Catch The Little Foxes

READY8 “Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming!” ~ Song of Solomon 2:15 NLT

AIM8 Love is so blissful…when the planets are aligned and life is balanced and normal! However, in this day and age, what’s normal and when is life completely balanced? Our marriages are attacked daily by the “little foxes” that seek to steal the joy and energy from our relationships. Foxes actually ruin vineyards by sneaking in under the cover of darkness, digging holes to expose the roots, biting and gnawing on the branches and eating the ripe grapes from the vines. Stress, excessive work, busy schedules, children, family, friends and other obligations sneak into our lives and ruin our precious time together. If we want to have successful, loving and thriving marriages, we have to recognize the “little foxes” in our lives that are seeking to ruin our vineyards of love.

Take a few moments to think about how much time you and your spouse are actually spending together. Do you take time to be together every day? (Watching TV together doesn’t count!) Do you take time to talk about your day? Do you have an activity or a hobby you participate in together? Do you eat dinner together? Perhaps you’re like two ships passing in the night on the way from one child’s event to another or from one job to another. Regardless of your circumstances, I’m sure you can pinpoint at least ONE little fox that is stealing your energy and preventing you from having a marvelous marriage. Do not fret, friends, there is hope! Even if you realized that you have LOTS of little foxes invading your relationship, you too can take control of those pesky varmints!

Start today by choosing to simplify your commitments. Freeing up your personal appointment books will allow you to schedule time to spend with your spouse. Be sure to limit your child’s extra-curricular activities too. They are KIDS after all and have their whole lives to be busy. Let them enjoy a low-key lifestyle. This will free up more time to spend with your spouse. Punch out when it’s quitting time at work. Guess what? That same work will be on your desk for you to address tomorrow.

Are you starting to see a pattern building? Your spouse needs you and you need your spouse. Be desperate about wanting to connect with him. Be intentional about making time to be with her. God intended marriage to last forever and if you WANT to make it work and make it last, you’ll start today to kick the “foxes” out of your vineyard. ‘Til death do you part? May your words and actions be the missions of your heart, dear lovers.

FIRE!8 Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to demonstrate your love to your spouse. Plan a date night this weekend and then get serious about ridding your marriage of the foxes. Even if you only concentrate on one fox now, you will reap the rewards of the additional time spent with your forever love. (And oh, the benefits that will follow!!)

Be Excellent!
Lori