This past weekend, I had the honor of speaking at a Christian women’s conference. The conference theme was “We are better together.” Ever since speaking, I’ve really been thinking about what it means to be better together.
When we have good news, there’s immediately a friend or family member we think of to share it with. Likewise, when the news is not so great, we think of a person who is always a strong shoulder to lean on and comfort us. It’s because we are hardwired to connect.
These days though, it seems like we are doing a lot less connecting and sharing less time together. Our schedules are crammed with business, our work hours are blending into family and rest time, and in the age of “social media” we seem to be less social than ever.
In the Bible, 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil: if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” And I love Proverbs 27:17, it says “Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.”
These verses are just a few good reminders of how important it is to encourage and support one another. But, we have to be intentional about it. We have to make time in our day to check on one another. It only takes a few minutes to call someone and say how can I pray for you today, do you need anything, how are you feeling today, and really REALLY hear what they are saying.
We can also do a little self-reflection and ask ourselves, have I been that shoulder to lean on, the friend who celebrates with others, how have I responded in the past when loved ones reach out for comfort or just a little conversation? We can all start doing a better job of being there for one another starting now.
Because we truly are “better together.”
