Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson

something to help you laugh and think about life with Christ

Tag: Ephesians 4:29

a shrew in my shoe — September 10, 2025

a shrew in my shoe

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There was a shrew at our house (not my wife, so stop that).  It was a real live Southern Short-tailed Shrew (I could tell by the southern drawl).  OK he wasn’t really in my shoe, but he was close enough and we were shocked. We didn’t even know shrews were southerners.

He had tiny eyes; a long snout and he squealed like a dog toy.  I learned later that shrews prefer swampy land and eat fungi, slugs and other insects. So why my house?   

Their eyesight is poor, and their bite is painful – sharp and venomous but not lethal to humans.  Oh, and they eat about half their body weight each day.  Finally, something we share in common.

And hey if you ever come to our house for dinner, just skip the salad.  We had to use the salad tongs to remove the varmint.  But it did make into a nice shrew stew (just kidding).

Prior to this my only understanding of shrews came from Shakespeare. Back in his day it was not unusual to refer to a bitter, spiteful man or woman as a shrew.   

An understandable comparison – the beady eyes and the snout that seems like someone is looking down on you, the painful venomous bite like the ugliness that spews from such a person.  And then the poor eyesight – like the grump who seems to be oblivious to others.  Challenge someone like that and they squeal. 

Is it possible that there is a shrew in your shoe?  Do you have a family that treads eggshells around you?  Is arguing a sport?  Do you go through the day angry, just looking for a reason to justify it?   Do you feel a kinship with Oscar the Grouch?

Do you major in the three R’s – Resentment, Revenge and Rage?  Do people perceive you as shouting when you believe you are just talking?  Do you find yourself alone more than you would like? 

Any of these symptoms may suggest that you are more – true shrew than true blue. 

Paul has a two-part prescription for such a malady.  He first told us to sweep away the shrew.  He wrote in Ephesians 4:31, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.”   

Bitterness holds onto an offense.  Wrath is an explosive rage. Anger refers to entrenched fury.  Clamor is what we do when we scream at others.  Slander is how we damage people by lies or even by a truth that should not be shared.  Malice is a heart disposition that is intent on hurting others.

Paul says to “put these things away” (artheto) but not to stow away for later.  The idea is more like to sweep it away, like the dirt on the floor – right out the door.

We need to sweep away the shrew and then start with something new. 

Paul wrote in the following verse, “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” – Ephesians 4:32. 

Kind – at all times – when people are nice to me, and even when they disappoint or hurt me.  Kindness begets kindness.  We are to be tender hearted which also means to be tender worded.  We need to speak softly – words that build up, affirm and edify others (Ephesians 4:29). 

And we must certainly forgive – whether our forgiveness is sought or not.  To withhold it is to lug through life an unbearable burden that will break us.

Unfortunately, there is a glue in being a shrew that resists change.  So how can we change?  Well through the Lord!  In Ephesians 6:10 Paul spoke of being “strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.”  That’s what we need.  That’s the only way we can change.

So, are we through with the shrew?  By God’s power and grace, it can happen!

A PRAYER: Lord, this fits me too well.  Change me!

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Scripture passages are from the NASU.

Photo is from U.S. government picture posted on wikipedia.com

the worst hospice chaplain ever — January 3, 2020

the worst hospice chaplain ever

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My family wanted to do something special for my hospice clients for Christmas.  So, my wife gathered the grandkids and a dozen different finger snacks, coated them with sugar (the snacks not the grandkids) and then bagged them up (the snacks not the grandkids)  I assured my clients the kids were sanitized first.

My daughter and her husband also donated wild and crazy socks for each patient. (from www.wehelptwo.com).  I delivered the gifts as I made my rounds and my hospice friends loved them.

BUT that evening I got a text from one of our nurses who asked, “Did you really give Mr. So and So a pair of socks?”

OK why would she should ask that?  Oh no!  Maybe because Mr. So and So is a diabetic who has had both of his legs amputated.  I can’t believe I forgot that!  

I think that’s what they call a faux pas which the dictionary defines as, “an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation.”  The online dictionary people called and asked if they could post my picture with the definition. 

So, I contritely admitted to her that, “Yes, I gave him those socks.  But he said, “thank you!” 

Oh well at least the nurse didn’t see the bag of sweets that I left my diabetic friend.

I guess that sometimes a good thing may not be so good.

The apostle Paul understood this which is why he penned Ephesians 4:29, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” – New American Standard Updated ®

He warns us to watch our mouths – to make sure that nothing unwholesome emerges.  That word “unwholesome” is translated from the Greek word “scubala” which was used to describe the garbage back in Jesus’ day.  “Honey did you take out the scubala?”

Don’t be a garbage mouth says Paul.  We need to speak edifying words – words that build up and strengthen and encourage others. 

But even that isn’t enough says Paul.  Those edifying words, need to be “according to the need of the moment.”  – appropriate for the time and place and circumstances. 

I might tell my wife that her hair looks nice.  If we were on a date, she might blush in appreciation BUT if we happened to be in the middle of an argument instead, she might be red with rage.  The compliment would feel to her more like a distraction, or that I wasn’t listening, or that I wanted to change the subject or whatever. 

Paul says not only do we need to do and say good things, we need to make sure that they fit the context.  He tells us that when we do, “it gives grace to those who hear.”   People are encouraged and empowered and strengthened when we consider them in this way. 

A TEST: Suppose a friend has just dropped his cell phone in the toilet.  Which response would give grace to him? 

1) Riotous laughter (tempting but no)

2) You could say “It’s a good thing that God loves clumsy people.” (affirming and yet demeaning – no)

3) You might say, “Some people were not meant to have a cell phone.” (pretty much scubala)

4) Or how about this, “You don’t need to play FreeCell in the bathroom” (he needs grace not a lecture.) 

5) OK what if you said, “I’m sorry.  Can I help you fish that out?”

That last option is very much “according to the need of the moment.”   It is full of empathy and withholds judgment.   It puts you beside him and not behind a lectern and the offer to help rescue the phone is priceless.  You might want to add, “uh, where do you keep the rubber gloves?” 

I blew it with my hospice friend.  But we talked and laughed about it and he gave me permission to share it so that you are better able to speak to the “need of the moment.”    

PS: He also told me that he was wearing his socks!