Petting a Porcupine

Petting a Porcupine                                          May 17, 2026

            Far too many people, and not a few brethren, feel rejected and lonely simply because they have spent a lifetime building walls instead of bridges.  And is it any wonder why they find themselves so disconnected from everyone surrounding them?

            When was the last time you tried petting a porcupine?

            Any healthy relationship will thrive in an atmosphere of understanding and mutual forbearance, but continual carping criticism does nothing but destroy.  Pettiness and selfishness too often drive deadly spikes into the very heart of what would otherwise be a healthy and thriving union.

            The Bible instructs, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice.  And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31-32).

            And again Scripture admonishes, “Finally, all of you be of the same mind, having compassion for one another, love as brothers, be tender-hearted, be courteous, not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you might inherit a blessing” (I Peter 3:8-9).

            And still again, “With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3).

            In short, we are expected to get along with one another; to be kind and forgiving toward one another; to have genuine compassion for one another; to forbear with one another “in love.”

            We get along best when we’re less selfish and more selfless; less critical and more understanding; less like the world and more like Christ.

            And what is this but the “golden rule” in practice?  (Matthew 7:12).  We would have others show kindness to us.  We would have others minimize our weaknesses and instead emphasize and encourage our strengths.  Should we not then treat others as we would have them treat us?

            It is always the right time to be kind!                       Dalton Key (Tulsa, OK) via Old Paths