prevention Archives - Page 2 of 4

Jump the Gun

November 21, 2022 Diana Derringer Comments 6 comments

In the past, a gun fired as a signal to start many sports contests. Runners occasionally became so excited, they would jump the gun. They started running before their races began.

To jump the gun means to begin before the right time.

Like athletes, we occasionally jump the gun in life. We act too quickly.

Rather than wait until everything is ready, we start too soon. Our actions are not:

Appropriate
Wise
Approved

Patience is hard to practice.

Yet, we need it. Instead of getting in too big a hurry, we want to toe the mark. Better to follow the guidelines than ruin our chances of getting where we want to go.

When tempted to bypass the rules, let’s hold our horses.

Plan to go when it’s time to go but wait when it’s time to wait.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14 NIV).

Thanks to Melissa Bright for the suggestion. Image by Vlad Vasnetsov from Pixabay.

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A Day Late and a Dollar Short

November 8, 2021 Diana Derringer Comments 4 comments

As a child, I often heard people say they were a day late and a dollar short. They usually meant they did not have enough money to buy something or pay a bill.

However, I learned the expression has a greater meaning.

A day late and a dollar short means to be unprepared and too late.

That can be money for purchases or bills, as I thought. It can also mean not enough effort in:

Relationships
Work
Personal goals

In each one, people fail to get the ball rolling. They dillydally when they need to get to work.

Lack of effort and failure to be on time benefit no one.

Everyone loses.

Family members who ignore one another threaten their relationships
Lazy workers hurt their employers and risk losing their jobs.
Anyone who invests little time or effort fails to achieve their best.

Prepare. Work well. Use time wisely.

A good plan for now and eternity, don’t you agree?

“Jesus replied, ‘My light will shine out for you just a little while longer. Walk in it while you can, and go where you want to go before the darkness falls, for then it will be too late for you to find your way’” (John 12:35 TLB).

Thanks to Emily Akin for the suggestion.

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Katy Bar the Door

September 20, 2021 Diana Derringer Comments 0 Comment

Katy Bar the Door: old double doors with bar across them Get ready. Beware. Katy bar the door.

My dad often used this expression if he expected trouble, such as:

Bad weather
Economic problems
Political unrest
Broken relationships

Katy (or Katie) bar the door warns of danger ahead.

A common southern expression, it tells people to be careful. They need to watch their step and prepare for hard times ahead.

If people expect someone to try to break in their house, they lock (or bar) their door. They take necessary precautions.

The origin of Katy bar the door is uncertain.

According to The Phrase Finder, possibilities include:

A Scottish folk song, “Get Up and Bar the Door”
The attempt of Catherine Douglas to save the Scottish King James I

Whatever the origin, use caution when facing danger.

Better safe than sorry. Take the right steps to protect against possible threats.

“The clever see danger and hide; but the simple go on, and suffer for it” (Proverbs 27:12 NRSV).

Thanks to Brad Leverett for the suggestion. Image by József Kincse from Pixabay.

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Consider the Source

May 6, 2019 Diana Derringer Comments 0 Comment

Before we trust anyone or anything, we consider the source.

We do not want to:

Eat food from a garbage can
Buy a car from a junk store
Drink water from a lake filled with salt

We usually trust what was good, safe, and trustworthy in the past.

However, if anything has not been good, safe, or trustworthy, we do not trust them now.

The same applies to people.

Have they:

Made many mistakes? If so, we will not ask their help.
Proved themselves trustworthy? If so, we usually trust them.
Hurt others? If so, we fear they may hurt us.

Consider the source is often a warning.

It tells us to be careful.

That person has been wrong in the past.
He cannot be taken seriously.
Do not believe him.
He may be a wolf in sheep’s clothing or a snake in the grass.

If we want others to trust us, we must prove worthy of their trust.

We build a reputation by every:

Choice we make
Action we take
Word we say
Attitude we show

May others always know us as a source worthy of their trust – as good as our word.

“What a wonderful God we have—he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does he do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 TLB).

Thanks to Becky Nash Rowe for the suggestion

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Chickens Come Home to Roost

April 22, 2019 Diana Derringer Comments 2 comments

Chickens Come Home to Roost--chickens on a fence Chickens come home to roost.

Birds usually return to their nests at night.
The results of our past actions return to us.

Bad behavior in the past may causes problems in the present or future.

We may get away with bad choices for a while. However, we often suffer for them later. We land in hot water. That is true for what we do and what we say.

We live with the consequences of the choices we make.

Mistakes or wrong choices hurt us and others. We reap what we sow.

Fail to study: fail a test.
Hurt other people; expect to get hurt.
Ignore physical needs; suffer physical pains.

Therefore, we do well to always make right choices.

Be careful what we say and do. What goes around comes around. We don’t want our words and actions coming back to haunt us.

If we follow the straight and narrow, we have no need to worry.

“Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14 NIV).

Thanks to Steve and LuAnne Russell for the suggestion. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

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Teetotal

February 18, 2019 Diana Derringer Comments 0 Comment

Teetotal means total or complete.

It refers most often to a person who never drinks alcohol. We call that person a teetotaler. Our family chose a teetotal life. Too many people we love have been ruined by alcohol. We decided better safe than sorry.

We occasionally see teetotal written T Total. Either way we spell it, we stress total.

No question about it
No doubt at all
Absolutely

Teetotal also means certainty.

Someone may ask, “Are you sure?” or “Is that your final answer?” To stress our certainty, we answer, “Teetotally.” We are completely certain. We definitely gave our final answer.

Teetotal also means completely full.

A full moon lights up the night sky.
Our hearts fill with sorrow.
We eat all we can.
Joy makes our cup run over.

For the teetotally best life, we ask God to fill us with His love and power.

“You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence” (Acts 2:28 NIV).

Thanks to Betty Johnson for the suggestion.

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Easter Reflections play script, flower, and cross in background Congratulations to Harriet Michael, whose name was randomly drawn from my blog subscribers for a free copy of “Easter Reflections.” You can read a script preview or order the play from Christian Publishers.

Loose Lips Sink Ships

January 21, 2019 Diana Derringer Comments 2 comments

We do well if we think before we speak.

Loose lips sink ships. If we talk too much, we:

Give information we should not give
To people who should not know

According to The Phrase Finder, this expression began during World War II.

The United States Office of War Information tried to keep information from enemy spies.

In times of war or peace, we want to watch our words.

Busybodies, as well as spies, cause much damage.

The children’s song “O Be Careful Little Eyes,” reminds us to be careful what we:

See
Hear
Say
Do
Think
Who we trust
And where we go

That sounds like good advice for any age.

Rather than put our foot in our mouth or hurt someone, let’s be careful what we say.

“In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19 MEV).

Thanks to Kristy Robinson Horine for the suggestion. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

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Turn a Blind Eye

December 17, 2018 Diana Derringer Comments 5 comments

To turn a blind eye, we ignore something.

We pretend not to see it or know about it. However, we do see and know. We simply don’t want to do anything. We sweep it under the rug.

To turn a blind eye to small issues may cause no problem.

Children sneak a bit of food before dinner.
Families have small disagreements.
People make embarrassing mistakes.

To turn a blind eye to larger issues may cause great problems.

Children (or adults) have little or nothing to eat.
Family members suffer abuse.
People bully a disabled person.

We must take action when people suffer.

First, we figure out what we can do. Then we do it.

“Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but one who turns a blind eye will get many a curse” (Proverbs 28:27 NIV).

Thanks to Frank Cheatham for the suggestion and to Barbara Snow for the picture.

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Easy Does It

October 29, 2018 Diana Derringer Comments 4 comments

Easy does it tells us to move slowly and carefully.

Like gently flowing water, we:

Take our time
Work around hard spots
Go with the flow

If we move too fast, we quickly learn that haste makes waste.

Sometimes easy does it relates to work.

We remain careful when we:

Move a heavy piece of furniture
Carry a special painting or piece of pottery

We don’t want to drop or break any of those.

Other times easy does it relates to our emotions.

When we feel out of control, rather than blow off steam, we:

Calm down
Relax
Control our temper
Treat everyone as we want to be treated

Ways to stay in control include:

Taking deep breaths
Lowering our shoulders, so our muscles relax
Closing our eyes and thinking of a favorite place
Praying
Asking if what upsets us will matter in ten years

Easy does it works well for everything and everybody.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV).

Thanks to Janna Babak for the suggestion.

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Nip It in the Bud

October 22, 2018 Diana Derringer Comments 6 comments

Nip It in the Bud--plant with flowers and buds “Nip it in the bud. Just nip it in the bud.” Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show said that over and over. We laughed at Barney’s many messes. However, he did get a few things right.

We often need to nip it in the bud.

We want to:

Stop something at an early stage
Prevent a problem before it happens
End a problem before it gets bigger

Taking action now may prevent regret later. Better safe than sorry.

If we don’t want a flower to bloom, we nip it in the bud.

We cut or break off the bud before it blooms. Sometimes, cold weather nips a flower in the bud.

Like flowers, some situations need nipping. To prevent problems or danger:

Parents punish their children’s bad behaviors.
Bosses fire lazy workers.
We quit bad habits.

Whether we nip buds or let them bloom, we can trust the Creator of them all.

Also, with God’s help, we can always bloom where we’re planted.

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:17-18 NIV).

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