Life Lessons from English Expressions Archives - Page 51 of 58

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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Swamped

March 28, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 7 comments

Swamped Swamps cover several parts of our world. Our lives often get swamped as well.

My bucket list includes a trip to the Okefenokee Swamp. I want to do the swamp island drive to see:

Birds and alligators
Plants and moss-covered trees
Water, grasses, and other forms of wildlife

Most swamp land has too much water to farm. It has too little water for many water sports. A person who tries to walk through a swamp can easily sink or get stuck.

Although I like to see swamps, I do not want my life to get swamped. It has been in the past. I hope to avoid it in the future.

When swamped, I have too much to do and too little time to do it. As a result, I sink under all that work. I get stuck and have a hard time doing anything. I feel snowed under.

We escape swamp land and swamped lives the same way: one step at a time. We choose the best direction to go. Then, carefully and slowly, we work our way out.

“May the Lord be praised! Day after day He bears our burdens; God is our salvation.” (Psalm 68:19 HCSB).

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Photo courtesy of morgueFile.

Pick Up the Pieces

March 21, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 7 comments

Pick Up the Pieces-Judy Clark When we break a dish, we pick up the pieces. Occasionally we glue those pieces back together. The dish may not be as good as new, but it works.

Sometimes we must pick up the pieces of our lives. We return to normal or a new normal after a bad experience. We try to make a difficult situation okay. We may have:

Broken hearts
Broken bodies
Broken minds
A broken world

Yet, we decide to make the best of our trouble. We pick up the pieces, pull ourselves together, and move on. We may not be as good as new, but we still work.

Easter is all about picking up the pieces. However, we don’t have to pick up the pieces ourselves. Jesus did that for us when He:

Lived a sinless life to pay for our sins.
Died on the cross to give us eternal life.
Rose from the grave in victory over sin and death.

When we give Jesus control of our lives, we receive more than a return to normal. Jesus makes us new — better than ever. Like a potter forming a new creation, He gives us a fresh start.

We become God’s child.
God’s Spirit gives guidance and support.
We gain a home in heaven. There we never have to pick up the pieces again.

“Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isaiah 64:8 NIV).

Thanks to Judy Clark for the photo.

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Under the Weather

March 14, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 6 comments

Most of us feel under the weather from time to time. We are sick or don’t feel well.

A few people suffer depression when they don’t receive enough sunlight. Bad weather does not usually make us sick. Yet, we may get tired of it before it is over. Of course, some people love it and are sad when it goes.

Whether we like bad weather or not, we can feel under the weather. Viruses, headaches, stomachaches, colds, and other illnesses occur in all kinds of weather. Most problems don’t last long.

During serious illness, we need one another’s help.

Our family has received amazing support during major health problems.

Cards, phone calls, and other messages
Meals and snacks for weeks
Gifts
Prayers for and with us
Short hospital and home visits
Help with chores

Although we loved the help, we loved the kind hearts more. Those dear people bent over backwards for us. Friends in all kinds of weather make feeling under the weather less painful.

Thank you one and all.

“I was sick and you looked after me” (Matthew 25:36 NIV).

Do you have a story of help when you or someone you loved was under the weather? Please share in the comments.

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A Stitch in Time Saves Nine

March 7, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 0 Comment

A Stitch in Time 2 I watched my Granny Childress sew many times. Sometimes she used a sewing machine like this one. Sometimes she sewed by hand. Either way, she knew a stitch in time saves nine. In other words, a little work now prevents a lot of work later.

Sewing a small rip in clothing now prevents a large rip later.
Stopping a little leak now prevents a big water bill later.
Replacing old brakes now prevents a car wreck later.

If we let things slide now, we suffer later. That’s true with clothing, houses, and cars. It’s also true in relationships. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

When we can, let’s stop problems now, so they will not get worse later.

“A sensible man watches for problems ahead and prepares to meet them. The simpleton never looks and suffers the consequences” (Proverbs 27:12 TLB).

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Hand-Me-Down

February 29, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 0 Comment

Hand Me Down How many of you have worn a hand-me-down? Or lots of hand-me-downs? If you are the youngest or smallest child in your family, you may know what I mean.

You get to wear clothes or shoes someone else outgrew or no longer uses.

Sometimes that’s okay. The clothes look new or you like them.
Other times it’s not okay. They look old or awful.

Buying fewer clothes means more money for other needs or wants. Some families share hand-me-downs, because the families have little or no money. Dolly Parton sings about her first coat no one else had worn in “Coat of Many Colors.” Her mother made that coat from rags, a perfect example of making do.

As one of the smallest people in my extended family, I continue to wear hand-me-downs. I hate to shop. The more hand-me-downs I get, the less shopping I have to do. That sounds like a good plan to me.

Whether a person wears hand-me-downs or new clothes matters little. Far more important is whether we clothe ourselves with love, kindness, and truth.

“If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Timothy 6:8 NIV).

Thanks to Karen Grimes for her picture of Taylor and Makenzie’s hand-me-down moment.

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

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On Thin Ice

February 16, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 1 comment

We have to be careful during Kentucky winters. We often find ourselves on thin ice and must watch our steps.

Ice on creeks, ponds, and lakes is usually too thin to walk or skate.
Ice on the ground or sidewalks causes falls.
Ice on roads and parking lots lead to wrecks.

On thin ice means we are in a risky or dangerous situation.

We put ourselves in danger when we:

Invest money in an unknown company.
Choose friends we cannot trust.
Fail to care for our health.

Some risks are worth the danger.

Uncertain investments sometimes make lots of money.
Everyone makes mistakes and needs a second chance.
We risk our health to save another life (organ donation, firemen entering a burning building).