This morning my oldest daughter, Paige, had asked if I’d braid her hair. She’s going out for girls’ wrestling this year and has practice today (even though it’s Thanksgiving break) so pulled back hair is her preference.
I found it interesting because at the time she asked, I was reading and studying over Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 which says this:
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them 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.
When it comes to my daughter wanting her very long hair braided she always requests the help of either her sister or myself. It takes another set of hands to make it happen. It’s teamwork.
Today as I got the privilege of braiding her hair, with some new and fresh insight, I thought about the last part of the verses I’d just read, ‘a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.’
Interesting given the fact I’d just woven three sections of hair together similar to a cord formation. The weaving and intertwining of the hair strands keeps it stronger and serves the purpose for which it was meant—to hold together.
Keeping these verses in mind we can circle the encouragement found here—there is strength when partnering up.
Last weekend I tested positive for Covid and to say I accepted the circumstances to follow with ease would be a huge falsity. I was not impressed and am still struggling. Plans were tossed and negative feelings pursued.
My “quarantine” time doesn’t end until Sunday evening. There’s nothing normal about being isolated from family over Thanksgiving break especially in my own home.
Out of respect for my husband and kids I’ve tried to stay to my room but I was really “wrestling” with depressive thoughts so I’ve graduated a bit more to the main areas of the house while wearing a mask. I know this probably doesn’t meet CDC recommendations but out of the personal health of my sanity it is what it is.
I admit this isn’t one of my most happy-go-lucky-post. Actually I always aim to just be as transparent as possible. I share all this though because I’ve been able to reflect on how much people matter to me.
God didn’t design us to be alone. In the beginning of His Word we read in Genesis 2:18, “The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” God created woman in effort to reinforce that idea. We know sin ensued shortly after and humanity has suffered the results since. But God didn’t leave us without a Way to overcome…His name is Jesus.
When we include Jesus in our life, and in our relationships, that cord we read about in Ecclesiastes exist with the type of supernatural strength that points to Him.
Life is for us to do together. To lift one another up. To encourage. To cheer one another on. To smile. To hug. To laugh. To cry. To fellowship. To be in communion.
So even though Thanksgiving has definitely looked and felt very different and has not been my first choice of creating memories in this way, I can focus on the fact that I am blessed beyond measure—I know the importance (without a shadow of a doubt) of how beautiful life is when we are fulfilled by relationships. And the best is with Jesus laced right in the middle.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken…
I pray your Thanksgiving was blessed and (even if it may also look different like mine) that you can turn your focus to the positives with an attitude of gratitude. ❤️
For His Purpose 
Real life is always more interesting & than fiction.
Praying for your physical & mental Health, my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much Barb.❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Praying for you little sister. Moments with your daughter are precious anytime but this year even more so. If you want a little fun, ask Paige if she wants me to try to braid her hair 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
❤️I will ask her and let you know!😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
okay 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Paige laughed at the thought of you braiding her hair!!❤️
LikeLike
Praying for you, Alicia. Thank you for being real, open, authentic. Not every day is sunshine and rainbows and there is nothing wrong in my opinion with admitting that. Praise God that He is faithful even in the midst of difficult, unpleasant and painful circumstances. How much sweeter the time with family and friends will be when quarantine is over. Love you friend!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a good way to look at it!! Thank you Mandy for the encouragement!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so sorry you have Covid, especially over Thanksgiving! I can only imagine how difficult it’s been for you. But I appreciate the lesson that God helped you to see through this. Our family and friends help make us stronger. And when we weave Jesus into our relationships, we have much to be thankful for. Praying for you, and sending hugs! 🤗♥️
LikeLike
Your transparency is admirable and encouraging Alicia . . . “Plans were tossed and negative feelings pursued.”
Been there, done that . . . a very human response to life’s unexpected maladies in lieu of what my initial, more challenging ‘sure cure’ should be . . . negative feelings tossed and trusting His plan be pursued.
Be Blessed!
LikeLike
Amen, Alicia. It is definitely much better to be with our loved ones, than being alone. Praying you are healed quickly! Great analogy regarding the three strands too. Praying the Lord blesses her with victory in wrestling. God bless you all!
LikeLike
Praying for you, sweet friend. God is with us, no matter where we are. Paul knew that more than most, since he penned the most joy-filled words from a prison. Quarantine can be viewed as another type of prison, so keep those words of encouragement and joy coming, just like PAUL! Hugging you from Georgia!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Cheryl!!❤️ beautiful truth!!
LikeLike
And family bonding together gives strenght
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, definitely ❤️
LikeLike
Oh what lousy timing for Covid to show up! Christmas will just have to be extra special at your house to help make up for the missed moments at Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, your insight about Jesus woven into the middle of our relationships is spot-on. He does augment the connectedness we experience with other believers–in delightful ways!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen!! Yes and when we converse with non-believers I pray the Holy Spirit would be seen in our lives and that God would be glorified!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
AMEN, Alicia!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mine looked similar to yours as I was in the hospital on Thanksgiving due to Covid. I was hooked up to a very low dose of oxygen and had to remain there for five days while I underwent an antiviral medication that may have done nothing for me and some say could have caused me issues (but all the tests they did there showed it did not cause those issues, thank God. I’ve been home almost four days and to say this threw my life for a loop is an understatement! But God was good and is good and he brought me through! I feel on edge, like something else might go wrong but he seems to keep telling me he’s got me – he saved me and there has to be a reason for that.
I hope you are doing okay. Days 8 to 9 were really bad for me but they thankfully aren’t for most!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Lisa❤️ I’m so far behind on blog reading so I just saw that you’d posted something about you having Covid…I’m so thankful you’re home now!! Praying you continually feel better each day!! I’ve heard those meds they give in the hospital for Covid can be scary. I’m sure Christmas will feel extra special as you celebrate without Covid!!
I was really tired during Covid and still have days I feel worn out. Overall it didn’t physically get to me but the frustration and loneliness I felt is still causing me some issues…started stewing over my kids getting older and feeling shame over my pre-Christian days. I think Satan attacks us double when we’re alone??🤷♀️ I just keep clinging to God and I know He’ll work all things out for good!!!
Thank you for commenting, I’ll keep your continued recovery in my prayers and that your family stays healthy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes he does attack us when we are alone! That’s his tactic but we are never really alone. Christ is with us and we can tell Satan to get out at any time!!
The meds weren’t too scary but them telling me they had to watch for blood clots was scary! Now I wonder if I could still get them though they said my test results for them were good numbers.
Recovering is not easy. I want to bounce right back but I’m so tired and my head feels so odd still. Terribly disconnected from the world around me.
I just keep praying it gets better. I’ve only been out of the hospital for four days — I think I can cut myself a bit of slack. Lol.
Glad you came through it well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s very true, we aren’t ever really alone!!❤️..I guess that was Satan’s “strategy” to try and make me feel alone while I isolated from my family to try and keep them from getting sick. Oh what a mess Covid is and the idea that it’s here to stay is not comforting.
I will be praying especially for you to start feeling better in the area of that foggy feeling in your mind, I did feel that too but only for a short time. Not a pleasant feeling. Praying for you already and will continue to.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sorry I didn’t read this earlier, Alicia. I’m way behind on my blog reading. I pray that you’re all better now and that no one else got sick. I appreciate so much how you learn valuable spiritual lessons in every situation you face. Thank you for sharing your walk with God and how He is the center of your triple chord – and should be of ours, as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love how God can teach us each day through different life lessons.❤️Always room for growing and learning if we tune in…you always have valuable lessons through Aaron that you share and it’s so appreciated by many.❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
💖💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for being a ‘cord’ during our hardest days last year. We isolated during Thanksgiving but for health protection reasons. Still…, I cried. Christmas, we celebrated with our family in small groups and rejoiced that we got to see every sweet face. We are not meant to be alone, you are absolutely correct, and clearly Satan is having a heyday with this virus! I pray for a revival in our land so we can kick evil to the curb and becomes United again! Amen! Glad you are over this virus!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes we certainly aren’t meant to be alone!! We could have everything in the world (materialistically speaking) but without a relationship with Jesus and the blessing of healthy people that he blesses us with we would never know true joy!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautifully written.
LikeLiked by 1 person