IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PARTNER, GET ONE!

I've been thinking about the Mrs., and what my life would be like without her. Everyone needs a partner you know.

Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12 says "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

I know that there are alot of people that think they can "go it alone" in one pursuit or another. And surely, you can go it alone...but man, it's hard. I've decided that there are people that can "go it alone"...people that really don't care if their goal gets accomplished so that they can move on to the next goal. The old expression, "one log won't burn by itself," is true. Oh yea, a single log will burn, but it doesn't put out much heat, and normally "burns out" before "burning up."

Have you ever worked on a car by yourself? You spend more time crawling under, and out-from-under the car fetching tools than you do actually working on the car. If you have a partner there to hand you what you need...pull what you don't need out of the way...to be an extra pair of eyes from above, it goes so much quicker. It takes less than half the time with two than it does with one.

Have you ever built a fence by yourself? Now that's a pain. You have to walk back and forth, and back and forth between the posts, stringing wire. If you have a helper, the other fellow can pull the wire tight for you while you staple. It takes you three times longer by yourself than if you have a partner.

I've found this true in almost every situation. Of course, I have had helpers that made it harder...I think you know what I'm saying. (Make sure you get a helper, not a hindrance). But in almost every situation, any job is easier with a partner.

I think about how hard it is for a single mother (or single father). They spend a good bit of time just stomping out fires. It hinders their ability to be a constructive force in the lives of their children. If there was a partner to run for the garden hose while they stomped, pick them up when they fall, and warm them at night, they could be more of a parent to the kids.

The principle applies to just about everything we face in life. It's a whole lot easier to walk through any battle if somebody's "got your back." (Extra pair of hands, extra pair of eyes, and an extra gun!)

Just a rambling thought. If you don't have a partner, get one. If you do have a partner, thank God for them...and let them know that you do!