picture book Archives - Diana Derringer

Putting Out Fires

October 12, 2026 Diana Derringer Comments 2 comments

Please welcome my friend Tama Fortner as today’s guest writer. Tama is an Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) award-winning and bestselling author with more than sixty titles to her credit. Her latest releases include Serah and the First Christmas; Prayers for Each Moment; God, I Feel Scared; and Easter Is Coming! She has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Christian publishing to create inspirational books for all ages. But her greatest accomplishments happen in a happy little home on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee, with her family and a feisty little pup who is convinced she’s people too. You can receive Tama’s latest bookish news, giveaway opportunities, and more when you sign up for her newsletter.

Too often, I allow the “dings” of alerts to drive my day. I end up putting out fires and getting dragged away from what most needs to be done.

Ding! An email with an urgent request. Ding! A text with another. Ding! A missed call. There’s even a ding to take the dog out. (Though, admittedly, I probably need this one.) Every ding feels like a fire that needs putting out.

That expression—“putting out fires”—has its roots in actual firefighting.

Firefighters rush to put out fires before they spread or cause more damage. Over time, this expression came to describe addressing urgent problems before they spread or cause damage. Sounds good, right?

Its modern meaning is a bit different, though. Cambridge Dictionary defines it this way: “to spend time on problems that need to be dealt with quickly, instead of working in a calm, planned way.” Ugh.

Real fires demand real attention.

But not every ding is a fire.

So when the next ding comes, instead of plunging headlong into firefighting mode, pause and pray. Ask God to show you what is urgent, what can wait, and what was never your fire to put out in the first place.

Because while you may be “worried and upset about many things,” Jesus reminds us only one thing is needed: Him. (Luke 10:41–42).

Image by Enrique from Pixabay.

An Autographed Book Giveaway from Tama

On 10-21-26, Diana will randomly select the name of one person on her mailing list to receive a free autographed copy of Tama’s book, Serah and the First Christmas. Please encourage your friends to join Diana’s mailing list for a chance to win Tama’s book. Email Diana if anyone signs up and receive an extra chance to win.

In the Thick of It

November 11, 2024 Diana Derringer Comments 5 comments

Please welcome my friend J.J. LeVan as today’s guest writer. J.J. is an award-winning author with a heart for autism and its caregiver community. She released a children’s picture book entitled, “He Meant You to Be You,” which shares God’s love for these uniquely and wonderfully made children. Inspired by her oldest son’s diagnosis in 1998, she has become an advocate and an encourager to Children’s Ministry leaders working with neurodiverse kids. J.J. is also a certified independent provider for the State of Ohio.

Are you in the thick of it?

Merriam-Webster defines in the thick of it as “in the most active or intense part of a situation or activity.” This idiom means you are:

Surrounded
Highly active
Engaged
Engulfed

Hear from real people in the thick of it.

I reached out to friends in our autism community about how I could best pray for them. Their honesty was gripping.

One mom spoke of her desperate need to find a caregiver for her 25-year-old profoundly autistic son.
A grandmother shared that her daughter felt discouraged caring for her 4-year-old autistic son. She was a young mom raising a child in a big city that “could be so cruel.”
Another mom had just received her late autism diagnosis just as she was learning how to help her young son on his own spectrum journey.

Each one of these women is in the thick of it.

Paul pressed on in the thick of it.

“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4: 8-9

Even if you find yourself in the thick of it today, take heart. You are not forgotten.

Press on! You are not alone.

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

Subscribe to receive Diana’s weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.” On 11-23-24, one name will be randomly selected from Diana’s mailing list to also receive a free copy of J.J.’s book, “He Meant You to Be You.” If your name is already on the mailing list, you are automatically entered. Please encourage your friends to subscribe.

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Thanks to Phyllis Arnold for the blog photo.