Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

I'm Mike Whitmer, and I titled Our Reading, Little Foxes.

A pilot couldn't fit his tea into the cup holder, so he set it on the center console.

When the plane hit turbulence, the drink spilled

onto the control panel, shutting off an engine. The flight was diverted and landed safely. But when it

happened again to a crew from a different airline, two months later, the manufacturer realized

there was a problem. The plane cost US $300 million, but its cup holders were too small.

This seemingly small oversight led to some harrowing moments. Small details can wreck the grandest

plans. So the man in the Song of Songs urges his lover to catch the

little foxes that ruin the vineyards of their love. He'd seen foxes climb over walls and dig

out vines in search of grapes. They were hard to catch as they darted into the vineyard, then

melted back into the night. But they must not be ignored. What threatens

your closest relationships? It may not be large offenses. It might be the little foxes,

a small comment here or a slight there that digs at the root of your love.

Minor offenses add up, and what once was a blossoming friendship or passionate marriage might be in danger of dying.

May God help us catch the little foxes.

Let's ask for and grant forgiveness as needed, and nourish our vineyards in the soil of ordinary

acts of thoughtfulness as God provides what we need.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Song of Songs chapter two verses three through

fifteen this is a love poem between a man and a woman the woman speaks first like an apple tree

among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men i delight to sit in his shade and his fruit is sweet to my taste. Let him lead me

to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love. Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with

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