Don't Breach the Dam

What do pictures of a dam breach and an example from my grandkids have in common?  Proverbs 17:14~that’s what!   

I have heard and seen pictures of dam breaches in news stories of floods and hurricanes. I recall the devastation that was left behind. But something about last night’s news coverage from the breached dam in Boulder, Co. left me thinking, “THAT’S what a breached dam is!”  It was that perfect picture that showed it all…what happened and what it left behind…all in one shot!

Then this morning I read from Proverbs 17 (since this is September 17^th). Verse 14 states,

 “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam: so drop the matter before a quarrel breaks out.”  

Of course, the first thing I pictured was the shot from last night’s news story.  All the sudden the familiar verse took on a whole new meaning!  I thought, “Ah Hu…LightThoughts topic!~Now I need an illustration.”

Then that came to me as well.

Now, I would like to be the first to tell you that I have the world’s most perfect grandchildren…but…

I started thinking about their arguments~~(you know the three-side kind that don’t seem to end),

Then he…

     But you…

         Did not…

              Did too…

and all the times I have said, “Just drop it…it’s over”.  Is it just my grandkids, or is it kids in general?…they don’t drop it! One of them always seems to make one more comment…and it gets the whole ball rolling again!  Sound familiar?

Proverbs 17:14 reminds us that these kinds of never-ending arguments just continue to bring heartache (and headaches!) and ultimate disaster.

A dam breach can either take place when the river has reached its limit and overflows the dam. You see the water rising and know what is about to happen in the next few hours. There is enough time to evacuate and protect your property. There is enough time to save some of the damage.  Or, the river comes on with such force that it bursts through the dam with very little warning. 

http://thebluereview.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Teton-Dam-breached-waterachives.jpg

 

An argument works in the same way. It can either go on way too long, and everyone knows that hurt feelings, heartache, and long-lasting grudges are going to take place. ‘Evacuations’ are encouraged, yet often ignored. Or, an argument can so quickly and unexpectedly get out of hand that serious damage is done before either party ‘knows what hit them’. Either way, breaching the dam is dangerous, painful, and often life-changing.

Solution? The second half of this synthetic proverb…"So drop the matter before a dispute breaks out."

 My grandchildren’s arguments do finally end, usually with no harm done. By the time we get home they are laughing and are friends again. 

Not so with adult arguments...

They are usually much more sophisticated in nature (although often just as immature) and create deeper and more long-lasting effects.

Who are you mad at? Are you currently involved in an argument/disagreement with someone that just doesn’t seem to end?  Drop it (find a way to bring it to an end)…before the dam breaches. The damage could be heart-breaking…and devastating.

Grandma said, “Drop it!”

Debbie