An economist once shared a story that can have a profound impact on your relationships.

If you’re in a canoe, and your girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse decides to do something stupid and shoots a hole in their side of the canoe, don’t do the same and shoot a hole in your side of the canoe as well.

Seems simple, right?

Because after all, you’re just going to take on water even faster and the canoe will sink, leaving you both with no way to get where you were trying to go.

If the “canoe” is your relationship, and your significant other does something dumb, it is very unwise of you (if you want to save the relationship, and have it prosper) to retaliate in kind.

Don’t follow dumb with dumber.

It may feel good, you may think they deserve it, you may rationalize it to high heaven, but it won’ t help in the end.

This isn’t to say that shooting a hole in the canoe isn’t serious and you should ignore it. Obviously, it’s going to have to be addressed. Damage has been done. Repairs are in order.

It does mean that you don’t turn around and do something similarly stupid and make things worse. Like, say, shooting a hole in your side to spite them. Or having an emotional fit. Or calling up others and highlighting how dumb you think your partner is. Or any number of unwise actions.

Instead, work on you.

Control what you can.

And let God do what you can’t.

It’s an opportunity to learn, grow and get on the same page (that would be God’s) so you can be and do what He has planned for you.

Just shooting the breeze,

Loyd