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Tag: Life Lessons from English Expressions

Don’t Steal My Joy

Don’t Steal My Joy

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Don't Steal My Joy--daisies with child holding one between his toesI love to make people happy, don’t you? Occasionally someone says an action or gift is too much. My frequent response: “Don’t steal my joy.”

Don’t steal my joy tells people to allow us to do something special for them.

If they love our gifts, it fills us with joy. We delight in helping them or offering acts of kindness.

We don’t want them to say it is too much. Or that we should not do it. We want them to accept it and enjoy it as much as we enjoy sharing.

Neither should we steal anyone else’s joy.

I almost did that recently. A friend brought thoughtful gifts for my husband. They would make his life and mine much easier. When I wanted to pay for them, she responded with a smile, “Don’t steal my joy.” She had heard me say that and enjoyed the opportunity to say it back to me.

No one can steal the joy we find in Jesus.

Jesus offers us the gift of forgiveness, a future home in heaven, and joy whatever our present circumstances.

People may mistreat us. Troubles may surround us. Life may throw us for a loop, and our emotions may tumble. Nevertheless, Jesus fills us to the brim with everlasting joy. Nothing and no one can take that away.

“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven” (Luke 6:23 NIV).

Thanks to Carol Edwards for the suggestion. Image by Christiane from Pixabay.

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Look What the Cat Dragged in

Look What the Cat Dragged in

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Look What the Cat Dragged in-Two cats in a yard, one with a mouse dangling from its mouthLook what the cat dragged in may refer to what a cat catches. It often refers to a person.

Look what the cat dragged in expresses surprise at someone’s appearance.

The surprise may result from the person being there. We have not seen them in a long time and don’t expect them. Or the person is part of a group but has been inactive. We often use the expression to welcome them.

Other times, the expression refers to the way a person looks. Like a mouse that receives rough treatment from a cat, the person may appear:

  • Wild
  • Dirty
  • Uncombed
  • Wrinkled

Look what the cat dragged in often includes humor.

The humor may or may not be shared by the person described.

This expression includes several variations.

  • Look what the cat’s dragged in.
  • Look what the cat’s drug in.
  • Look what the cat drug in.
  • Look what the cats drug in.

Jesus calls us to welcome one another whatever our circumstances or appearance.

Whether someone looks like a million bucks or poor as a church mouse, our call remains the same. Welcome them in Jesus’ name. Who knows when roles may reverse with the shoe on the other foot.

 “Stop judging by mere appearances.” (John 7:24 NIV).

Thanks to D J Turner for the suggestion. Image by rihaij from Pixabay.

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Diddly-squat

Diddly-squat

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Diddly-squat-open blank pages with a penSometimes, I stare at a blank page or a blank screen and write diddly-squat. Nothing. Nada. Zero. Zilch.

Diddly-squat means nothing.

Much that we value in life amounts to diddly-squat. It holds no lasting worth.

We desire and acquire:

  • Expensive homes
  • The latest styles
  • Social status

However, none of those mean anything when we get to the end of the road.

We may know diddly squat about certain information or skills.

For example, I know little or nothing about:

  • Engineering
  • Trigonometry
  • Air traffic control

Financially, we may have diddly-squat.

  • Empty bank accounts
  • Unpaid bills
  • No income

Our pockets are empty and our resources have gone down the drain.

Agreements occasionally amount to nothing.

That happens with:

  • Broken promises
  • Ignored business contracts
  • Failed relationships

Jesus offers a better way.

  • Treat others with honesty and respect.
  • Give our best.
  • Invest in the eternal.

“If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?” (James 2:16 NIV).

Thanks to Laura Lee Leathers for the suggestion.

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Copycat

Copycat

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Copycat-Cat reflected in a mirrorChildren and youth are great copycats. They see something they like and mimic it.

Copycat can be a noun, verb, or adjective. 

  1. A copycat is someone who imitates another person (noun).

They see how someone looks or acts and want to be just like them. I saw the perfect example when I served as a juvenile counselor. A young runaway returned from a northern city to his rural southern home. He walked into my office with

  • A new swagger
  • Hat cocked to the side of his head
  • The most exaggerated accent I had ever heard

  1. To copycat is the act of imitating (verb).

The young juvenile was funny but did no harm when he changed his dress and speech. He did hurt others when he followed in the footsteps of relatives who broke the law.

  1. Copycat also describes something or someone (adjective).

That young man displayed obvious copycat behavior. It was not his own but belonged to someone he admired.

We need to choose our role models carefully.

Imitating the right people typically keeps us on the straight and narrow. Following negative examples keeps us in hot water.

We are made in the image of God. May our lives reflect our Maker.

“Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good” (1 John 1:11 NIV)

Thanks to Cindy Shoemaker for the suggestion. Image by Gundula Vogel from Pixabay.

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Chew on

Chew on

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Chew on--puppy chewing on a shoeBabies like to chew on whatever they find. Human babies keep teething rings wet with their efforts. Puppies often chew shoes and other non-food items. Their gnawing may last for hours.

To chew on something means to think about it.

We consider it from different viewpoints. Our thinking, like puppy gnawing, often lasts a long time.

We rarely like to chew on tough circumstances.

Although we enjoy chewing the fat with friends and family, we don’t want to think about problems.

Life’s struggles come from all directions.

  • Difficult relationships
  • Illness
  • Death
  • Work stress

We do enjoy chewing on positive situations or possibilities.

  • Special events with family and friends
  • Vacations
  • Births
  • Promotions

When we chew on all God has done, everything else fades in comparison.

We know our current concerns will not last forever. However, God will. His faithfulness offers hope for now and eternity.

“I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” (Psalm 77:12 NIV).

Thanks to Sarah Burns Hampshire for the suggestion. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

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At Your Wits’ End

At Your Wits’ End

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At Your Wits' End--railroad track with end missingHave you ever been at your wits’ end? Like a train conductor with no track, you wonder, What now?

At your wits’ end means you have no idea what to do.

You have tried everything you can think of, but nothing works. You feel:

At your wits’ end may result from your problem or someone else’s.

  • A difficult project or repair
  • An unruly child
  • Unexplained delays in services

You run out of patience, and frustration grows.

Your distress often affects other people. They see your negative reaction, or you hurt them with your words or deeds.

This idiom has a long history.

The Free Dictionary says it “appeared in Piers Ploughman (c. 1377).” We also find it in the Bible.

When at your wits’ end, seek guidance.

Someone else may be able to help you figure out an answer. With both major and minor problems, two heads are usually better than one. Turning to God for peace and direction is even better.

What joy when we finally understand what to do.

“They were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress” (Psalm 107:27-28).

Thanks to Meghan Bowker, Editor, Missions Mosaic for the suggestion. Image by Niek Verlaan from Pixabay.

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Red Herring

Red Herring

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Red Herring-school of fishFew of us like to discuss difficult issues. Instead, we turn attention from the facts with a red herring.

This expression refers to a distraction from crucial matters.

A red herring is a dried smoked fish. Smoking to preserve the herring creates its red color.

The Free Dictionary says the expression may have come from using the fish’s strong smell to distract hunting dogs from a trail.

It may also have come from a writer “who used the scent-laying image as a metaphor.” Mystery writers still give misleading clues about “who-done-it.”

Children frequently use a red herring.

They don’t want to:

  • Complete chores.
  • Work on school assignments.
  • Admit when they disobey.

Instead, they:

  • Complain about unfair rules.
  • Ask irrelevant questions.
  • Talk about another child’s behavior.

A red herring from adults causes much greater harm.

Like children, we distract attention from:

  • Responsibilities we want to avoid
  • Main issues
  • Poor choices

We focus away from our involvement in:

  • Abuse, neglect, or other criminal activity
  • Political misdeeds
  • Business errors

Rather than do what we should, we:

  • Blame innocent people.
  • Focus on unrelated issues.
  • Make self-centered decisions.

A red herring often misleads as well as distracts.

We don’t just chase rabbits. We deliberately point people in the wrong direction.

Enjoy novels with red herrings. Avoid red herrings in real life.

“Jesus answered: ‘Watch out that no one deceives you’” (Matthew 24:4 NIV).

Thanks to Kay Emerick for the suggestion. Image by Hans from Pixabay.

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Close but No Cigar

Close but No Cigar

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Close but No Cigar--booths with Farris wheel in backgroundEvery summer of my childhood, I looked forward to a county fair. Several booths offered games with prizes. When I failed to win, the booth operator occasionally said, “Close but no cigar.”

Close but no cigar means almost, but not quite, successful.

That happens when we:

  • Barely miss the bull’s eye on a target
  • Almost win a contest
  • Make a close but incorrect answer

Years ago, cigars were a frequent prize.

The Free Dictionary says, “This expression comes from the old US custom of giving a cigar as a prize in fairground games of skill.”

Close but no cigar can encourage or discourage.

Some of us try again and try harder. Others give up in defeat.

Keep working toward worthwhile goals.

Don’t worry about what matters little. Trinkets from fairs rarely last. Focus on goals with eternal value.

Everyone falls short of perfection.

We miss the mark in life. For that reason, Jesus, the only perfect one, came to pay the price for our imperfections. Jesus offers life’s greatest prize, forgiveness for our sins and eternal life with Him.

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 3:23; 6:23 NIV).

Thanks to Ann Klotz, Lindy Pierce, and Becky Nash Rowe for the suggestion. Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay.

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Fake It Till You Make It

Fake It Till You Make It

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Fake It Till You Make It--Little girl dressed in medical clothes with a pretend needle and magnifying glassHave you ever had to do a job you did not think you could do? Yet you had to do it. When that happens, you fake it till you make it.

When you fake it till you make it, you act like you know what you are doing.

You:

  • Act confident until you feel confident.
  • Imitate the skills of others until you learn the skills yourself.
  • Pretend you feel brave until you become brave.

You whistle past the graveyard until your fear disappears. The more optimistic you behave, the more optimistic you become.

You fake it till you make it to cheer yourself through tough times.

To survive, you act like a survivor. Although not always easy, it often helps.

Watch children play to learn this skill.

They pretend to be:

  • Famous singers and dancers
  • Sports champions
  • Doctors or teachers

They also imitate parents, best friends, and heroes. They learn competence by acting competent.

Fake it till you make it does not always work.

Some skills, feelings, or behaviors may exceed your abilities.

Choose wisely what to learn and who to imitate.

Learn well from those who teach you to live well.

“I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw” (Proverbs 24:32 NIV).

Thanks to Kathy Rouser for the suggestion. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

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Freedom Isn’t Free

Freedom Isn’t Free

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Freedom Isn't Free--American flags with a cross in the backgroundOn Memorial Day, we remember that freedom isn’t free. Many paid a great price for us to enjoy our parades, cookouts, and fireworks.

Freedom isn’t free gives thanks for those who make freedom possible.

Men and women who serve in the military often risk their lives. May we never forget those who:

  • Remain missing in action
  • Live and bear the scars of their service
  • Give their lives to defend ours — those gone but not forgotten

The Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. includes the engravement “Freedom Is Not Free.”

The memorial with that engraving honors and respects soldiers of one war. Yet its truth relates to all our heroes.

This idiom applies spiritually as well.

When Jesus died on the cross, He gave the ultimate price. He sacrificed his life to offer us eternal life. When He arose on the third day, He conquered sin and death. We share that victory when we follow Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Enjoy the holiday. Remember the reason.

Have fun with family and friends. Be sure to also give thanks for those who make that time possible. Above all, accept and give thanks for the greater freedom we find in Jesus.

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36 NIV).

Thanks to Beckham Wilson for the suggestion. Image by Em Sawyers from Pixabay.