SOUTHERN SAYINGS& MEANINGS

 A few southern based phrases or sayings followed by their meaning )in parenthesis). There are far too many to list here.  I would love to hear yours.

Barking up the wrong tree. (you are wrong)
Busy as a stump-tailed cow in fly time. (very busy)
Caught with your pants down. (surprised and unprepared)
Don't bite off more than you can chew. (attempt what you can accomplish)
Don't let your mouth overload your tail. (talking too much)
Either fish or cut bait. (work or make way for those who will)
Every dog has  a few feas. (no one is perfect)
Fly off the handle. (angry and lashing out)
Go hog wild. (have a good time)
Got your feathers ruffled. (upset and pouting)
In high cotton. (rising up in society)
Mend fences. (settle differences)
HOLD YOUR HORSES- (be patient)
Scarce as hen's teeth. (no such thing)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA

Today, My mama is celebrating her 75th Birthday in Heaven.  You see, I lost her a few months ago. I miss her!    She was more than just a mother.  For much of my life, she was my best friend.  We had a lot of fun times, especially after my stroke when she came to Maryland to help me learn to live a different life, one with physical disabilities.  Things were not always perfect as we both were human.  However,  we always had one another's back.  I will make this short today because my heart is so heavy.

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY   MAMA!

FRAGILITY OF LIFE

 The passing of two old schoolmates and  friends have really hit home just how fragile and temporary our time on this earth really is.

   You see, I grew up with the paradigm that with the exception of accidents, people  didn't die before 60. Now there has now  been four (2 in two days) in the past  couple of weeks that I went to school with that have passed.  All under 60, most under 55.  All  for medical reasons.

With all of my medical challenges, past and present, these events have greatly reminded me of how fragile our time really is and how blessed I am to still be here.

 Honestly, it's very frightening at times because I have much unfinished business here on earth. I think maybe the lesson  to glean from these losses is that we need to live each minute as if it could be our last.
Make sure everyone we love,  KNOWS that and get " right with God" if you haven't already.
  I'm sure this is exactly what Jon, Tiny, Gale and John would tell us right now, if they could.

ENVY ... A POISON OF THE SOUL

"Aesop had a fable about two eagles, one envious of the other because the other could soar higher and more elegantly than he could. So the envious eagle would pluck his strongest feathers from his own body and shoot them as arrows, trying to wound or kill the other eagle. It was his own undoing, however. He could not hit the high flying eagle, and he was eventually grounded by his lack of feathers. Envy destroyed the eagle."²

Envy, greed, and jealousy are all related. They are not only destroyers of the soul, but also of our physical well-being. As Proverbs says, "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

And wasn't envy the cause of Satan's downfall? He was envious of God and wanted to be God himself; and look at the unbelievable mess he has gotten us into—or rather, look at the incredible mess we've gotten ourselves into because we have followed his  ways  instead of the ways of God. And how many of the atrocities that are happening in today's world are caused by the envy and greed for control by certain men who claim themselves to be leaders when, in fact, they are destroyers!

Envy is a destroyer. It will destroy you and me, too, if we allow it to do so. Like all of God's instructions, it is not without good reason that the  Word tells us to get rid of all envy, malice, jealousy and hatred. 

So, what have you or will you do to erase envy from your life?