I knew I was in trouble when I saw tendrils of smoke emitting from the engine.
But, first, some background.
Dalia and I currently reside at our home which sits on a 1.2-acre lot. I’m a native country boy. So, I love having the open space, a few well-placed mature trees, and plenty of room for the deer to roam. And, I don’t even mind that every couple of weeks I have to spend about four hours out there mowing the lawn.
I don’t mind it for one reason–my John Deere riding lawnmower. Yes, I have to use the push mower and the string trimmer to manicure some parts of the yard. But, my John Deere is the workhorse. It’s hearty and durable. For the past fourteen years, my tractor has never let me down. I love this green and yellow machine–at least I say that I do.
But, I’m not proud to admit that I have taken my John Deere for granted. I have never gotten it serviced in all these years. I’ve never had the blades sharpened. I couldn’t tell you the last time that I changed the oil–although I do sometimes check to make sure there is oil in it. Yet, I just expect it to crank right up when I need it. Yeah, I know. Don’t judge me.
Well, this past weekend, my negligence created a scare. In addition to the puffs of smoke, something just wasn’t right. It wasn’t moving like normal at the higher gears. It turned off on me a few times when going through some overgrown patches of grass.
As I sat riding on the tractor, I was just hoping it would get me through the entire lawn. I promised myself that I would call a technician first thing Monday morning. It’s now Monday evening. I haven’t yet called.
You may be wondering why I’m recounting this story of my tractor and my negligence. Well, it’s because as I sat on that tractor on Saturday, it was such a stark reminder of how I regarded my marriage for so many years.
Yes, I love my wife. But, I took her and my marriage for granted. I just expect my marriage to be there when I need something from it. But, I didn’t take care of it in all of the ways that it needs to be nurtured–certainly not according to the model Christ required. And, it took me far too long to attend to it.
Neglected marriages are an epidemic in our Christian circles. Even good marriages are falling into disrepair out of neglect and inattention.
Don’t wait until your marriage breaks down to invest in it. Decide today to give your marriage the attention it deserves and that God requires. You give attention to what you love.
And, let’s hope it isn’t too late for my John Deere.
