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Snail’s Pace

Snail’s Pace

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Snail's Pace--a snail on a leafA friend recently told me she has slowed to a snail’s pace after a major health episode. However, she has not given up. She keeps on keeping on.

A snail’s pace means a slow speed.

If we watch a snail, we understand the connection. It moves so slowly it almost looks like it stands still. However, that snail does move. If we watch it on a plant, we see that it likes to eat as it goes.

Life often moves at a snail’s pace.

Like my friend, health issues make us slow down. Life also feels like it crawls when:

  • Work takes longer than we like.
  • Study requires long, difficult hours.
  • Favorite activities are delayed.

A slower pace allows time to enjoy the moment.

We frequently move so fast, we forget to relish life’s simple pleasures. Instead of constant motion, why not:

  • Watch the snails, butterflies, and other sights in nature.
  • Take deep breaths and look around at all God gives.
  • Stop and listen to family and friends.
  • Learn to relax.

Sometimes we need to adjust our pace for the benefit of others.

Small children or the elderly may need more time. We want to match our movement to theirs. Whether fast or slow, let’s help others enjoy their moments too.

We will follow slowly, at a pace that is comfortable for the livestock and the children” (Genesis 33:14 NIV).

Thanks to E. Pearl Anderson for the suggestion. Photo courtesy of Pexels.

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A Watched Pot Never Boils

A Watched Pot Never Boils

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A Watched Pot Never Boils--two pots over a fire pitI am not the world’s best cook. However, I do know how to boil water. I have also learned a watched pot never boils. Oh, it eventually boils if I watch it, but it seems to take forever.

I wait. And I wait. And I wait.

When I focus on anything I want done quickly, time drags.

A watched pot never boils means impatient waiting makes the wait feel longer.

Time slows down. This happens when I wait for a:

  • Computer screen to refresh
  • Favorite meal to cook
  • Special visitor to arrive
  • Repair to complete

Checking every few minutes only makes my impatience worse. Wanting something done immediately if not sooner does not make it happen any faster.

A focus on other concerns helps relieve anxious waiting.

If I stay busy as a bee, I don’t have time to wring my hands while I wait. When I ignore the pot, it surprises me how quickly it boils.

Patience works better than a watched pot.

Allow the proper amount of time, and any project or activity improves. So does my mood.

A few good reminders:

  • Slow down.
  • Don’t rush.
  • Take it easy.
  • Enjoy the moment.

“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains” (James 5:7 NIV).

Thanks to Pat Childress Conner Stapp for the suggestion.

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Stop and Smell the Roses

Stop and Smell the Roses

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Stop and Smell the Roses--roses and other flowers around a pool of waterMy husband and I love to travel. For years, we planned our own trips and did our own driving. We hit the trail as often as possible. I usually scheduled far more than we had time to do. However, we learned to stop and smell the roses along the way.

Our schedule was not as important as fun on the trip. We began according to plan but made changes along the way. We went off the beaten path almost every trip and are so glad we did.

To stop and smell the roses means to take time to enjoy life.

We slow down and relax. That means we:

  • Get away from our busy schedules
  • Recognize the importance of mini moments of joy.

Without breaks, stress builds.

No one can go forever. If we fail to get away, our:

  • Health suffers
  • Work becomes less productive
  • Relationships weaken

We must stop and smell the roses if we desire a good life.

Leisure time is a necessity, not a luxury. When God created the world, he set aside one day a week to rest and worship. The value of that plan remains as important now as then.

“Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone” (Zechariah 10:1 NIV).

Thanks to Karen Hart for the suggestion.

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Let Up

Let Up

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Let Up--Ice covered shrubA few years ago, everyone hoped an ice storm would soon let up. The heavy ice:

  • Covered and broke limbs on shrubs and trees
  • Downed power lines
  • Made travel impossible

Sometimes we feel like we cannot get a let up from life’s storms. When it rains, it pours. Problems overwhelm us. We reach the end of our rope.

Recent tornadoes:

  • Destroyed homes and property
  • Injured and killed people going about their daily lives
  • Damaged entire communities

To let up means to slow down or stop.

This can apply to:

  • Weather
  • Speed
  • Hard times
  • Physical, mental, or emotional pressure

This expression often applies to relationships.

  • Children want parents to let up on rules.
  • Employees want bosses to let up on work.
  • Many times, we need to let up on ourselves.

Whatever our pressures, God offers relief.

Problems do not always go away. However, God offers peace, hope, and comfort in every situation.

“We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair” (2 Corinthians 4:8 NIV).

Thanks to Sue Davis Potts for the suggestion.

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Meet Yourself Coming and Going

Meet Yourself Coming and Going

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Meet Yourself Coming and Going-coming and going signs pointing in opposite directionsDo you ever meet yourself coming and going? With too many irons in the fire, you start one job, walk away, and see another job that needs attention. You begin the new chore, turn around, and see something else to do. After moving from one task to another, you realize you have finished nothing.

Does that sound familiar?

To meet yourself coming and going, you feel pulled in several directions.

You find yourself with:

  • Too much to do
  • Little time to do it
  • Uncertainty when you will get everything done

Too many chores usually mean too little rest.

You never find time to:

  • Sleep
  • Relax
  • Enjoy life

You must slow down or you will get down.

Failure to rest eventually means you run out of steam. You either give up or get sick. No one can go forever. You have to take care of yourself in order to do what needs to be done.

In order to keep going, you first learn to be still — how to:

  • Rest
  • Relax
  • Recharge your strength.

You focus on what must be done rather than all you want to do.

“The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (Psalm 121:8 NIV).

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Thank you to the person who made this suggestion, based on my recent activity. I confess I must plead guilty as charged.

Easy Does It

Easy Does It

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Easy Does It--gentle streamEasy 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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Pick-Me-Up

Pick-Me-Up

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Pick-Me-Up, Flowers bloomingWe all need an occasional pick-me-up.

A bad mood or little energy leaves us down in the dumps. We feel too tired to move.

We need something to give us:

  • A better mood
  • Extra energy
  • A good rest

Flowers give some of us a pick-me-up. A field or garden full of flowers helps us remember the beauty of God’s creation.

A snack sometimes works. Although many of us like chocolate, the effect of food does not last long (except around the middle of our bodies).

A vacation helps. Yet, we may have to wait months for time off work.

Some of the greatest pick-me-ups require little work.

When we run out of steam, we can:

  • Take a few minutes to slow down. (Read a good book. Take a nap.)
  • Go for a short walk (or a longer one, if time allows).
  • Give or receive a few kind words. (If no one gives us kind words, we can still give ours.)

Pick-me-up moments matter.

They often turn bad days into good ones. They help us see light at the end of the tunnel. Go ahead. Make someone’s day!

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had (Romans 15:5 NIV).

Thanks to J. T. Henderson for the suggestion.

What is your favorite pick-me-up? Please comment.

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My Get Up and Go Has Got Up and Went

My Get Up and Go Has Got Up and Went

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My Get Up and Go Has Got Up and Went-path through bambooSome days I feel like my get up and go has got up and went.

(I know, English teachers – another expression with poor grammar.) My family said, “My get up and go got up and went.” I have also heard, “My get up and go has got up and gone.”

However I say it, I mean I have:

  • No energy
  • Little strength
  • No desire to do anything

I don’t want to:

  • Work
  • Play
  • Talk
  • Move

I have run out of steam and feel as old as the hills.

My get up and go has got up and went often refers to problems of old age.

We hear that in Pete Seeger’s fun song. It mentions the need for:

  • Glasses
  • False teeth
  • Hearing aids

Why not laugh and enjoy each day and each life stage?

I’m thankful my energy doesn’t disappear too often. Yet, I can be thankful for those times. They remind me to:

  • Slow down.
  • Rest.
  • Enjoy the moment.
  • Count my blessings.
  • Remember good times.
  • Stay quiet and peaceful.
  • Prepare for the days ahead.

Childhood, teen, young adult, middle age, or golden years, why not enjoy them all?

“God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going” (2 Corinthians 4:9).

Thanks to Carole Fite for the suggestion.

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Spin Our Wheels

Spin Our Wheels

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Spin Our Wheels--car stuck in mudIf we spin our wheels, we move but get nowhere.

We may travel a muddy road and get stuck. We spin our wheels. The wheels go around, but the car stays stuck.

We walk on a treadmill. Although good for our health, all that walking takes us nowhere.

We try to work but have no success.

  • Ideas refuse to come.
  • What we try fails.
  • We spend time on useless work.
  • Someone or something destroys all we have done.
  • We do a bad job.

When we spin our wheels, we waste time.

Although active,

  • We do not go forward.
  • We do not go back.

Instead, we stay stuck where we are. We feel like we can’t win for losing.

How do we stop our wheels from spinning?

We can:

  • Move on to something else.
  • Work harder.
  • Find a new way to get the job done.
  • Slow down. Remember haste makes waste.

Don’t give up.

We all spin our wheels sometimes. Keep moving forward.

“Our only power and success comes from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5 TLB).

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

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Photo courtesy of Pixabay.