John 10:10 – The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (NKJV)

My husband Larry was about five years older than his sister, Carol. When she was a teenager, one Valentine's Day, she received a box of candy from her latest beau. Not wanting to disturb the beautiful heart-shaped box, she set it up in her room unopened with the cellophane still intact. Larry and his brother, Dave, cut a candy-sized hole in the bottom and shook all the candy out, piece by piece. It was months before his sister realized that the sweet treats were all gone.

Many times, our marriages work in the same way! We set what is so precious on a shelf, not wanting to disturb the memory of the love and romance that we had once shared. We glance at it occasionally and admire it there on the shelf, as we wait to get the kids raised and make a successful career. As years go by, it still looks okay, but inside slowly but surely it becomes empty and a shell of what it was. Sadly, when we finally have time, we find that the box is hardly recognizable. The thief has struck!

Once we began our family, Larry and I took to parenting like ducks to water. We seldom got a babysitter because we just enjoyed having the kids with us. I remember one wedding anniversary when the kids were small, having the waitress bring us three high chairs. Between cutting up food, wiping messy mouths, and cleaning up spilled milk, romance flew out the door. Reality finally hit one evening when we got a sitter to watch the kids while we did something alone. As we pulled away by ourselves, I suddenly felt at a loss for words. I was so used to centring our conversations around the kids that I had forgotten how to talk to my husband. The lesson that I learned that evening was that if there were to be an "us" after the kids left, it was not going to happen accidentally. From that night on, I began to give more thought to the future and to what kind of relationship I wanted to have with the man I married. There were more alone times — not always big flashy dates, but times when he and I could talk. We took walks to catch up on each other, and now and then, a weekend away gave us time to regroup and refresh.

As I watch the hectic lives of families today, I know that time spent alone is nearly impossible, especially with small children. I believe that the "thief", the devil, likes it that way and uses every opportunity to steal away those sweet morsels. I thank God for the sweet morsels of life that we have enjoyed together and the memories of raising a family, but I look forward to more days of laughter and love with the love of my life.

Stand guard over what God has given you, so that the thief doesn't steal the love that you have for one another. Happy Valentine's Day!

Prayer: You, O Lord, are the One Who gave us the love that husband and wife share in marriage. Help us to cherish and protect it all our lives. Amen.

Forward this devotional     Share on Facebook

About the author:

Jeanie Nihiser <jnihiserj@gmail.com>
Geneseo, New York, USA
Send your feedback to the author