During my second year of college I was scouting around for a place to
live, as my roommates had dropped out of school. One Sunday after
church the pastor put his arm around me and said, "I understand you
need a room. Our daughter is in New Zealand this year as a foreign
exchange student. If you'd like to stay with us you may use her room."
To be honest, I really didn't want to stay with "the preacher's
family." I was 19 years old and on my own! But then he told me how
much rent would be -- a ridiculously low figure that included one
home-cooked meal a day. I thought about the offer for about a minute
and decided to move in.
At the end of the semester I had planned to find other living
arrangements, since their daughter was returning home. But they asked
me if I wanted to stay on another term, suggesting I move across the
hall and share a room with their son. I happily accepted the offer and
vacated their daughter's bedroom.
On the day she was to return from overseas, her boyfriend, who had
obviously been pining away for her during her year's absence,
delivered a huge bouquet of flowers. He set them in the center of the
kitchen table. Then he turned to me and said, "Hi, my name is George.
I understand you'll be staying here another semester."
I told him that I was and he said, speaking of his girlfriend, "Well,
you watch out for her for me."
I said I'd be glad to do that. And when I met her later that day, I
began to realize this idea of "watching out" for her was going to be a
lot more fun than I first thought!
I soon learned a couple of things. First, I learned that SHE was not
nearly as interested in George as he was in her. And second, I learned
that the guy on the INSIDE has the advantage!
In about a year we married, and we've been watching out for each other
ever since. We've had many occasions to say to one another, as the
biblical Ruth said to her mother-in-law Naomi, "Where you go I will
go; where you stay I will stay. Your people will become my people." In
each other we've found someone to count on.
I am not always the easiest the person to live with! And there have
also been times over the years that life turned out to be far more
difficult than either of us imagined. But we have been able to go
forward because we each had someone to count on.
Whom can you count on? This isn't about marriage. A child might
say, "I can count on my Mom." Others might mention a brother or sister
or even a child. And others might say they can always count on a
special friend. We all need someone who is reliable. Someone we can
trust.
Who can say about you, "I'll be around through thick or thin. I'll be
here through rain or shine. My commitment to you doesn't depend on
anything you might DO to earn it. You can't make me care about you
more or less one day to the next. At times I may be angry with you or
hurt by you or disappointed in you; but I'm still here for you."
Whom can you count on? And who can count on you?
-- Steve Goodier
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