Running Barefoot

Spring is trying to come to Wisconsin and I have already noticed those awful prickly weeds starting to grow in our backyard. Our backyard has been notorious for having those weeds that are extremely prickly and if you step on them those prickles get embedded in your feet. My desire for my backyard is for it to be weed free so that my kids would be able to run through the backyard barefoot. I want them to be able to enjoy the summer without a care in the world.

As I've looked at those weeds it has reminded me of marriage and how our marriages provide the "yard" in which our kids play, romp and learn about life.

Malachi 2:15

"Has not the LORD made them one?

In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one?

Because he was seeking godly offspring.

So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith

with the wife of your youth."

I am becoming more aware of the importance of marriage because of its relation to our children. This verse points out that God made us one flesh with our spouse because He desires godly offspring. Marriages provide a foundation for our kids, and it doesn't matter how young, or old they are, your marriage still provides a stability for their identity.

It is very easy for weeds to grow in our marriage "yards." We need to weed our "yards" on a regular basis so that our kids can run through life, enjoying and not worrying about getting hurt in their own yards.

Hebrews 12:14-16

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy;

without holiness no one will see the Lord.

See to it that no one misses the grace of God

and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

One weed that can begin to sneak into marriages is a root of bitterness. Bitterness starts out small and seems like not a big deal, just like those weeds. However, if bitterness is not dealt with, it will get deeply rooted and begin to spread. It might not seem to effect your kids because it is so small but as days and weeks go by it will continue to grow and spread and there will be a day your kids will stumble upon it and it will hurt them. When Mercea was 2 she was running in our backyard and her whole foot got filled with those prickles. It was not a pretty moment.

I don't know where you are in your marriage and whether you have younger or older kids but no matter what I would like to encourage you to do some spring weeding in your marriage "yards." If you need motivation then do it for the sake of your kids. None of us would purposely send our kids out in a yard full of prickly weeds to run around barefoot and get hurt. However, we often allow the weeds of our marriage to get out of control and we end up hurting our kids more than if they would have stepped on real weeds.

Here are some verses that deal with uprooting weeds in the spirit realm:

James 3:13-16

Who is wise and understanding among you?

Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that

comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition

in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom"

does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder

and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure;

then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy

and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Ephesians 4:30-32

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,

with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander,

along with every form of malice.

Be kind and compassionate to one another,

forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Steps to keeping your marriage-yard weed free:

• Recognize the importance of your marriage and the role it plays for your children's lives
• Guard your spirit against marriage busters
• Get rid of the behaviors that create weeds such as, bitterness, anger, envy and selfishness
• Replace those behaviors with weed-killers: peacefulness, compassion, mercy, forgiveness and kindness

My prayer for you and your marriage is that you, your children and your spouse can run barefoot through your "yards" this summer.