How Many Christmas Season's Left

I have a good friend that is fighting an epic battle with cancer. Four years ago he loses his right arm/shoulder to it and two months later he is sharpening his skills with his hunting bow and pulling it back with his teeth gripping a piece of leather on the string. I tell him often how our family is praying for him. What I don't tell him often enough is how his life inspires me nearly everyday.

See, he fully understands that his days are numbered. Many of us think they go on forever. In truth, his days may be more than mine. God may choose to heal him of this disease and I could be killed in an accident next week. Only God knows the 'number' of days for each of us.

When we know something is in short supply, gold, oil, a $200 'bottle' of perfume, which is more like a few drops, right men? If we know something is in short supply, then we treat it as such.

Whether you are married or single, God's Word from the Song of Solomon is to cherish one another. Carrie and I were talking the other day. Our oldest is 11. We all know once they go to college their schedules and repsonsobilities begin to become more demanding and will pull them in many directions. We said, you know what, we only have for sure 7 more Christmas times, 7 more summers, 7 more spring breaks, and so on.

Are we to live in 'worry' or oh, my time is so short? Of course not, we are to cherish and redeem every hour of every day. The stats are very clear and our own experiences tell us so. During the next four weeks we will have the opportunity to become greatly stressed and therefore ruin our time with our spou se.

The Song of Solomon speaks of our relationship as a vineyard. It speaks of foxes that sneak in and ruin the vineyard. What is one fox that is attempting to spoil your relationship. Would it be stress the month of December? Is it guilt or shame about something you have done or are doing?
Is it unresolved conflict with your spouse? Have you allowed the world's message of Christmas steal the joy of this season?

Whatever fox that may be robbing you of living for Christ and unconditionally loving your spouse and family, confess that before God right now, and let the love of God forgive you, heal you, and move you closer to Him and closer to your spouse.

None of us are gurananteed another Christmas, or another day for that matter. Live for Christ, and passionately for your spouse and family every day, as it is a precious gift not to be wasted.

Bless you and have a Blessed and Merry Christmas.