relationships Archives - Page 12 of 17

No Holds Barred

February 25, 2019 Diana Derringer Comments 1 comment

No holds barred means no rules.

Years ago, wrestlers fought with no limits. They used any hold they chose. Today, most follow rules.

No holds barred also means extreme.

We do whatever it takes to get what we want. We fight for:

The best job
More money
Freedom

Nothing gets in the way of our goal.

No holds barred is a dangerous way to live.

Without rules, wrestlers risk injury and death. The same applies to all of us.

We need rules.

We may not always like them. However, rules:

Give guidance
Keep us safe
Let us know what to expect

Rules make life better for everyone. They help keep us out of hot water.

God gave the Ten Commandments for a better life. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God and love one another. If we do that, we keep all the others. We stay on the straight and narrow.

“If anyone competes as an athlete, he will not be crowned as the winner unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Timothy 2:5 NET)

Thanks to Timothy Lewis for the suggestion and DeWayne Frazier for the photo.

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Warm the Cockles of My Heart

February 11, 2019 Diana Derringer Comments 12 comments

To warm the cockles of my heart, something makes me happy.

I never use this expression. I do say something gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling. The two expressions mean almost the same. Deep inside, I feel:

Good
Content
Warm

I have no cockles in my heart.

No one does. So how did this expression start? wiseGEEK and other sources offer these two possibilities:

The “Latin description for the heart’s chambers, cochleae cordis.” Cockles became a slang word for cochleae.
Mollusk shells (cockles) and the human heart have similar shapes. (See photo.)

They give other ideas, but these two seem most common.

The following warm the cockles of my heart:

Children’s laughter
Ocean waves
Hugs
Time with family and friends
Labors of love
Special memories
People with hearts of gold

What about you?

What warms the cockles of your heart? Please comment below.

On Valentine’s Day and every day, may life warm the cockles of your heart.

“We know how dearly God loves us, and we feel this warm love everywhere within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love” (Romans 5:5 TLB).

Thanks to Carole Fite for the suggestion.

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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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Whippersnapper

January 14, 2019 Diana Derringer Comments 0 Comment

A whippersnapper usually means a young or small person.

Most often, older people use this phrase for children or youth.

My friend Pamela Noel’s father often said, “You little whippersnapper.” He called her this “if I was good or ugly.”

Many people view a whippersnapper as unimportant. The young person has:

More confidence than ability
More ambition than education

However, young people have to learn. They may only be knee high to a grasshopper. That does not make them unimportant.

A thesaurus lists several synonyms for whippersnapper.

They include:

Pip-squeak
Runt
Lightweight

Pamela’s father probably meant those when her behavior was good.

Other synonyms include:

Sneak
Troublemaker
Brat

Pamela’s father probably meant those when her behavior was “ugly” or bad.

Whether we are whippersnappers or over the hill, may we all follow good guidance.

How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. (Psalm 119:9 NIV).

Thanks to Pamela Noel for the suggestion and Gail Gosser for the photo of three of my favorite whippersnappers.

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At the End of the Day

January 7, 2019 Diana Derringer Comments 4 comments

At the end of the day means our final conclusion.

We have considered everything. We have:

Discussed
Analyzed
Experimented
Then made our decision

At the end of the day, we choose.

Who will share my life?
What will I do?
Where will I live?
When will I do what needs to be done?
How will I treat others?

We make our at the end of the day decisions any time of day.

Morning
Midday
Evening
Night

The time matters little, but, at some point, we must decide. We cannot ride the fence forever.

Our at the end of the day decisions show what we value most.

Will we choose:

Money
Status
Power
Popularity

Or will we choose:

A relationship with God
Time with family
Making our world a better place

As the song “When It’s All Been Said and Done” reminds us, only what’s done for love lasts.

“Jesus replied: ‘“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’” (Matthew 22:37-40 NIV).

Thanks to Margaret Bertram for the suggestion.

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Slim Pickings

December 31, 2018 Diana Derringer Comments 6 comments

Many stores open early and close late on sale days. Early shoppers find several choices. Those who shop later in the day find slim pickings.

Slim pickings mean few choices.

Not much is left after others take what they want. This applies to more than shopping. We often find slim pickings:

At the end of a food line
Near the end of a gardening season

Slim pickings for one person look like treasures for others.

A small amount of food can save a starving person.
One coat warms a person in freezing weather.

What treasures can we offer others who survive on slim pickings?

Perhaps a good New Year’s resolution would be to share from our wealth.

Buy extra at the grocery to feed the hungry.
Give away some of our clothes and shoes.
Spend less on self and donate the money saved.

Why not make giving a lifestyle? We can’t take it with us when we die. Why not put it to good use while we live. Let’s give of our wealth. Let’s give of ourselves.

“The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor” (Proverbs 22:9 NIV).

Thanks to Ruby Colvin for the suggestion.

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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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His Name Is Mud

December 3, 2018 Diana Derringer Comments 2 comments

His Name Is Mud--runner in mud Many children love to play in mud. Some animals roll in mud. However, no one wants to hear his name is mud.

Anyone whose name is mud is in trouble.

The person’s bad situation makes him:

Unpopular
Dishonored
Have a bad reputation

Many believe his name is mud began with Dr. Samuel Mudd.

Dr. Mudd treated John Wilkes Booth’s broken leg after Booth killed President Abraham Lincoln. Dr. Mudd went to jail but was later pardoned. Many say he was innocent of any wrong. However, his reputation suffered.

His name is mud was a common expression before Dr. Mudd.

It often meant a person was a fool.

A person whose name is mud can come clean.

If guilty of bad behavior, he can:

Admit his mistakes
Ask forgiveness
Turn to God for guidance

If innocent of bad behavior, he can:

Live a life that shows his innocence
Explain what happened, if he thinks that will help
Show proof of his innocence
Watch his step to prevent future problems

“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand” (Psalm 40:2).

Thanks to Terry Brewer for the suggestion.

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Up a Stump

October 8, 2018 Diana Derringer Comments 12 comments

Up a Stump--stump I always thought up a stump meant the same as stumped. My friend Patty Cooper Emerson explained a difference in the two.

Stumped means confused or puzzled.

We cut a few trees in our back year. I was stumped about what to do with the stumps. Should I:

Dig them up
Burn them
Leave them alone

With one stump, I let nature take control. Honeysuckle grew near it. I allowed the honeysuckle to keep growing. Now, it covers the stump and blooms all summer. Problem solved.

No longer stumped, I have a pretty stump.

Up a stump means a situation too big to manage.

I cannot solve the problem. I:

Have no choice
Must live with it

Patty gave the example of a young man who arrives 30 minutes late to work every day. If he is my sister’s son, I might feel up a stump – like I can do nothing.

What makes me feel up a stump may not make you feel that way.

You may be comfortable firing your sister’s son.
I may feel comfortable with a problem you cannot manage.

Nothing leaves God up a stump. Rather than tying myself in knots or becoming a worry wart, I can take all my problems to God. So can you.

“A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree” (Proverbs 11:28 MSG).

If you use up a stump and stumped, do you mean the same? Please comment below.

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You Can’t Squeeze Blood from a Turnip

October 1, 2018 Diana Derringer Comments 6 comments

You can’t squeeze blood from a turnip means something is extremely hard to do.

You may also hear:

It is like getting blood from a turnip.
You can’t draw blood from a turnip.
It is like getting blood from a stone.

All usually deal with efforts to get money or information from someone.

The person:

Has what we need but will not share or help
Or has little or no money or information

Often a person has a bill but no way to pay it.

A few businesspeople understand. Others do not.

During my social work years, a doctor cared for a couple and their children. One day we discussed their many needs. The doctor said, “You can’t squeeze blood from a turnip.” He knew the family was poor as a church mouse. They would probably never be able to pay his bill.

However, the doctor continued to treat the family. He also gave them the same respect he gave everyone else. The family paid him $1 every month. He admired their effort to pay what they could.

You can’t squeeze blood from a turnip. You can treat everyone with respect.

Count your blessings. Then share those blessings with others.

“Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God” (Proverbs 14:31 NIV).

Thanks to Rhonda Wade Royster for the suggestion.

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