Friendships are one of God’s greatest gifts.
They inspire us to do better, be better, and live for others. They get us out of our own heads, to step away from navel-gazing, and truly love on another.
Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. (NLT)
Friendships bring joy to our lives. During this last deployment I spent every moment I could with a good friend. Her husband was also deployed. We filled our lonely weekends together, watched too much Sister Wives and ate too much Taco Cabana. Are children were more like siblings that year. We did Christmas and 4th of July together. We cried together, laughed together, and survived together.
John’s first deployment I had a similar friend. We spent every hour we could together, watched each other kids for gym time, and ate many meals together. It’s how I survive deployments.
When I sit at home trying to maintain the home front alone I crumble. When I combine forces with a friend we both become stronger. When one of us succumbs to fear and doubt the other one is there to encourage and lift up. When one of us leans on grumbling and complaint the other one is there with a gentle reminder to refocus on what is true and good.
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