Arise, Come Away

My beloved spoke and said to me, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.” 
Song of Songs 2:10-11 (NIV)

When was the last time you gave your spouse the one gift you can never buy back?

In today’s verse, King Solomon invites his bride to spend time with him. “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land” (Song of Songs 2:10-12). This is not just a suggestion to go bird watching or flower gazing. He’s asking for some quality time together.

One of the greatest ways you spell love in a relationship is T-I-M-E. There’s no greater way to communicate to your spouse that they’re the number one priority over all other relationships than to give them the most valuable thing you possibly can, your time.

A marriage is a lot like a plant. It can look green and steady for a while, but without water it slowly dries out from the inside. Time is the water, and not the leftover kind where everything else gets fed first, but the time you choose on purpose, again and again.

Every October, my wife and I carve out a few days to drive up into the mountains, just the two of us. We started the habit back when our boys still needed a sitter. I let her know up front the days are hers to plan, whether that means a picnic blanket, a slow walk through town, or just talking until we run out of things to say.

There are a lot of ways you can connect without being in the mountains. Run an errand, take a walk, or sit on the back porch together without your phones. The point is that both of you need to communicate that the most important thing is making time for the other.

The winter doesn’t have to last. Arise and come away.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for handing my spouse only the leftovers of my time. Thank You for the years we’ve had together, and for whatever time You give us. Help me choose my spouse on purpose today. Teach me to treasure them in the everyday, not only on special occasions. In Jesus’ name, Amen.