Let’s lock arms

So…….. this is me.

Do you see this woman? Some would say she’s strong. Strong in character, strong in personality, strong in integrity, strong in faith, strong in tenacity. I want to tell you she is strong sometimes, and sometimes she is weak.

How strong do you think she is standing there alone?? Do you think she could take on an enemy by herself?? Maybe she could fight for a little while alone.

Life is hard. Life has many struggles. Has she been dealt a difficult hand?? In some ways, yes. But haven’t we all? We all struggle, we all have weak moments. Our pain and difficulties in life all look different. I look at others and think, “How can they ever get through what life has handed them?” Others look at me and they say the same thing. They say, “I don’t know how you even get out of bed and go on every day.”

When I look around me and compare (I know we shouldn’t compare) my difficulties with others, I wouldn’t want their difficulties in place of mine. Whatever struggles we have they are ours. We must go through them to grow, to become a better person. It is said that whatever difficulties we go through that we can choose to become better or bitter. I choose better!!

In life sometimes we become overwhelmed with our struggles. They become too many or too hard to bear. Too difficult to move forward through. But we must keep moving forward. I am a person of faith so when I have these times, I reach out. I reach out to others for help.

Then there was this one……

One particular day I was feeling overwhelmed, I was texting a friend sharing my struggles that day. She wrote me many things and encouraged me to carry on. One of the things that she wrote to me that day was this: LET’S LOCK ARMS AND LET’S GET THROUGH OUR STRUGGLES TOGETHER!!

I had a picture of that in my mind immediately. It gave me such HOPE to move forward knowing I had her to stand with me and help me. I felt so much stronger knowing I had someone standing with me. There is certainly more strength in two than there was with one. With two of us we could fight an enemy better than when I was standing alone.

Then there was three……..

After I had the picture in my mind of the two of us standing with our arms locked together, I thought of some of my other friends. Friends who have had their arms locked with me through many difficult times. What a treasure to have friends who have stood by me for years.

And then there were more…….

I have been blessed with many good friends throughout my life. I am thankful for each and every one of them for the part they have played in my life. For standing with me, encouraging me, praying for me, and speaking life into me.

How much stronger do I look?? How much more do you think I can fight an enemy now?? There are five of us standing beside one another, five of us holding each other up.

And then there were others…….

Look at the strength of that bond. Look at the strength of locking our arms together. Standing alone none of us are very strong, but together we are much stronger. Together we can help each other through the difficulties of life.

And then there were even more…..

Look at that picture.

We are so much stronger together. Together we help each other fight off any enemy. Nine people locking arms together is much stronger than one, three, five, or seven.

Such beautiful ladies, my friends. All from different walks of life, not all of these ladies are friends with each other. They are some of my friends. These ladies are there for me when I need them. They help me be strong. They pray for me, they hug me, they encourage me, they speak truth to me, they listen to me, they genuinely care for me, they love me.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4

I believe as we walk through our lives together we can comfort others with the comfort we have received from God.

I know that at any time I could reach out to any of these woman (and many others) and they would be there for me.

I pray that I am that for them too.  A shoulder to lean on, a listening ear, an encouraging word, a prayer partner, a hugger, a life long friend.

You see it is my belief that God does not want us to live independent lives separate from each other. He wants us to live our lives interdependently. Where our lives are joined together, our arms locked, we depend on each other to get through life.

As people, God made us to need each other. God wants us to help each other, to love each other, to stand together. It is where we are strong. Depending on God and each other.

There is strength in numbers. These ladies in these pictures are my army. There are others who weren’t available to be in the pictures. They may have had previous commitments that day, but they are still in my army. Many of my army live far away from me, but they are still in my army. They are still there for me ALWAYS. They lift me up, they help me be strong.

No man is an island to himself, we need each other.

I hope this has been an encouragement to you today. Who is in your army? Who are you locking arms with? Who are you helping get through a tough time today? Who are you encouraging? Who are you lifting up in prayer? Go out and hug your army. Let them know how much you appreciate their support.

“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.” Maya Angelou

A BIG thank you to my friends who took the time to come out and support me and take these pictures. I love and appreciate all of you!!