The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat

But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! - Galatians 5.15

This passage always reminds me of an old children's poem that I occasionally come across when reading books to the children (and grandchildren now). It is about two stuffed animals, a gingham dog and a calico cat who just can't get along. They are always fighting until eventually...well, just have a read of it. 

The Duel

by Eugene Field (1850-1895)

The gingham dog and the calico cat

Side by side on the table sat;

'T was half-past twelve, and (what do you think!)

Nor one nor t' other had slept a wink!

      The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate

      Appeared to know as sure as fate

There was going to be a terrible spat.

            (I wasn't there; I simply state

            What was told to me by the Chinese plate!)

The gingham dog went "Bow-wow-wow!"

And the calico cat replied "Mee-ow!"

The air was littered, an hour or so,

With bits of gingham and calico,

      While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place

      Up with its hands before its face,

For it always dreaded a family row!

            (Now mind: I 'm only telling you

            What the old Dutch clock declares is true!)

The Chinese plate looked very blue,

And wailed, "Oh, dear! what shall we do!"

But the gingham dog and the calico cat

Wallowed this way and tumbled that,

      Employing every tooth and claw

      In the awfullest way you ever saw---

And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!

            (Don't fancy I exaggerate---

            I got my news from the Chinese plate!)

Next morning, where the two had sat

They found no trace of dog or cat;

And some folks think unto this day

That burglars stole that pair away!

      But the truth about the cat and pup

      Is this: they ate each other up!

Now what do you really think of that!

            (The old Dutch clock it told me so,

            And that is how I came to know.)

Did you see what happened there. The two toys fought so much that eventually with all of their scratching and clawing and biting they ate each other up! 

Silly, isn't it. A funny children's poem. Or is it more than that? 

Look what Paul says here. 'Beware if yiu bite and devour one another, else you eat each other up.' 

That little verse is so clear. All they biting and devouring and squabbling and fight can only result in one thing - mutual destruction. How many churches are littered with scraps of gingham and calico? It seems like there are times when Christians are more about fighting and biting and devouring then they are about getting along. 

We really had better learn to get along brothers and sisters. There is far too much calico and gingham flying around in our churches. The result will be no better than what happened in the poem.