In the Nick of Time
On a trip to Minneapolis years ago, I caught a plane just in the nick of time. My first plane had engine trouble, so I had to change flights. That made me late for my second flight. As a result, I had to run through the airport about 1:00 a.m. to board my plane on time.
In the nick of time means at the last moment.
- Doctors perform surgery just in time to save a life.
- Basketball players make winning shots in the last seconds of games.
- Parents grab children before they run into traffic.
Any delay beyond the nick of time is too late.
- I would have missed my flight. (I did miss the boat later on that same trip.)
- Doctors’ patients would die.
- Basketball teams would lose.
- Cars would hit children
Each situation goes down to the wire but is saved by the bell.
A good plan helps avoid the nick of time.
- Prepare for the unexpected.
- Stay organized.
- Focus on the most important.
- Never put off what needs to be done today.
“As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).
Thanks to Jane Ashley Pace for the suggestion.
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Saved by the bell means we escape a difficult situation at the last moment. 
Our greatest salvation comes through Jesus’ death on a cross.
Eating jam is fun. Getting in a jam is not.
During Christmas or other holidays, we can easily get in a jam. We plan too much to do with too little time to do it. We forget to have fun.
If dogs get wet, stand back. We don’t want to be too close when they shake off the water. However, we can learn from their actions.
Some days everything gets out of whack.
We cannot sleep. We cannot eat, or we eat too much. We wring our hands until the skin almost comes off.
A few years ago, my husband was in the hospital, not expected to live. The next day a doctor said he was much better but not out of the woods yet. He meant my husband still had to fight for his life.
When we open a can of worms, we find a tangled mess.
You made your bed, you must lie in it has nothing to do with making a bed. The expression focuses on behavior.
Some people stay cool as a cucumber.