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Skinned Alive

Skinned Alive

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Skinned Alive--man who appears in pain with shaving cream on his face and holding a razorHave you ever been skinned alive? It is no fun, is it? We may not lose skin, but it hurts like we have.

To be skinned alive means to be severely scolded or punished.

Many of us think scolding hurts the most.

People of all ages receive threats to be skinned alive.

  • Children who break their parents’ rules
  • Employees who fail to do their work
  • Friends or family who break promises

This phrase comes from the cruel “practice of flaying a live prisoner.”

The Free Dictionary dates it to the mid-1800s.

The threat to skin alive often comes with the strength and power to hurt others.

However, we never want to harm anyone.

Encouraging people to straighten up and fly right is okay. Blowing our top is not.

When people threaten to skin us alive, we want to make necessary changes.

However, if we have done nothing wrong, we may need to say so. Regardless of how they treat us, we want to treat them with respect. Two wrongs don’t make a right.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2 NIV).

Thanks to Kristy Robinson Horine for the suggestion. Image by Sammy-Sander from Pixabay.

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Bite Someone’s Head Off

Bite Someone’s Head Off

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Bite Someone's Head Off: tiger with open mouthWhen we see a tiger or other wild animal open its mouth and hear it roar, we may fear it will bite someone’s head off. When we open our mouths while angry, other people may expect us to bite their heads off.

To bite someone’s head off means to react in anger.

We have a bad day, so we take it out on the people around us. They may have no idea why we react as we do, since they did nothing to provoke us.

Other times, people may irritate us with what we consider inappropriate behavior.

Either way, we act or react with:

  • Rage
  • Force
  • Impatience

A similar expression is to snap someone’s head off.

Both mean to scold or speak in a mean manner. If we are mad at the world, whoever comes our way suffers.

Our response to others matters.

Once we speak words, we can’t take them back. We can apologize, but the harm remains.

We all have bad days.

However, we decide whether we will do the best we can or make life miserable for everyone we encounter. Remember, we catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Will we spread:

  • Health or harm?
  • Love or hate?
  • Encouragement or despair?

Let’s not allow bad days to control us. Rather, let’s bite our tongues and treat others as we want to be treated.

“They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows. (Psalm 64:3 NIV).

Thanks to Katherine Pasour for the suggestion. Photo by shravan khare on Pexels.

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Tongue Lashing

Tongue Lashing

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Tongue Lashing--Man speaking to dog. Dog's paws on man's hands and head downOne time when I disobeyed my dad, he caught me red-handed. However, he did not get home to discuss my misdeed until late. I worried all day that I was in hot water. I dreaded the tongue lashing to come.

Dad never said anything. I think he knew I had suffered enough.

Tongue lashings hurt. A lot.

Just ask any of us who have received one. Most people I know prefer almost any other form of correction.

Corporal punishment is seldom used anymore. Yet, we often hear people say they would rather have a spanking than a tongue lashing.

A tongue lashing means a scolding.

Sometimes severe and lengthy, the speaker lectures the other person (or animal). Words may include:

  • Criticism
  • Anger
  • Disappointment

Disappointment is often harder to hear than anger or criticism.

If we have a close relationship with the speaker, we don’t want to let him down. That was the case with my dad.

Tongue lashings can be for our good, or they can be cruel.

Either is hard to take. However, if we know the person desires the best for us, we gain from what he says.

May we speak strong words when needed. May we always speak from a heart of love.

Thanks to Marita Smeathers Mantooth for the suggestion and to Bethany Ferr with Pexels for the photo.

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