Jake's teammates came to visit him today. These young men aren't just on the same team, they're brothers. They're fierce, loyal and at the end of the day, they've got each other's back. Though Jake will not be out on the court playing at Nationals, they'll all be fighting for Jake. Isn't that the beauty of relationship? Isn't that what we all want to know? Who stands with us? I think of all my favorite movies--Gladiator, Braveheart, The Patriot--all about standing together against adversity. In war, this position is called the phlanx. A group of people standing, moving forward closely together. Isn't this the very thing that breaks our hearts too, when someone isn't willing to. When it's easier for them to walk away then stay and fight. When they don't deem us worthy? Who does that? People matter. We matter. Our hearts matter. Anything less and we become consumers in relationship. We become entitled. We become users. Taking this a step further, isn't this what scripture says? "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Proverbs 17:17 Don't we all have the opportunity somewhere around us? In our churches, in our schools, in our marriages? Does someone in your life know that no matter what comes their way, they can count on you to have their back? Throughout my experience just this week, I've been blown away by those who have stood with me. Through prayer, encouraging words, sitting with me, calls, emails, FB messages, feeding my dogs. They're people that have their own lives, their own stuff, but they find time to let me know they are for me. They are for Jake. People that have come along side me, stood by me, and locked their shields.
"A friend loves at all times, and
a brother is born for adversity."
Proverbs 17:17
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