Relationship problems are much like rancid eggs. Don’t be a stinky Christian. Relationship issues abound because communication is tricky, goodwill isn’t always, and feelings have extremely sensitive toes that don’t like being stepped on.
𝔼𝕧𝕖𝕟 𝕚𝕗 𝕚𝕥 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕒𝕟 𝕒𝕔𝕔𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕟𝕥.
Sometimes an apology isn’t enough and we need to clean up the mess. Have you ever broken an old egg? If you have, remember the reeking, toxic stench and how hard it was to remedy?
It’s been almost 40 years since I cleaned out my soon-to-be husband’s apartment refrigerator. I had no idea that the eggs were as old as they were. A couple exploded when I pitched them into the dumpster. I scrambled for a gas mask…
Rancid Seldom Improves Over Time
The stench is the same whether you break the egg by accident or pitch it at the wall in a moment of exasperation.
The older the egg, the bigger the stink.
The same is true with troubled relationships.
If you have a messy relationship or one needing repair, clean it up as soon as you can to the extent that you can. I know, some folks would rather live with reeking broken eggs than make up with you. But God only cares about what you do. You can only clean up your mess, not theirs.
“𝔸𝕤 𝕞𝕦𝕔𝕙 𝕒𝕤 𝕕𝕖𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕤 𝕠𝕟 𝕪𝕠𝕦, 𝕝𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕡𝕖𝕒𝕔𝕖𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕪 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕞𝕖𝕟.” —ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙𝟚:𝟙𝟠
The Flip Side
What if the relationship toes that got stomped on were yours? Was it an accident or intentional?
You can only assume and you don’t need me to list the pitfalls of assumption. What’s important is how you respond to the event.
One of two things is about to creep into the relationship—the odor of rancid eggs or a sweeter aroma…
“For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.”—2 Corinthians 2:15-16
The fragrance of Christ is released through grace and offering forgiveness before being asked. I believe that choosing the sweet smell of Jesus over rancid eggs is the better way.
Is there a mess you might be wise to clean up now?
