Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
There were times when having a sister was not a bad thing. So, I am the baby of eight kids. Daddy and Momma, probably unintentionally, grouped the kids. There were three older boys, then a girl and a boy, and finally two more girls and me—the object of my parent’s delight—the perfect child. Ok, that is not even close to true but after all, it is my story. Growing up there was not a brother too close to my age, so I was kinda a solo act and too often the object of my sister’s merciless teasing and testing. More often than not…we were at odds. And, of course, they would run to Momma and tell her how bad I was. But she knew better…oh yes, she knew better.
Now with all that said, there were times when having a sister was not a bad thing. When they became teenagers a few years before me, sometimes I got to tag along on dates. Since their boyfriends had their driver’s license, it meant…freedom! Yup, even sisters have advantages. Another of those advantages involved manual labor. You see when I was a kid, one of my responsibilities was to mow the yard. While our yard was good sized, we also had a couple of acres that was just a big open field. Every once in a while, that field had to be mowed. Riding mower? You’ve got to be kidding.
At one time or another, I do remember we had two push mowers. They were nothing special—in fact they were anything but. They were usually lawnmower corpuses that my Daddy had resurrected using spare parts. I particularly remember one that didn’t have an off position on the throttle. The only way to turn it off was to pull off the plug wire. It was this mower that taught me the value of doing something carefully because if you didn’t remove the wire very carefully…well, let’s just say it was a shocking experience!
Well, I’m not whining (no, really) but that was a lot of weeds to mow. So, every once in a while, I would talk one of my sisters into helping and sometimes they would even volunteer. I mean you know how girls…even sisters…are about their figures and what I saw as work they saw as a weight loss plan. Anyway, I would lead with mower number 1 and my sister would follow with mower number 2. It sure helped–both physically and psychologically. Just knowing I wasn’t all alone was really encouraging. Well, I remember the time I was mowing my little heart out thinking my sister was right behind me with mower number 2. Around and around, I went…never looking back…believing that she was still there.
Well, the bottom line is I went and went till I happened to look back only to realize that she had quit, and I was all alone. Instantly the task seemed impossible and the field bigger than ever and I wanted to quit too. The difference: I was alone. At that moment I realized that even though I didn’t always like my sister…I needed her. We may have fussed and fought but when it came to mowing, she was my helper–my partner.
Well, the point is this: we really do need each other…especially in our life journeys, our spiritual journeys, our day-to-day bump into stuff journeys. Having someone we can talk with, someone we can share our burdens with, someone who will pray with us and for us, someone who is slow to judge and quick to love is just invaluable. Someone said, “No man is an island” and that is just the truth. I’m learning that you don’t have to always agree with someone to love that someone…or even like that someone.
Even as a person who values alone time—I know there is value in walking side by side. In the Old Testament part of the Bible, Ecclesiastes 4:9–10, one of the smartest guys ever to live said, “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.” Well, let me just tell you, I know that is true when you are nine or ten and mowing two acres and it is true today and every day. There is no better best friend than the One who wants to be your Dearest Daddy. He will never leave you alone…never quit. You can trust that “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne
Grits with Grace 