Tip of My Iceberg

We hear a lot about best friends, BFFs, besties–those folks we feel closest to, people we feel safest with, who know our worst and still love us well. Two who know me really well live too far for my liking, and being a horrible phone caller, I miss out on opportunities to stay in touch with these two delightful gifts of compassion.

They don’t turn their backs on me. As awful as I am at staying in touch, we can pick up where we left off when I finally get my act together.

We all need people we can rely on. So many are struggling with a positive self-image and a healthy mental view of their personal identity. It’s compounded by spending too much time isolating and staying apart from others. People aren’t known because they don’t want to be known.

Kolly at three has a best friend in the family dog, Barkley, who is loving, protective, and puts up with a lot from that little girl. Her dog is the surest form of presence and calm acceptance. Her cousin, Beck, doesn’t even consider his dog, Wally, a pet. He’s a friend who is there for him. Always.

Culturally, it can be challenging to feel accepted in a world where influencers hold more sway over decision-making than friends do, or disagreeing with someone can cause them to cancel any relationship that exists.

Can you imagine the comfort of having someone so close that you can tell them anything and know they won’t judge you? Like Kolly cuddling up with Barkley, she has no fear that he’ll turn on her and take a bite out of her while she’s snuggled up to him.

In the Bible, there are several times where men are seen with their armor- bearer. As the name implies, these men helped carry their master’s shield into battle. They were, by design, the number two person. Not the one seen as the warrior, but the one who faithfully stood by his warrior. These men had to be trustworthy, loyal, and respectful of their master’s needs.

Jonathan, the son of King Saul, decided he would do some reconnaissance work with the Philistine army, which was in constant battle with the Israelites. Jonathan made a bold plan, sharing it with his armor bearer.

“‘Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,’ Jonathan said to his armor- bearer. ‘Perhaps the LORD will help us, for nothing can hinder the LORD. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few.’ ‘Do what you think is best,’ the armor bearer replied. ‘I’m with you completely, whatever you decide.’” 1 Samuel 14:6-7.

The two of them managed to kill twenty soldiers, causing panic to break out in the Philistine army. This led to the Israelites defeating their enemy. But the success came from the faithfulness of this armor-bearer to support Jonathan through a difficult decision.

The faithfulness of a friend to stand by you in a difficult situation is something we all long for; those of us who have it need to treasure those relationships. Being a friend isn’t always easy, especially if one gets swept up in the pain of another. But we need each other.

“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.” Ecclesiastes 4:9.

Kolly and Beck see their dogs as faithful friends who are there for them. No matter what.

We each need two-legged friends who are that committed to us.

Can we be those faithful and loyal two-legged friends?