog’s Life

April 4, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 4 comments

A Dog's Life Many dogs, like Tina, never have to live a dog’s life. Their owners spoil them. They receive all they need and most of what they want.

Attention
Love
Rest
Food and shelter
Toys and more

In contrast, when we say we lead a dog’s life, we mean we have a terrible life.

We receive little or no attention.
No one cares.
We work too hard.
Our needs and wants are unmet.
We never have any fun.

Occasionally we may live a dog’s life. Most often, we have an easier life than we think. World news reminds us just how good our life is. Many people suffer because of:

War
Religious persecution
Abuse and neglect
Weather-related tragedies
Murder and other crimes

The list of suffering seems endless.

If we have food, shelter, and someone to love, we are blessed beyond measure. Our cups run over.

“You, Lord, preserve both people and animals” (Psalm 36:6 NIV).

Thanks to Phyllis Holland for the expression and Shirley Cheatham for the photo.

Do you have a dog’s life example? If so, please comment.

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