Living Like Cats and Dogs

Ours is a fairly peaceful house. I did not say quiet, I said peaceful. And there is a difference. When the whole Bombay clan is there, it can be very noisy, but it is still peaceful. When our grandchildren are there, especially with their parents, it can be very noisy indeed. But, most often it is peaceful.

Usually, the peace is disturbed only when Joshua and Tori develop a difference of opinion or feel they need a bit more attention than the other. But, it must be remembered, they are still growing, not just in body, but in mid and spirit.

Some homes are filled with continual bickering. Verbal wrangling which altogether too often leads to physical confrontation. I’ve never seen that in my home as a child, or in the homes of any of my siblings. But I have seen it as a pastor.

Years ago, when I was pastoring a church in Ontario, I was called to some homes because of domestic violence. When I was called, I think they really wanted me to be a referee. My calling is not to be a referee, but to be as peacemaker. I remember the answer to one of those disputes came when I gathered together the bottles that still had booze in them and simply confiscated them. That in itself, slowed down the wrangling. When peace finally came, I left - with the bottles. It was great for cleaning out the drain pipes in our house. Often something has to be taken out, before peace can come in.

Some people live like the proverbial cats and dogs. Fighting all the time. Throwing things. Biting and snarling at each other constantly. And the weird thing about this is that it doesn’t even need to happen! There is a cure.

Mary and I have cats and dogs. When we first brought them into the mix of our home, hackles raised on the dogs, cats hissed and arched their backs. It looked like it could be war on a major scale. But, when something was about to happen, a sharp command to “stop” or slight slap, then an unsteady truce would prevail - for a while. But each time it happened, the peace became more and more permanent.

Now our cats and dogs get along fine. Patches, one of our cats actually cleans the eyes of Patti, Elaine’s dog. She cuddles up beside the dog and sleeps. But all this was imposed from the outside. We made peace happen. Now they have forgotten altogether that they once were ready to rip away at each other. And all this in one generation! Peace can rule!

The same can be true in a home or even a church. In 2 Corinthians 13:11 Paul writes:

“Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”

Paul also writes in Romans 12:18 that we should behave as Christians. He says:

“If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”

That’s an interesting verse, “...as much as depends on you, live peaceably...”. A lot depends on you, and me. Whatever is in us, will come out. If there is no peace within you, it cannot manifest itself outside of you. King David, writing about going to the House of the Lord, wrote in Psalms 122:8

“For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, Peace be within you.”

You can actually enforce peace, such as we have with our dogs and cats. Yet the best and most lasting peace needs to be found within. And that is possible to its greatest degree, only when you have the Prince of Peace living within. When, in Isaiah 9:6 the prophet foretold of the coming of the Christ Child, he said this:

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace .”

Do you have Him within? You do? Then let the peace of God reign in your heart in every situation.