Eat Crow!

Reflective Reading: Romans 12:18

Have you ever eaten crow? I have, many times, and it tastes terrible! No not the bird, but the humiliation you bring on yourself when you hold firm to your pride and stubbornness.

The phrase “eat crow” was birthed during the War of 1812 when a British officer gained control of the musket of an American hunter. He made the hunter eat the crow he had just shot. After taking a few bites, the hunter regained control of his musket and then made the soldier eat the remainder of the crow.

The concept of eating crow really goes back to the time of Jesus. He said, “Agree with your adversary quickly.” This is never easy, but it is God’s prescribed way to end conflicts. To be shackled in conflict is an avoidable burden if we just follow this simple step: “Agree with your adversary quickly.” Listen to the whole text from Matthew 5:25:

Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are with him in the way, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.

You don’t have to have full-blown legal action against you (or even a full-blown marital conflict) to respond quickly to your adversary. This principle of agreeing with your adversary quickly applies not only in marriage, but also in resolving conflicts with children, at work, with your neighbors, at church, or anywhere else you may encounter a fellow human! Agreeing quickly will help you avoid the bitter taste of crow and enjoy the sweetness of God’s grace. Paul expresses this idea well when he writes in Colossians 4:6,

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. May we go forth and live out these words in the way we speak, act, and resolve conflict in our lives!

Sincerely,

Mark Hamby

M.S., M. Div., Th. M., D. Min.

Recommended Reading for Resolving Conflicts:

• Helen’s Temper and its Consequences (Ages 6+)

• The Giant Killer audio/book (ages 9+)

• Treasure of the Secret Cove audio/book (Ages 12+)