suffer Archives - Diana Derringer

Cruising for a Bruising

January 6, 2025 Diana Derringer Comments 10 comments

If we drive a car too fast, we are cruising for a bruising. Possible results include:

A speeding ticket
A wreck
Injury or death

Cruising for a bruising means headed for trouble.

Our behavior works against us.

Parents, teachers, or others in authority punish us.
People we insult or bully injure us.
Natural or logical consequences cause temporary or permanent pain.

Cruising for a bruising hurts in several ways.

Physical: Actual bruises or other injuries to our bodies
Emotional: Conflicts or losses
Spiritual: Lack of or a poor relationship with God
Financial: Reduction or total loss of economic resources
Mental: Decreased abilities

Many people shorten this expression to cruisin for a bruisin.

However we say it, the meaning remains the same. We suffer the costs of the trouble we pursue. If we don’t straighten up and fly right, we must face the music.

God forgives when we repent of our misbehavior.

We receive a new beginning, a fresh start. However, we must choose. Do we want to keep cruising for a bruising or turn to Jesus for healing and eternal life?

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19 NIV).

Thanks to Laura Leathers and the ladies in her Women on Mission group for the suggestion. Image by Rico Löb from Pixabay

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Misery Loves Company

January 15, 2024 Diana Derringer Comments 12 comments

When we feel bad, knowing other people share our feelings encourages us. Misery loves company.

To have friends or family tell us they have experienced our troubles helps us feel better. If they go through their problems the same time as ours, we support one another.

Misery loves company means we hate to suffer alone.

Mutual pain makes our pain easier to bear.

Misery loves company sometimes comes from a mean motive.

If we hurt, we want others to hurt.
If we feel down in the dumps, we want everyone down in the dumps too.
If we fail, we want the world to fail.

We think everyone should feel as bad as we do.

Other times, our motives remain pure.

We don’t want others to suffer. Yet, it helps to know we are not alone. Having someone who understands from experience makes a big difference. We:

Trust them
Feel comfortable with them
Cry with them
Laugh with them
Pray for better days ahead

Friends help friends in good times and bad.

In all life’s ups and downs, we remain there for one another. I appreciate the prayers and love so many of you have expressed in recent years.

“It was good of you to share in my troubles” (Philippians 4:14 NIV).

Thanks to Janna Babak for the suggestion.

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That’s Life

September 17, 2018 Diana Derringer Comments 10 comments

We can’t control everything in our lives.

Both good and bad happen.
We celebrate, and we mourn.
Everything can change in an instant.

That’s life.

This tree reminds me of life. All wrapped together, we see:

Healthy limbs
Dead limbs
Missing limbs
Injured limbs
Other plants pulling life from it

The poor tree, a victim of many storms, looks terrible. Yet, it stands. It:

Continues to grow
Refuses to fall
Still offers shade to everything and everyone under it

We can control parts of our lives.

Like this lovely old tree, we may have suffered much.

We probably caused part of our pain.
Others may have hurt us.
Life storms often leave us scarred.
We feel in over our heads.

That’s life.

In spite of our suffering, will we choose to stand? Will we:

Stand tall
Continue to grow
Refuse to fall
Still offer help to those around us

Will we pick up the pieces of our lives, give them to God, and keep going?

Life and death
Struggles and scars
Beauty and ugliness
All wrapped together
That’s life.

“[God] comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:4 NIV).

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That’s the Way the Cookie Crumbles

August 15, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 3 comments

Eventually we all suffer hard times.

That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles-plate of cookies When that happens, we may say to one another, “That’s the way the cookie crumbles.” We mean:

That’s too bad.
Those things happen.
You could not have prevented your problems.
You cannot change your problems.
I’m sorry about your problems.

We don’t like it. We may want to scream, “Life’s not fair.” Well … it isn’t. So we deal with that fact. Saying “That’s the way the cookie crumbles” encourages us not to get upset.

No one is problem free. In fact, some of the kindest, wisest people I know seem to have one problem after another. They get few breaks.

Yet, many of them ignore their troubles. Instead, they reach out to help others. They do whatever it takes to make other people’s lives easier. They find joy in the middle of all they face.

Will we find joy in spite of our problems?

When life falls apart, will we fall apart as well? Or will we ask God to guide us? Will we help other people deal with their troubles? Will we make the best of a bad situation?

^“You have patiently suffered for me without quitting” (Revelation 2:3 TLB).

Thanks to Carol Sullivan and Sweet Hospitality for the yummy looking cookie photo.

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A Dog’s Life

April 4, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 4 comments

A Dog's Life Many dogs, like Tina, never have to live a dog’s life. Their owners spoil them. They receive all they need and most of what they want.

Attention
Love
Rest
Food and shelter
Toys and more

In contrast, when we say we lead a dog’s life, we mean we have a terrible life.

We receive little or no attention.
No one cares.
We work too hard.
Our needs and wants are unmet.
We never have any fun.

Occasionally we may live a dog’s life. Most often, we have an easier life than we think. World news reminds us just how good our life is. Many people suffer because of:

War
Religious persecution
Abuse and neglect
Weather-related tragedies
Murder and other crimes

The list of suffering seems endless.

If we have food, shelter, and someone to love, we are blessed beyond measure. Our cups run over.

“You, Lord, preserve both people and animals” (Psalm 36:6 NIV).

Thanks to Phyllis Holland for the expression and Shirley Cheatham for the photo.

Do you have a dog’s life example? If so, please comment.

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