“The beginning of strife is as when water first trickles [from a crack in a dam]; therefore stop contention before it becomes worse and quarreling breaks out.”
— Proverbs 17:14 (AMP)
Have you ever seen a dam in a river or a lake? Usually made from cement, a dam holds the water back. But a tiny crack in the dam, if left unrepaired, can get bigger fast.
Rebecca had the same fight with her mom every Saturday morning. Rebecca thought her room looked comfortable. Her mom called it a pigpen. On her way out the door to her job, Rebecca’s mom always stopped by her room and said, “Young lady, when I get home today, this room had better be spotless.” Rebecca always demanded, “What’s wrong with it?” Her mom yelled, “Dirty clothes on the floor. Empty soda cans. Moldy food. Get this mess clean, or you’re grounded!” Rebecca’s shouts of “That’s not fair!” followed her mom as she left for work.
A person who quarrels invites many problems into her life (see Proverbs 17:19). Next Saturday, what could Rebecca do differently? Instead of snarling, “What’s wrong with my room?” Rebecca could simply say, “Okay, I’ll clean it.” Simple. Easy. Stops the leak in the dam immediately. No quarrel.
Some people insist on having the last word in a disagreement. Actually, a person who can bite her tongue and be silent in order to stop a fight is highly respected.
More to Explore: Proverbs 26:21
Girl Talk: What kinds of quarrels do you get pulled into? What can you do to end them?
God Talk: “Lord, I want to end fights before they start. Please show me how. Amen.”
From Chick Chat by Kristi Holl