Proverbs 26:11

Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.

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Ever walked into a room, heard a dog gagging, and before you could get there—yep—it’s lapping up…what it just threw up? 🤢 Jus’ Nasty! If you’ve ever had a dog, you know what I’m talking about–I’m sure you’ve seen it. And then they wanna just come up in your face and lick on you like, “What’s up friend 🐶👅” Ahhh! And as gross as that is… that’s exactly the picture Proverbs 26:11 wants you to see.

📖 “Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly!”

What? Like I said, “Jus Nasty.”

🤔But It’s Almost Not Fair Cause…

Dogs and humans are built differently. See, dogs–as well as some other animals like wolves 🐺, birds 🐦, sheep 🐑, giraffes 🦒, and even cows 🐄— regurgitate their food because it’s natural for them. Regurgitation serves various purposes for these animals from digestion and feeding offspring, to social bonding and defense. (I don’t even want to ask…)

But humans? We’re wired differently. We have a built in gag-reflex designed to reject what comes back up—it’s protective. The smell alone is enough to make your stomach turn 🤮 and your body instinctively says, “Ahh Nope, this isn’t supposed to go back in.” Add to that, saliva and digestive enzymes have already broken the food down, stripping it of flavor and making it taste bitter, sour, and lifeless. Vomit is your body’s way of saying, “This has no more goodness left—we’re sending this back up…don’t send it back down.”

When you think about it, food is really just stored energy ⚡. By the time it’s vomit, it’s spent energy—there’s nothing good left in it. So when a fool goes back to his or her folly, it’s like trying to draw nourishment from something already emptied out.

🚫For Shame! Not.

Understand, this isn’t God trying to shame you, humiliate you, or make you feel like garbage🗑️. Religion sometimes leans into verses just like this to spotlight failure, but that’s not the best use of this verse. This is about clarity: folly or what we’d call toxic choices–never leave you nourished. They never truly refresh. Going back to a toxic choice is as unproductive—and as gross—as a human watching a dog eat its vomit.

Here’s the good news 🙌: You’re not built that way, and you’re not bound to repeat toxic choices. You can break cycles. You don’t have to settle for nastiness. God gives you fresh bread daily🍞—new mercies, new wisdom, new strength.

So Here’s the Point:

Don’t settle for yesterday’s vomit when today’s table is set for you.

Prayer

Lord, keep me from old mess; feed me fresh wisdom.

Today’s Challenge

Choose one “fresh food” habit today—something measurable. 🚶 Replace scrolling with a 10-minute walk. 💬 Replace gossip with a text of encouragement. 💧 Replace junk food with a glass of water and a piece of fruit . Feed yourself wisely—don’t recycle vomit.

About the Author

Fred Lynch is a creative communicator, author, and Christian Hip Hop pioneer. To learn more about Fred and what he’s up to now…click here or you can find him in all the socials by searching the handle: heyfredlynch

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Be Wise and Be Well...peace.

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