Watch out for those "foxes!"

How I love to share with my Beloved Readers!!!

And especially, my beloved children...Kurt and Stephanie, Jana and Adam, Scott, Mark.....I love you all so very much!

I want to share the truth that no matter how long you are married - you must always work on your marriages. The work is hard, but the rewards infinite!

Paul and I have been married more than 32 years (which is in itself amazing - a blessing from God for Jesus is our center). Therefore, I really thought that we were "insulated" against any separation. I, naively believed, that we had "made it." How wrong I was! The responsibilites of life - my dad passing away, Paul's mom moving in, stressful jobs, my going for my Letter of Eligibility, etc. - all, very subtly pulled us apart. The very interesting part of all this is that we did not even notice it!!!! Remember that word - "sublty." Your marriages never move apart obviously - it always a subtle. If it were obvious, you would be able to react quickly. It would be easy. LISTEN - it is NOT ever obvious.

Look at the definition from the Free Dictionary of "subtle" - "so slight as to be difficult to detect or describe."

Before you know it, your marriages could be in deep trouble.

So, what should you do? Be aware. Be alert. Don't ignore the signs and red flags that tell you that you are pulling apart. Figure out ways that you will pull back together. Put your relationship as a priority. Get away. Craft times that will increase time to talk, enjoy, and agree that you need work. Talk often - talk some more.....and always pray. Figure out what you can do especially crafted to build and protect your own relationship.

But beware - people will not understand. They will not understand this "work." They may even sabotage your efforts. Stay focused.....those little foxes can steal....

"Catch all those foxes, those little foxes, before they steal the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming." Song of Solomon 2:15 NLT

Catch those foxes before they steal your love! The rewards are infinite!

Love and blessings to all my Beloved Readers. Let me know your thoughts.....

Contentment... a learned "skill".....a choice

Contentment is a skill?

When you read the title of this blog, dear reader, do you agree that contentment is a skill? It is.... read my reasoning for a moment and see if you agree.

I have read Linda Dillow's book, "Calm My Anxious Heart." She has assignments in it. One was to list all the positives in your life right now. Once I got started the list went on and on. Actually - you all are one of the biggest positives in my life! Anyway, then she had us list all the negatives. And then this quote followed the exercise - "Two women looked through prison bars. One saw the mud, the other the stars...."

One of the secrets to true contentment is choice. There's that word again - choice. What will I choose to focus my eyes and heart on ???? Will I choose to focus on Paul's faults and annoying habits??? ( of which he only has one - :) Or will I choose to focus on the way that he looks at me.... and the way he took off of work for a whole day to be with me when my wisdom teeth came out last week.... and the way he listens... and the way he looks when he falls asleep in front of the TV... and the way I can cuddle next to him and be quiet and contented.....etc etc etc etc

So precious, beloved readers - practice the skill of contentment. Make the choice. Choose contentment... it is great gain!

Do you agree?