We have all heard the saying: “It takes a village to raise a child.”
So also, when it comes to loving others well – it also takes a “village.”
As I loved and cared for my friend after her complex spine surgery, it took way more than just me.
* It took hubby helping me with the “lift” of caregiving, while my friend recovered in our home.
* It took my daughter helping me with the “lift” of caregiving, by coming over to spend the night while hubby was out of town. Just my daughter’s presence was a huge support!
* It took my friend’s son and daughter calling often to check on her and encourage her.
* It took my friend’s brother sending funny jokes for encouragement; and her sister-in-law calling to check in.
* It took my friend’s lady friends from back home where she lives, calling to check on her and encourage her.
* It took my friend’s Facebook community posting supportive comments and letting her know they were thinking of her and praying for her.
It took all of us!
It takes a “village” to love each other well!
Love is collaborative!
Why must it take “all of us”??
Because we each have specific unique ways that only we can help each other.
* The way that you can love on someone and care for them is completely different than the way I can love on someone and care for them. It takes all of us!
* The way that you can encourage someone is completely different than the way I can encourage someone.
* The people in your “circle of life” are completely different than the people in my “circle of life.” Therefore, the people whom you love and care for are completely different than the people I love and care for.
* The relationships you have with people are completely different from the relationships I have with people. The shared experiences you have with people are completely different from the shared experiences I have with people. All of this impacts and shapes how we love on people.
Your relationship with them is unique between the two of you … informing and guiding how you love and care for them. Your shared experiences with them is unique between the two of you … shaping how you love and encourage them.
And likewise, my relationships and shared experiences guide how I love and encourage people.
It takes all of us!
It takes a “village” to love each other well!
Love is collaborative!
Here you can see Admiralty Head Light. Admiralty Head Light sits alongside Fort Casey, much like Point Wilson Light just across the way, sits alongside Fort Worden.
Fort Casey and Fort Worden worked in conjunction together (in times past) to guard and protect the entrance into the Puget Sound. While Admiralty Head Light and Point Wilson Light also worked in conjunction together to guide ships around the narrow points of land as they entered the Puget Sound waters.
Collaboration is powerful!
Through collaboration greatness can be accomplished!
So also, when we love collaboratively, there’s power in that!
When we love collaboratively, greatness can be accomplished!
It takes all of us!
It takes a “village” to love each other well!
Love is collaborative!
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, their friend can help them up. … Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
