As most of you know, Josh has a group of guys that he meets with every couple of weeks to keep him sharpened. And tonight, Serena is out developing a friendship with another women that may prove to be the same for her. We recognize the need for people in our lives that will help us on our journey to being all that we should be in Christ and in our marriages.
While most of the time when you are standing for your marriage you will be alone, it is important to look for those people that you can count on to be there when the going gets tough. Because it will get tough sooner or later. And the people that we all need are those people that will not kiss our backsides and tell us we are right all the time. We need people that will hold our feet to the fire and be in our faces when we will not listen to anyone else. At this point these "friends" become key personnel in our fight for our marriage.
On more than one occasion, Serena has enlisted Josh's friends to be key personnel in his walk to be the man he is supposed to be. Not that he was sinning but rather that he needed a swift kick in the spiritual rear to get him back on track. (I approve this comment....Josh) And when Serena was dealing with my departure from the marriage, her mom fulfilled this key personnel role. Serena told her at the beginning of the journey what her standards were and that if she ever lost sight of them her mom was to remind her. No matter how tough it was!! At that point her mom stopped being her mom and became some key personnel.
We need these people. Ask God for these kinds of people. People that will stick close to you no matter how ugly the situation may be. These people won't need the recognition for their place in your life. Their reward is seeing you and your marriage blossom to the fullest. These people cannot stand in your place for your marriage....only you can do that. But, they can stand with you and watch your back.
This kind of friendship reminds me of Frodo and Bilbo Baggins from The Lord of the Rings. At one point when Frodo couldn't climb the mountain anymore nor could he let anyone else carry the ring, Bilbo Baggins said, "I can't carry the ring but I can carry you!!!" And he picked up Frodo so that Frodo's purpose would be fulfilled.
No one else can stand for your marriage. God gave you grace for that burden. But, you can ask for people to accompany you on that journey. And God, who does not hold back any good thing from His kids, will answer with like minded people for the task at hand.
Josh and Serena
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