“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.” Proverbs 17:17 NLTCE
(Disclaimer: Though I know many sibling relationships don’t look like this. If our heavenly Father had His way, they would. If your relationship is painful, I see you.)
(Click here to listen to the interview or here to watch it on YouTube)
Hey friends,
When it comes to celebrating birthdays, there’s nothing more natural than celebrating with your siblings!
Gathered around the table from your earliest years to watch you blow out the candles, they’re by your side---as you go through school and get married, raise your children, and then watch them as they fly off to chart their own course.
Through all the weddings, promotions, and accomplishments, the illnesses, losses, and setbacks, you look out and see their faces.
As other relationships come and go, your relationship with your siblings grows more precious with each passing year.
As I thought about how to celebrate Journey with a Giant’s 1st birthday, I couldn’t think of a better way than by inviting some of the people who have been out on the trail this year, walking with their own spiritual giants, to share about their journey.
And this group came to mind. They’re doing something that I’ve never seen before in all my years watching people journey with their giants. Today, I’m joined by three gals—Laurie, Jennifer, and Melissa who share not only this experience, but the sacred bond of sisterhood as well.
Their conversation was the perfect way to celebrate. I could almost hear the first notes of “Happy Birthday …”, see Mom walking in with candles blazing, and taste the chocolate cake on my tongue.
Can’t wait for you to enjoy it too.
Journey with a Giant Turns ONE! Three Sisters, Three Giants, One Great Adventure
A Sister, A Friend, and a Coach
I don’t know if Journey with a Giant would be in the world today without my twin sister.
She has been an avid runner for over 30 years. When we were in our 30s, I remember her telling me she wanted to run at least 50 marathons before we turned 50. She far surpassed that goal and keeps adding race medals to her growing collection.
Nothing satisfies her more than stretching out one foot, then the other, with a race bib pinned to her T-shirt and mile markers passing by. Except, that is, unless she can cheer someone else on in their race.
That’s exactly what she did for me when I felt like I couldn’t take one more step with Journey with a Giant.
I was devastated when I got my first draft back from the publisher. I’d heard countless authors talk about the shock of getting your manuscript back from your editor with red ink everywhere you look. But somehow, I didn’t think my experience would be that bad. Just a month earlier, I had raised my hands like Rocky Balboa after I typed my last word and exclaimed,
“I did it. It’s done!”
Oh, the book was miles away from done. But in my mind, the finish line felt just around the corner.
On our Zoom call, the editing team was gracious and kept telling me what a great job I’d done and how much they loved the book. But when I opened the edited manuscript, there were significant structural changes that needed to be made, and 45 of the 65 articles needed to be rewritten.
I honestly didn’t know if I could do it. I felt paralyzed. So, I called my sister.
I groaned and told her about all the edits. How was I going to rewrite that many articles in the next six weeks? She put on her coaching hat:
“Well, could you make a list of the articles, and then categorize them as big rocks or small ones?”
“Yes,” I said, “I can do that.”
When I brought the list back, she said,
“Ok, now how many days do you have to get this done?”
I told her, and she said, “That means you need to get two big rocks and one small one done each day. Do you think you might be able to do that?”
Doubtfully, I shook my head and answered, “I don’t know. But I’ll try.”
Each day, I checked in with her at the beginning of the day and the end. On the days that I got my rocks checked off, she celebrated with me, and on days when I didn’t, she pulled out her coach clipboard, helped me to make a Plan B, and encouraged me with an enthusiastic, “You got this! Keep going!”
She never sent my calls to voicemail. She never shut me down or grew weary of listening to my complaints. She knew when I was bonking (when your blood sugar drops after physical exertion) and needed a bottle of Gatorade and how to keep me going when I “hit the wall” and wanted to pull out of the race entirely.
But eventually, one rock at a time, we made it! All the way through the edits. Not by the original six-week deadline--but with Plans B, C, D, E, F … Z -- we made it to the finish line.
I don’t think I could have done it without her.
In God's design, siblings will be there to celebrate with us in the good times and help us take one more step in the hard ones. To laugh and to cry together. To help each other grow in practical ways and spiritual ones. Among the gifts we receive in life, few compare.
Worth Pondering:
Has the Father blessed you with siblings? Just as in the podcast interview, there are different types of sisters. Some are biological and sprouted from the original family tree, and others are grafted in with love and presence over time.
Do you remember a time when they were there for you in a good time or a hard one?
Reach out to them today. Catch up on family news, talk about your favorite sports team or the weather.
If Laurie, Jennifer, and Melissa’s story piqued your interest, tell them about walking with giants and chat about what it might look like to have your own group in 2027. Before you hang up, tell them how thankful you are to have them in your life.
Worth Noticing:
Journey with a Giant: Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose, and Grow in Your Walk with God by Lori G. Melton
Worth Remembering:
“The physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer.”
— Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together