peace Archives - Page 2 of 9

Sleep Like a Log

January 22, 2024 Diana Derringer Comments 14 comments

I rise early most mornings. However, caregiving, especially getting up several times a night, occasionally wears me down. If I become extremely tired and have few interruptions, I sleep like a log.

Recently, after days of meeting myself coming and going, I slept almost two hours past my usual wakeup. I felt wonderful! A good night’s sleep solves a lot of life’s woes!

To sleep like a log means a deep, restful sleep.

Similar expressions include sleep like a:

Baby
Top
Rock

All mean to sleep:

Well
Soundly
Without waking

To sleep like a log can be dangerous.

Although we want to sleep soundly, we can overdo it. A friend in college slept so well that other people in his dorm had to wake him when his alarm went off. I once slept through a tornado warning. Someone finally realized I was missing and woke me.

Several steps help achieve a good night’s rest.

Go to bed and get up about the same time every day.
Keep the room free of distractions.
Maintain a regular pre-sleep routine.
Eliminate screen time an hour or more before going to bed.

God gave us the gift of sleep. Let’s make the most of it.

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8 NIV).

Thanks to Joanne Viola 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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Work Wonders

December 25, 2023 Diana Derringer Comments 4 comments

This hand-crafted ornament came from a local school’s art fair. I watched the craftsman work wonders with simple pieces of wood.

To work wonders means to create an excellent outcome.

My dad also produced amazing woodwork. I have examples throughout our house. You can find one in my explanation of “Make Do.”

Although successful in his craft, Dad did not make money from it. Instead, he gave away almost everything he created. He defined success as helping others.

After a busy day, rest works wonders for minds and bodies.

Whatever work we do, we need time away from it. Other wonder-working aids include:

Proper nutrition
Regular exercise
Social interaction
Ongoing learning
Daily devotions

All help us be our best selves.

The greatest wonder of history came in the form of a baby.

Jesus left the splendor of heaven to be born to a peasant family.
He left absolute safety for a life of danger.
God in flesh died so we might have life.
He arose from the grave and has prepared a home in heaven for all who follow Him.

That is what Christmas is all about. God who works wonders. Immanuel — God with us.

Merry Christmas!

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means ‘God with us’)” (Matthew 1:23 NIV).

Thanks to Tracy Crump 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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Neck of the Woods

November 20, 2023 Diana Derringer Comments 13 comments

I recently visited a lovely site near our neck of the woods. Natural Arch in the Daniel Boone National Forest has a convenient overlook. I also walked down the hill to the arch. The return up the hill reminded my muscles that hills are harder to hike than level ground!

Neck of the woods means a particular area.

According to The Free Dictionary, “This expression originated in the United States. ‘Neck’ comes from ‘naiack’ which means ‘point’ or ‘corner’ in an Algonquian Native American language.” It refers to a “narrow strip of woodland” or “a forest settlement.”

Although originally a rural description, this idiom now includes urban areas.

I consider our neck of the woods the garden spot of the world. We enjoy the best of country life close to a small town.

My neck of the woods probably looks different from yours.

However, we can enjoy what each area offers.

Just as locations differ, so do people.

We do well when we appreciate all people. We don’t have to:

Look alike
Talk alike
Act alike or
Enjoy the same things

May we all open our eyes to the God-given potential of others, regardless of their neck of the woods.

“The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets” (Psalm 50:1 NIV).

Thanks to Jane Ashley Pace for the suggestion.

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Give It a Rest

November 13, 2023 Diana Derringer Comments 14 comments

Sometimes we want people to give it a rest. Their constant talk or actions get on our nerves. Of course, we probably get on their nerves from time to time too.

When we tell people to give it a rest, we want them to stop irritating talk or actions.

Their annoying talk may include:

Fussing
Nagging
Begging

Their words sound like a broken record.

Actions may include:

Constant interruptions
Loud videos
Rude behavior

They ruffle our feathers.

To tell others to give it a rest can sound impolite.

It is simply another way to tell them to shut up or stop it.

An alternative is to get away from the irritating people.

Take a walk.
Work outside.
Sit beside a calm stream.

Moments alone remind us that silence is golden. We rest and refresh our minds and bodies.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters” (Psalm 23:2 NIV).

Thanks to J.D. Wininger 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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Break a Leg

November 6, 2023 Diana Derringer Comments 11 comments

No one wants to break a leg or any other body part. Just ask our worship pastor. He has spent months in pain from a broken foot. His injuries have required surgeries, casts, boots, and a wheelchair. He has also endured a walker, cane, crutches, and numerous therapy sessions.

With that in mind, why do people tell others to break a leg? The expression sounds cruel.

Break a leg means to wish people good luck.

It offers encouragement, especially to performers on opening night. The speaker hopes the actors bring down the house.

Some believe wishing actors good luck causes bad luck. Therefore, they say the opposite of what they mean. The Phrase Finder offers several possible origins for this superstition.

Although they understand the idiom, some people choose not to use it.

Not everyone understands the meaning, so it could result in hurt feelings. However, others use the expression as a fun tradition. If necessary, they explain what they mean.

Prayer offers a better alternative.

Whether a person says to break a leg or not, prayer remains the greatest gift. Prayer does not rely on superstition. It also removes the need for worry. As my friend Marian Woosley often said, “Why worry when we can pray?” True for actors. True for everyone.

Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony” (Psalm 6:2 NIV).

Thanks to Candyce Carden for the suggestion and to Katherine Bonds for the photo.

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

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Beside Myself

October 23, 2023 Diana Derringer Comments 12 comments

The first time I went on an international mission trip, I was beside myself with joy. The opportunity before me almost took my breath away.

Beside myself refers to extreme emotion.

In addition to awe or joy, I may feel intense:

Shock
Anger
Excitement
Sadness
Worry
Panic

Recent news about some of the areas I served leaves me beside myself with grief. I ache for the difficulties my friends now face.

When I am beside myself, I feel out of control.

Strong emotions overwhelm me. I must work to regain a sense of balance—to get a grip.

This phrase appears in the Bible.

The Apostle Paul had shared the story of his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. He had also discussed his life since that time. Festus, the Roman governor, responded in a loud voice, “Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad” (Acts 26:24 KJV). Paul explained that he was not crazy but was sharing God’s truth.

If anyone says I am beside myself, I can think of no better reason than God’s call to share eternal truth and love.

“They were all amazed at the greatness of God” (Luke 9:43 NIV).

What about you? What makes you beside yourself?

Thanks to Stan Crump for the suggestion.

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Move Heaven and Earth

October 9, 2023 Diana Derringer Comments 12 comments

Have you had people move heaven and earth to help you? They do everything in their power to provide what you need. I have, and I am eternally grateful for their assistance.

In a crisis, I called a friend. She stopped what she was doing and cancelled her plans to come to my aid. Her friendship is the real McCoy.

To move heaven and earth means to do everything possible to make something happen.

We resolve to do all we can to:

Help someone else.
Achieve what we desire.
Accomplish a goal.

In spite of challenges, we reach for the sky. We try to make the impossible possible.

Move heaven and earth implies commitment.

We:

Dedicate ourselves to a purpose.
Give our best effort.
Have no plan to quit.

Such commitment requires hard work.

Ordinary efforts are not enough. We strive for the extraordinary.

The Creator of heaven and earth set the example for us.

God loves us and offers life in heaven when we leave this earth. May we do all in our power to tell others of Jesus’ sacrificial gift to make that possible.

“May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 115:15 NIV).

Thanks to Scott Tice 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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Happy-Go-Lucky

September 18, 2023 Diana Derringer Comments 12 comments

Children on swings usually look and sound happy-go-lucky.

However, like those swings, most of us have our ups and downs. Circumstances often dictate whether we feel:

Happy
Sad
Lonely
Mad
Scared

Yet, a few people remain happy-go-lucky regardless of their situations. Little, if anything, gets them down.

Happy-go-lucky means always happy.

Such people’s moods remain cheery and good natured. Life never seems to trouble them. They stay happy as a lark and worry free.

Happy-go-lucky people dwell on the positives.

Although they don’t deny negative experiences, they remain optimistic. They treat problems like water off a duck’s back by shaking off any negative reactions.

We may not always feel happy, but we can always experience joy.

God offers each of us the joy of a relationship with Jesus as Savior and Lord. For many people in the world, that decision leads to persecution and/or death. In spite of the dangers, they continue to share their joy with others. True joy makes that great a difference.

“In all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.” (2 Corinthians 7:4 NIV.)

Thanks to Brad Leverett for the suggestion and to Darrin Jenkins for the photo.

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

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Out of Sorts

August 28, 2023 Diana Derringer Comments 22 comments

Please welcome my friend Kristy Robinson Horine as today’s guest writer. Kristy and I met at Kentucky Christian Writers Conference, where she serves on staff. Kristy makes her life in Paris, Kentucky with her husband, Eric, and is mother to four children – Hanson, Anna, Emily, and Sadie. Her professional and creative work has been published in newspapers, magazines and anthologies in Kentucky and beyond. She offers encouragement for each day through her book, In a Season of Mondays: A 30-Day Devotional Journal.

I knew before I came into the kitchen, I was in trouble. My daily responsibilities took longer than anticipated. I still had to put away groceries and unload the dishwasher before I could start supper. My day had not gone as planned, and I was out of sorts.

To be out of sorts means to be jumbled together or mixed up.

Sometimes, being out of sorts happens the moment our feet hit the floor in the mornings. There is no rhyme or reason for the feeling. It just happens.

Sometimes, being out of sorts happens because of other people’s decisions:

A child volunteers to bring cookies to an event but doesn’t tell us until the night before.
A co-worker drops the ball, and we are left to pick up the pieces.
Another driver gets distracted and crashes into our car.

Other times, being out of sorts happens because of the decisions we make:

We forget to unload the dishwasher at the right time.
We say yes to too many things.
We don’t communicate well, causing chaos and conflict.

Whether being out of sorts comes from within us or from others, we can still choose to act in a way that pleases God.

We find clues in one of my favorite passages in the Bible.

“Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus, that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed” (Luke 1:1-4 World English Bible).

Learning from this passage, we can easily get back on track, even though we find ourselves out of sorts. We can:

Listen to those who have been there.
Look at our situation with accuracy.
Lead others to know the truth.

What are ways you find yourself out of sorts? Can you listen, look, and lead to put things right?

Subscribe to receive Diana’s weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.” On September 9, 2023, one name will be randomly selected from Diana’s mailing list to also receive a free copy of Kristy’s In a Season of Mondays. If your name is already on the mailing list, you are automatically entered. Please encourage your friends to subscribe.

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

Get Back on the Horse

August 14, 2023 Diana Derringer Comments 12 comments

Get back on the horse. That’s what we often hear if we fall. The horse may have bucked us, or we may have fallen for other reasons. Whatever the cause, we receive encouragement to try again.

My sister disagrees. As a teenager, she did not like to ride horses. A cousin convinced her to ride behind him. She did. On a trip through our orchard, he lowered his head to miss a tree branch. He forgot to tell her. That was her last horse ride.

Get back on the horse means to try again.

We don’t give up. Instead, we get up. We go another time. One failure does not mean we will always fail.

Life gets difficult for everyone. We all fall. People or circumstances hurt us. Nevertheless, we keep going.

We learn from our mistakes.

Rather than kick ourselves, we try to correct what went wrong. We don’t want to live in fear—with cold feet—all our lives.

Get back on the horse applies to every area of life.

We may:

Lose a job
Fail a test
Suffer from illness
Grieve lost friendships
Endure persecution

In every circumstance, we decide whether to shake it off or tie ourselves in knots with worry. If we don’t know how to get back on the horse, we can always rely on God for direction.

“Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1 NIV).

Thanks to Joe and Ann Klotz 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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