It’s not always such big things,

That impact the way we go.

But more so in the daily,

Where each decision makes that known.

We desire for connection,

To the True Vine of our soul.

Life is there within Him,

For a deep relationship to grow.

Yet, there is a threat within the vineyard,

Secretly easing in to see.

Where there might be access,

To The Vine’s rich hospitality.

It’s the little foxes slipping in,

Always looking for a way.

They are tiny and so harmless,

Yet their actions will convey.

What their true power is,

When with those tiny teeth do chew.

They destroy the base of the vine,

For the grapes they do pursue.

So it goes in our own hearts,

The tiny foxes we let in.

Just tiny little nothings,

That can eventually lead us to our end.

We can’t permit the small things,

Tiny distractions from the Truth,

We must protect the root of grace,

For the fruit of the spirit to produce.

Search out the tiny foxes,

Leave NONE of them behind.

Check the vineyard daily,

For the little foxes spoil the Vine.

Wendi Maddox

~Author’s Look

This inspiration did not come from a sermon preached but an old Movie watched, if you can believe that:) The Little Foxes (1941), an old black and white film [ based off of a play written in 1939 by Lillian Hellman] discusses scripture (SHOCKER, I know) from the Bible that referred to people in their lives and how they were living. They are referring to Song of Solomon 2:15 (KJV) . . .Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

So much truth is packed in such a simple word. It’s not the big things that typically get us. It is the tiny little things that we allow in and soon get cozy with that can slowly work at destroying the principles we live our life by. It’s just a small, harmless thing. How could it hurt?

A tiny fox in a vineyard is a big problem. They are small, so they cannot reach the grapes they desire at the top of the vine. They don’t just lay there being cute in the vineyard. They go to work on the vine where they can reach it- at the base. They slowly chew until the vine is in two, causing the vine to fall and the grapes to reach them. It took a while, but persistence pays off- victory is theirs!

It’s the slow things over time that seem to all of a sudden show up in destruction. If we could rewind and take a better look, we could see that wasn’t the way it happened at all. It was something small that we allowed into our lives that did’t really measure up to our personal beliefs, but it seemed so harmless, why not? Over time, the small things can bring big destruction. They can eat away slowly at the center of who were are in Christ and take away the fruit of the spirit that we want to see growing in our lives.

Take inventory today in your vineyard. What are the things that you have allowed into your life that seemed so small and harmless? Drive those little foxes out. Build your fences and keep your vineyard safe. Guard your heart. The True Vine wants to stay connected and growing His fruit in you.

Don’t let little foxes spoil your Vine.