ALL OF US experience pressure of one kind or another. This is especially true in this day and time. If the pressure becomes too great then it might be wise to cease pursuing the task that brought it on. This is the concept of: “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!”

This, of course, alludes to the heat produced in a kitchen when cooking with a kitchen range. This is even true in a central air conditioned house. My mother and the women of her generation had to bear the intense heat produced by wood cook stoves while cooking meals for their family. By the time that I came along dad bought my mother a gas stove. I was the last of the litter.

On the other hand we must accept the fact we’re all faced with stress in life. We must mentally prepare out self to deal with unpleasant situations. A person who easily gives up under any amount of pressure will become defeated at every turn.

Sometimes a vacation or “a day out of town” will do wonders in getting everything into perspective. The thing that bugged us may not seem that great after all. Also, a problem that seemed insurmountable may be easily resolved after taking some time away from it. It might be that our subconscious mind comes up with the answer.

President Harry S. Truman made two proverbs famous, those are: “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen” and “the buck stops here.” These proverbs may or may not have originated with him, but he certainly influenced the common use of them.

Dub Mowery is a Gospel preacher in the Church of Christ. Presently he serves as full time evangelist for the Pittsburg Church of Christ. A native of Southeast Oklahoma, he is the author of Colloquial Sayings & Expressions (Morris Publishing, 2008)

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