I have a friend whose name is Doka. He just returned to Nigeria after spending some time in the States getting a degree from Freed-Hardeman University. The week before he returned home to his family, we were talking about a number of things and he made the statement, “When two elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers.” Obviously, while his imagery is not common to our culture, I think I can understand well the point he was making, and it has caused me to do some thinking.
Think about this truth next time you are about to get into a scuffle with someone. You may be “big” enough to handle yourself quite well, but what impact will this scuffle have on those around you? What about your children? What do they see and hear in your house as you “have it out” with a brother or sister in Christ? What does that do to their faith and attitude?
Remember the next time you are tempted to get into a “fight,” that while you may come out of the whole ordeal with only a few cuts and bruises, you may, in the process, crush and destroy innocent by-standers. Yes, Doka was right. Although I don’t think I would have ever thought to express it quite like he did, “When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.” Give it some thought.
