Proverbs 26:11: “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.”

During my service in the Navy, I was stationed aboard a ship that sailed frequently, often resulting in extended periods at sea. While we were at sea, no one had access to any alcoholic beverages; all Navy ships were “dry.”

One of the men on our ship stood out. While our ship was at sea, he was the ideal seaman, who performed his duties exceptionally well.

However, when our ship hit port, his behavior changed dramatically. He drank alcohol heavily on liberty and, as a direct result, his appearance and work performance deteriorated rapidly.

Once we left port and returned to sea, where access to alcohol went away, he once again resumed his solid performance. He repeated the pattern each time our ship entered and departed a port.

We tried to help him address this issue through counseling and other actions, but nothing broke the vicious cycle. Couldn’t he see the impact of his actions, we thought? Why did he time and time again repeat this self-destructive behavior? We could see the foolishness of his actions, so why couldn’t he?

In retrospect, years later, I now see that I am as guilty as he of being a fool in any number of ways. I can be disagreeable with those I love and repeat that behavior over and over again despite the best of intentions to reform. I don’t trust that God has everything under control when times get tough, and after He sees me through a difficult situation, I promptly forget the lesson and distrust Him all over again.

Thank God that Jesus gives me much more grace than judgment and encouragement to mature into less of a fool, even when my progress is sorely lacking. Jesus, please help me to do the same for others who cross my path today.