Last week
I wrote about ‘Destroying Romance'. It was thoughts formed from Song of Solomon
2:15. There the emphasis was on the dangers of ‘little foxes’. Today, I follow on with
another consideration on Romance from the same verse. The man, after giving the
warning, goes on to refer to their lives as ‘vineyard in blossom’.
Now I’m
not a reader of Romance (except what my wife has written). Therefore, all you
Romance writers/readers may need to be gracious and forgiving as I express the
following thoughts on ‘cultivating Romance’. Think about it. Strangers meet.
There is an acceptance which develops into friendship. Something called ‘the
chemistry of the heart’ begins its creative influence. It causes more
appreciative looks at the other person and takes a boy and a girl into the
field of romance. This is a delightful time, yet there are ‘rocks of
uncertainty’ scattered in this field to be removed. As these are dealt with,
the Romantics transform that field into a Lover’s vineyard.
It is
wonderful to romp in the field of romance. Many unfortunately fail to turn it
into a lover’s vineyard. Romance loses its appeal if it isn’t sown with fruit
producing vines. No ‘grapes’ means no distilling of love’s intoxicating wine.
Romance should
lead to cultivating its field and planting the vines to nourish lasting love. Time,
meaning patience, is the essence. Mutual attention to detail and protection is
the special domain called marriage. By calling this husband and wife union a
‘vineyard’ implies it’s a long term investment. As they cultivate their
relationship, a special and unique boutique wine is brewed.
When a
man and a woman consider the other in the marriage relationship as his/her
vineyard a mindset develops. Each will guard the welfare, integrity and
uniqueness of the other. They will guard their special ground as being greater
than worldly pleasure or accumulating treasure. As each realises that truth
personally the fruit of their relationship nourishes them. This is vital as
together they face life’s fickle weather and the attempted inroads of predators.
Such is the emotion behind the warning about little foxes.
Beware of little foxes’.
Little foxes,
little foxes seek out our lovers ‘vineyard’.
Dearly beloved,
dearly beloved watch o’er our romance.
Little foxes,
little foxes want to spoil our lover’s dance.
Chase those little
foxes from our lives.
Know them, seize
them, cage their hides.
Beware that little
fox called ‘taken for granted,’
Slay it with the
spear of ‘love undaunted’.
Catch that little
fox named ‘being spiteful’.
Overcome it with
the dart of grace bountiful.
Other little foxes
seek to enter in.
Debar with the
sword that still slays sin.
Dearly beloved,
dearly beloved let our romance thrive.
Little foxes,
little foxes cannot, will not survive
Dearly beloved,
dearly beloved our love’s devotion.
Little foxes,
little foxes fear such intoxication.
 |
| Poems celebrating 50 years of marriage. Available from Author or Wombat books, Qld. |
Dedication
and devotion see beyond the labour placed upon the man and the woman in
developing and maintaining their love. Each enjoys the other in the ever
changing periods of life. In so doing they taste the fruit and the wine which
comes in due season. Romance leads to love but it isn’t meant to cease. Love’s
‘vineyard’ is meant to be where Romance fully blooms, is maintained, enjoyed
and finds its fulfilment in senior years. Vintage wine is the result of good
fruit being well distilled and carefully stored. That’s God’s intention for a
man and a woman who enter the field of Romance and cultivate it according to
His manual.
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