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Senior Moment

Senior Moment

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Senior Moment--child tying string around an adult's fingerReady to sing, I stood before the crowd in my aunt’s church. However, the first words out of my mouth were, “I forgot.” At three-years-old, I had a senior moment.

Actually, I had a bad case of stage fright. That fear made me pull my skirt to my mouth and forget the words of my song.

A senior moment means we forget something or make a silly mistake.

As senior (older) adults entering our golden years, we may:

  • Forget where we put our glasses and then find them on top of our head
  • File something in a safe place and forget where that safe place is
  • Fail to remember a good friend’s name
  • Tie a string around our finger to help us remember but forget why we tied the string

 As we age, we forget more often.

We can get upset about those egg-on-our-face moments, or we can laugh.

Like the people at my aunt’s church, most of us laugh. However, we want to laugh with, not at, one another. Never make fun of someone with memory problems.

Any of us can have a senior moment.

In addition to age, we forget because of:

  • Fear
  • Too much on our minds
  • Excitement
  • Illness or medication
  • Accidents

From seniors in high school to senior adults, we forget. Why not accept that fact and enjoy every moment?

“Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2 NIV).

Thanks to Carole Fite for the suggestion and to Karen Atwood for the photo.

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Beat Your Head against a Wall

Beat Your Head against a Wall

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Beat Your Head against a Wall--stone wall with redbud trees in frontIf you beat your head against a wall, you try to do something that looks hopeless.

You may also say you:

  • Bang your head against a wall
  • Bang your head against a brick wall

However you say it, the expression means you waste your time.

You beat your head against a wall when you try again and again with no success.

Few people beat their head against a real wall. However, some do. Unless you want a terrible headache, don’t try it.

Beat your head against a wall means you feel frustrated.

You may want to:

  • Reach a goal that appears impossible
  • Help someone who refuses your help
  • Stop a bad habit you keep repeating

You cannot figure out what to do. As a result, you get down in the dumps.

Although frustrated, you don’t want to give up too soon.

  • You may reach your goal if you try one more time.
  • The person you want to help may succeed with one more chance.
  • You will never break that bad habit unless you keep trying.

With one more try, you may begin to see daylight.

Sometimes you turn your frustrations into beauty.

What can a farmer do with rocks in his field?

  • He can beat his head against a wall because of all the rocks.
  • Or he can build a fence that becomes a work of art.

Occasionally you do need to give up.

You decide to spend your time more wisely. Therefore, you:

  • Do what you can.
  • Accept what you cannot.
  • Make the best use of the time you have.

“Why bother even trying to do anything with you when you just keep to your bullheaded ways? You keep beating your heads against brick walls. (Isaiah 1:5 MSG).

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

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Rings a Bell: replica of a Liberty Bell
Rings a Bell

Rings a Bell

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If anything rings a bell, it causes us to remember.

We may not remember all the details. However, we do remember small amounts.

  • Faces look like people we know.
  • Places seem familiar.
  • Activities remind us of past events.
  • Words make us think of books or movies.

Many things don’t ring a bell.

As we get older, near our golden years, we often say, “That does not ring a bell.” We think we should remember something, but we don’t.

The bell in this memorial park reminds me of the original Liberty Bell. Yet, I fail to remember all I once knew about it. If I want to remember more, I have to look it up in books or online.

Often, what rings a bell comes out of the blue.

We don’t expect it. Yet, it happens.

  • A special song
  • The smell of favorite foods
  • An old picture

What rings a bell can cause both good and bad memories.

This Memorial Day and always, may we remember the gifts of those who lived before us. May we also remember the Giver of life and all good gifts.

“They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer” (Psalm 78:35 NIV).

What rings a bell for you? A special song? The smell of favorite foods? An old picture? Please comment below.

Thanks to Kristy Robinson Horine for the suggestion.

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On the Back Burner

On the Back Burner

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On the Back Burner--pans on a stoveWhen cooking, we often put pots of food that need little attention on the back burner.

They don’t require as much stirring, mixing, or other work. Those pots may also need less heat.

Likewise, we put ideas or plans on the back burner.

Some plans seem less important than others. Therefore, we:

  • Think less about them
  • Decide to do little or nothing about them until later

A few plans stay on the back burner a long time.

We may leave them there to simmer (slow cook) until the right time. However, we may simply want to avoid them. We are fixing to do them, but not now.

  • Cleaning carpets
  • Working on taxes
  • Pulling weeds

We cannot leave plans undone forever.

  • Food on low heat eventually burns.
  • Plans left undone eventually become a problem (including carpets, taxes, and weeds).

At some point, we must get the ball rolling.

A few plans should never go on the back burner.

“When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it” (Ecclesiastes 5:4 NIV).

Thanks to Carole Fite 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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Wise as an Owl

Wise as an Owl

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Wise as an Owl--snowy owl on a logI had never seen a snowy owl until this one showed up near our house. Northern Canada is home to snowy owls, not central Kentucky. Yet, this one decided to stop for a visit.

As a result, people traveled here from several states. They wanted to see and take pictures of our unusual guest.

All owls, including our lovely visitor, remind us to be wise as an owl.

Wise as an owl means very wise.

We use our brains. That includes:

  • Learning new information
  • Using that information well (We can be sharp as a tack yet not wise.)
  • Sharing our information, so others can also grow wise as an owl

Wise as an owl does not mean having all the answers.

No one but God knows everything. Therefore, a wise person:

Remember a word to the wise can come from unusual places:

Watch. Listen. Always remain ready to learn.

“Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning” (Proverbs 9:9 NIV).

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

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Fit to be Tied

Fit to be Tied

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Fit to be tied-rope tied into a heart shapeMost of us have occasional fit-to-be-tied moments. We become:

  • Angry
  • Upset
  • Excited

We fly off the handle.

When fit to be tied, we get out of control.

Our emotions grow so great, we need someone to calm us down. No one actually ties us. However, they do try to:

  • Prevent anything we will regret
  • Keep us from hurting ourselves or someone else

We may grow fit to be tied for selfish reasons. 

  • When we don’t get our way
  • If our plans don’t work

We may also grow fit to be tied for unselfish reasons.

  • When someone abuses a child or older adult
  • If someone lies, steals, or hurts people in any other way

Little things often make us fit to be tied.

Some of us deal well with life’s big problems. Yet, we blow off steam when faced with small ones such as:

  • Slow traffic
  • Food spills on a clean floor
  • Noisy neighbors

God gave us emotions.

However, we want to use those emotions for good, not harm. How do we do that?

  • Recognize what upsets us.
  • Remember we can’t control everything.
  • Change what we can.
  • Ask for help when we need it.
  • Focus on what matters most.
  • Ask God to guide us and work through us.
  • Choose to love everyone, including those who make us fit to be tied.

“Don’t let your spirit rush to be angry, for anger abides in the heart of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:9 HCSB).

Thanks to Pat Stapp 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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Served on a Silver Platter

Served on a Silver Platter

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Served on a Silver Platter--silver tea set on traySome people expect life served on a silver platter.

When they eat in fine restaurants, their food may be served on a silver platter (a large serving plate that symbolizes wealth). They eat high on the hog.

People who expect life served on a silver platter expect the best.

They don’t think they should ask for it. Instead, people should know and give them what they want. If they don’t receive what they want, they get upset.

Those people don’t want to work for it.

They think others should wait on them. They believe they deserve the best because of their:

  • Riches
  • Relationship with important people
  • History of being served

People with such expectations believe they are better than others.

They:

Not everyone who expects life served on a silver platter is rich.

However, most have usually had their way. As a result, they think they should continue to get what they want when they want it.

Not every rich person expects life served on a silver platter.

Many wealthy people:

  • Share their riches
  • Work hard
  • Treat others with respect

Whether rich or poor as a church mouse, people can count their blessings and share those blessings with others. Serving others makes life so much better than serving self.

“Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf” (Proverbs 11:28 NIV).

Thanks to Glenda Britton for the suggestion.

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Tall Tale

Tall Tale

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Tall Tale--whales divingA tall tale is a whale of a tale.

It is a big tale — a big story — much bigger than what really happened.

Because a tall tale is so big, it captures our attention. Most people don’t believe it but listen to it anyway. A few of us swallow a tall tale hook, line, and sinker. We believe the storyteller until people start laughing. Then we become part of the joke.

Comedians often tell tall tales. They base many of their stories on truth but add to them. They make their stories:

  • Bigger
  • Funnier
  • Crazier

We also share tall tales with relatives and friends. Some of us hold contests to see who can tell the tallest tale. We often tell such stories around campfires.

Tall tales grow bigger the more often we tell them.

I could tell you just the facts about a recent whale watching trip.

  • We saw between 10 and 20 whales.
  • The whales swam close to the boat.
  • Their tails and fins came out of the water as they dived to find food.

In a tall tale about those whales, I might tell you:

  • We saw at least 100 whales.
  • They swam so close to the boat we could rub their backs.
  • Those whales gave us high fives with their tails and fins.

Most tall tales offer a few moments of fun.

They become lies when told to hurt or deceive. Often when we lie, people know something’s fishy, and we end up in the doghouse.

Avoid tall tales that deceive. Enjoy tall tales told for fun.

“A good man is known by his truthfulness; a false man by deceit and lies” (Proverbs 12:17 TLB).

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Pull Yourself Up by Your Bootstraps

Pull Yourself Up by Your Bootstraps

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Pull Yourself Up by Your BootstrapsTo pull yourself up by your bootstraps (bootlaces) sounds impossible. With your boots on your feet, how can you lift yourself by the straps?

You can’t. Yet many people lift themselves from what appear to be impossible circumstances every day.

My parents and many of their generation:

  • Grew up poor
  • Had parents die young
  • Received little formal education

That sounds like the perfect formula for failure. Nevertheless, most of them live happy, productive lives. They pulled themselves up by their bootstraps and:

  • Did what they had to do to make a living
  • Loved and provided for their spouses and children
  • Returned to school as adults or became self-taught
  • Spent what they had, not what they hoped to earn

They never whined about their losses. Instead, they did their best each day and helped others do the same. No one picked them up and carried them. They did it themselves, as they said, “with the good Lord’s help.”

Life’s not always fair. They accepted that reality. They made the best of their circumstances.

I salute them, one and all.

“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty” (Proverbs 14:23).

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