Little Foxes 小狐狸
Dexu Xia
Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards. Song of Songs 2:15
A pilot couldn’t fit his tea into the cupholder, so he set it on the center console. When the plane hit turbulence, the drink spilled onto the control panel, shutting off an engine. The flight was diverted and landed safely, but when it happened again to a crew from a different airline two months later, the manufacturer realized there was a problem. The plane cost $300 million, but its cupholders were too small. This seemingly small oversight led to some harrowing moments.
Small details can wreck the grandest plans, so the man in the Song of Songs urges his lover to catch “the little foxes that ruin the vineyards” of their love (2:15). He’d seen foxes climb over walls and dig out vines in search of grapes. They were hard to catch as they darted into the vineyard then melted back into the night. But they must not be ignored.
What threatens your closest relationships? It may not be large offenses. It might be the little foxes, a small comment here or a slight there that digs at the root of your love. Minor offenses add up, and what once was a blossoming friendship or passionate marriage might be in danger of dying.
May God help us catch the little foxes! Let’s ask for and grant forgiveness as needed and nourish our vineyards in the soil of ordinary acts of thoughtfulness as God provides what we need.
What “little foxes” are damaging one of your close relationships? What can you do to seek forgiveness and a fresh start in Christ?
Father, may Your extraordinary love flow through me in ordinary ways.
要给我们擒拿狐狸，就是毁坏葡萄园的小狐狸。—雅歌2章15节
一名飞行员因为无法把茶杯放进杯架，便将它放在驾驶舱的操控装置上。结果当飞机遇到了乱流时，茶水就倒洒在仪表板上，导致一具引擎熄火。飞机不得不改变航线，还好最终安全降落。两个月后，另一个航空公司的飞行员也发生了同样的情况，这时飞机制造商才发现了问题。这架飞机造价三亿美元，但杯架竟然做得太小。这看似微小的疏忽，却造成致命的危机。
小小的疏漏足以破坏最宏伟的计划，因此雅歌里的新郎敦促他的新妇保护他们的爱情，去捉住那“毁坏葡萄园的小狐狸”（2章15节）。他曾看到狐狸翻墙进来，挖出葡萄藤寻找葡萄。它们会飞快地跑进葡萄园并消失在黑夜中，虽然很难抓到它们，但绝不能因此掉以轻心。
什么会危害你最亲密的人际关系？不一定是激烈的冲突，反倒可能是一些小狐狸。这里一句批评，那里一点轻视，都会腐蚀你爱的根基。许多小小的不愉快累积起来，就会使曾经灿烂的友情或甜蜜的婚姻，面临死亡的危机。
愿上帝帮助我们捉住那些小狐狸！让我们在必要时请求原谅或给予宽恕，然后靠着上帝的供应，以平日的体贴行为做为土壤，来滋养我们的葡萄园吧！
有哪些小狐狸正危害你亲密的人际关系？
你如何靠着基督寻求宽恕并重新开始？
天父，愿祢那非比寻常的爱，
能透过我平日的生活流露出来。