Song of Songs 2:2-4 (NIV)
2 Like a lily among thorns
is my darling
among the young women.
She
3 Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest
is my beloved
among the young men.
I delight to sit in his shade,
and his fruit
is sweet to my taste.
4 Let him lead me to the banquet hall,
and let his
banner over me be love.
"She is so gorgeous! Her swaying in the breeze is so
delicate! Her white petals shine so brightly! She is the flower of my
life," the bee thought, humming happily by.
As the bee continued to hum by this beautiful lily, day
in and day out, the flower finally noticed him. They became acquainted with
each other and started to enjoy its other's company. Love sprung in both of
their hearts and wedding plans were formed and celebrated with a big fanfare.
"You will be my only nectar," the bee promised.
"You will be my only glorious husband," the lily replied.
Soon though, life seemed to accelerate. There was always
so many things to do. Still both the lily and the bee hoped that somehow life
would slow down and that they could enjoy each other the way they used to.
Time went by. By now, both had many tasks, more than ever
before. Besides the daily tasks of life, their son bees and lily daughters were
demanding more and more of their attention. It seemed to the lily that she
never received any help from the bee. In fact, she thought that he was so busy
with his own work, that he ignored her. It seemed that the only thing of
importance to the bee was to feed himself from her pollen. What about her? Why
didn't he put her first in his life? Were his tasks more important than her?
It's then that she noticed the awful looking thorns that
were growing around her. "Where am I, and why is my bee not taking care of
me?" she wondered.
But the thorns became familiar. They began paying
attention to her, and soon they didn't seem threatening at all. One,
especially, tried to become her friend. At first they only talked about things
they had in common and things they enjoyed. "Wow! That thorn is so nice
and we have so many of the same interests!" thought the lily. "I wish
my bee would pay me this much attention!"
And so her thoughts started to wander more and more to
that thorn that seemed to care so much for her, and soon she starting sharing
her burdens with it. And it understood her! It even understood how
inconsiderate her bee was! It started to dwell on how much better it could take
care of the lily if it were in the place of her bee. And the more the lily
contemplated this, the more repulsive and egotistical her bee became in her
mind. The thorn was so much nicer! And her attention became more directly
focused sideways, on the thorn, and she no longer looked up to find her bee
humming by.
As the lily and the thorn grew closer, and the bee seemed
more and more distant, the lily convinced herself that the thorn was the one
who really cared for her. Her thoughts began to wander down dangerous pathways:
"Maybe I should…" But then the thorn pricked her, and a drop of blood
surfaced on her petal. The blood seemed to fill her entire being.
"Ouch!" she cried. "What have you done?"
Before long her bee came by, and the lily called out to
him. She told him everything about the thorn who had hurt her so badly. What
had seemed so innocent had nearly led to the break up of a relationship that
had once been so cherished!
This story, however, has a happy ending. The bee and his
lily began to talk to each other again--to really communicate with one another.
The bee found time in his busy schedule to be with the lily, to help her with
her many tasks, to listen to her and to love her. Priorities were reset, and
they began enjoying an intimate relationship, closer than ever, until the end
of their days. They realized that their friendship was precious, and that the
thorns could only destroy them.
My friend, how is you relationship with your spouse? Are
you still communicating with each other and sharing all you intimate thoughts
with each other? Are you spending time with each other and expressing your love
towards each other?
If not, it is still not too late. Even if your mutual
feelings have drifted, start reaching out to your loved one, now. Don't let the
thorns of this world take advantage of your alienation. Spend time with each
other. Listen to each other and share with each other your inner thoughts.
Before you know it, your relationship will be closer than ever, even closer
than the day you married each other. Not only will you remain husband and wife,
you will become lovers and will develop an appreciation of each other that you
never could have dreamed of.
The same is true with your relationship with God. Are you
still communicating with each other and sharing all you intimate thoughts with
each other? Or is it a one way communication, where God is trying to reach out
to you? Are you spending time with each other and expressing your love towards
each other?
Come back to Him and enjoy fellowship with Him. Only He
is the One who can fulfill your dreams. He is waiting for you. Instead of
concentrating sideways to the worries and attractions of life, let us look
upwards and admire the One who really does care for you!
Dear Lord, help us not stray from Your fellowship. If we
have help us come back to You so that relationship can be a light shining in
this world. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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