Two is Better Than One
Valentine's Day is such a fun holiday to celebrate love and share delicious chocolates, flowers and cards with the ones you love! But, there are many who despise Valentine's Day because of the pain it brings to the surface from hurtful relationships, endless disappointments and the loss of love. While others are booking their dinner reservations and gazing into the eyes of the one they love, there are others who are gazing at a television or into an empty bottle wishing the pain of their aching hearts would subside.
These polarizing thoughts about Valentine's Day led me to contemplate why the human heart yearns for love and companionship on a daily basis and this is what I discovered.
It's in our DNA.
We were created to be in relationships with both people and with God. Since the moment God made Adam in the Garden of Eden, He said, "It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him" (Gen. 2:18 NLT).
God knew from the beginning that companionship was crucial to our survival as human beings. Not only for plowing fields, hunting animals and reproducing our kind, but companionship was created to encourage and bring joy to the human soul. God was the first to ever understand the importance of companionship because He is part of the Trinity--Father, Son and Spirit. He knows how valuable it is to be united with multi-faceted companions that complete us with their gifts, talents and various strengths.
In the same way, God created human beings to have multiple strengths, talents, gifts and personalities to compliment other people's strengths and weaknesses. The next time we think we can do life on our own, just remember that even the perfect God of the universe is part of the Trinity that works in perfect harmony together for the goodness of heaven and earth. We are designed to work together with others through all the good and bad of this life.
Companionship is our greatest strength.
King Solomon is considered to be one of the wisest people to ever walk the earth and even with all his wisdom and wealth he understood the importance of companionship: "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken" (Ecc. 4:9-12 NLT).
I believe King Solomon knew these truths to be true in his own life and in the lives of every person. When you're alone, you can be unaware of the dangers around you or the pitfalls that you quickly overlook. When you're alone, you can become a target for predators of all sorts of evil---even your own self-destructive thoughts and behavior. But, when you join with someone else---whether it's a spouse, friend, neighbor or relative---it's more difficult to fall into the traps of destruction because you have others looking out for your best interest loving you so much that they will tell you the truth, even if it hurts your feelings or derails your plans.
More than anything, I believe Valentine's Day and everyday is a choice to partner with others in healthy, trustworthy relationships that will help us guard against destructive thoughts, behaviors, habits and hindrances for the great life we are meant to live. So, today I encourage you to show love to those who "have your back" in every battle of life for those are the priceless hearts worth fighting for and embracing.
Happy Valentine's Day, my beautiful friends!
