Traveling Companions

Life is meant to be lived in community.  We are most fulfilled when relationships around us are meaningful, healthy, and loving. The special people we surround ourselves with are our  traveling companions — joy for our journey through this world.  Learning to pick these people wisely is important, for these will be the ones who help send us into flight, or clip our wings.  Ecclesiastes tells us these people help us succeed in life.  It means they actually desire success on our behalf.

I so want to be that for others on their journeys — to be a good traveling companion — especially to those who dwell under my own roof, and with whom I see regularly.  I know I fail.  I know I neglect things I shouldn’t, or do things that I shouldn’t. My sinful nature prevents me from traveling well with others more than I’d like, but this can’t and shouldn’t stop me from trying.  In the midst of brokenness, I can choose TODAY to blow wind into the wings of those around me:  my husband, my children, my extended family, my friends, even the people I brush up against in my coming and going.  It’s a decision I get to make…or not make.

“Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 2:5)  What?  Did you get that?  THE SAME as Jesus.  I know…. it makes me squirm too.  HOW, in heaven’s name?!?!  The answer I’ve come to in processing this is one decision at a time.  For this moment, I choose a gentle answer instead of anger.  In this situation I choose silence over saying something damaging.  Instead of just thinking something kind, I say it out loud to the person next to me.  I choose forgiveness over holding short accounts.  We have to take small steps and pray that in those daily decisions, God will reap bountiful harvest in our hearts and relationships.  What makes traveling so rewarding is the journey – -one I hope to get better and better at over time.