There are moments when you might be tempted to think that you are where you are in life because of your skills and achievements. But the longer you live, the more you realize it’s because of family and friends who helped you, caring people who motivated you, perhaps mentors who challenged you to work harder and push through when you didn’t feel like it. They made all the difference. The writer of Ecclesiastes says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other one can reach out and help.” That tells me that we were never meant to live in isolation. God intends us to be in community with others, to love, strengthen, and support one another. That’s the healthy way to live.
When I think of the importance of living in loving relationships, it makes me think of the giant redwood trees in Northern California. You probably know that they can grow over 300-feet tall and 20-feet wide at the base, but did you know that their roots are only around 6 feet deep? It seems impossible that these towering, majestic trees have such shallow roots. However, the roots spread wide, extending up to 100 feet out, and intertwine and even fuse with roots of other redwood trees. This network of support gives them tremendous strength to withstand high winds and floods. And the redwoods find nutrition with one another, which helps them survive in periods of drought.
If you’re going to live a successful life, a fulfilling life, you have to understand that the good people whom God has put in your life are important and worth developing a strong relationship and community with. And you need to realize that good relationships are a two-way street. It’s as much about what you give as what you receive. The Bible tells us “to encourage one another daily” (Hebrews 3:13). It doesn’t say, “Wait around to be encouraged.” It says, “Have an exchange of encouragement on a daily basis.” That is where we find help and growth.
If we could be as united in our lives as the redwood trees, I believe we could withstand any of life’s storms and droughts. So who are you intertwined with today? When you give them who you are, it makes all the difference in the world. When you intertwine your life with others’ lives, they will stand strong, and you will stand strong. Together, you’ll grow with the strength and blessings of God. We’re better together. We’re meant to be together.