Knife and Scissors

By Ed Handkins

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 2:3

A couple had been married for over fifty years.  They had brought up their children together, faced many difficulties, and had grown closer through the years.

There was one difficulty in their relationship.  Not long after they were married he had been working in his shop.  He cut himself.  The doctor had to put in stitches.  When he would tell the story he would say he had cut himself with a knife.  She had been with him at the time of the accident and insisted he had cut himself with scissors.

After several years of debate all it took was the mention of one of the words: knife, scissors or cut.  With only the one word they would start all over again.

He would say “knife.”

She would respond with “scissors.”

Sometimes the disagreement would go on for hours and would become very loud - each one trying to get in the last word.

One day they were fishing from a small boat.  The fish hook caught his finger and brought some blood.  She looked him straight in the eye and said, “Scissors.”  He responded with “knife.”  The argument was one.  Their voices rose to a vigorous level.  To make their point each of them stood up in the boat at the same time.  The boat tipped and both of them were thrown into the water.

Neither had worn a life jacket and neither of them could swim.  They both struggled to no avail.  Finally, as he was going down for the last time he yelled, “Knife.”  As she was going under for the last time her head went under the water and her hand came out of the water.  With two fingers she made the unmistakable motion of scissors.  She had the last word.

It is easy for us to fall into destructive patterns in our relationships with the people we love.  We can play our own versions of “the knife and scissors game.” 

You may need to tell someone this story and agree to stop the argument that has been going on over the years.  You can even uses “scissors” as the key word to interrupt the pattern should you fall into the same pattern in the future.

Prayer: “God help me see any destructive patterns in my relationship with people I love.  Give me the insight and strength to bring these things under Your Lordship.”