I was out walking with my wife Nancy one morning when I felt the tiniest stone in my shoe. I tried to ignore it, as it was barely noticeable and was only a minor irritation. I mentioned it to Nancy and she insisted that I stop, take off my shoe and get the stone out of it. I agreed, took off my shoe and shook the stone out of it. Then, I put my shoe back on and we continued walking. It felt so much better now. I was able to enjoy the walk. Nancy said, “This will make a good Mentoring Minute.” Song of Songs 2:15a (NKJV) says, “Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes.”
Nancy understood the danger of the “little foxes” in our lives. I saw her reaction to the stone in my shoe as a great lesson in wisdom. She would not silent. She knew that, when ignored, the little things that do not belong in our lives will hinder our walk. Given enough time, like the stone in my shoe, they will cause us pain. I can assure you that, if left alone, these little things will cause much greater damage than what they appear to be capable of doing. They will very likely adversely affect our journeys through life. Is there something that is negatively affecting your walk? If so, I recommend you stop and remove it before going any further. I’m Dr. Bob. We often get comfortable with things that bring us discomfort. Perhaps it is time to do a personal “little foxes” inspecti