A great example of relationships that empower is told by Willie Morris in Parade magazine. The story is about major league baseball player Jackie Robinson.
Jackie Robinson was the first black man to play major league baseball. Breaking baseball’s color barrier, he faced jeering crowds in every stadium. While playing one day in his home stadium in Brooklyn he committed a critical error. The fans began to ridicule him. He stood at second base humiliated. As the fans jeered shortstop Pee Wee Reese walked over put his arm around Jackie Robinson and faced the crowd and continued to stand there until the fans grew quiet. Robinson later said that arm around his shoulder saved his career.
The people you surround yourself with help shape your world. Here are three types of relationships that empower your life.
The coach – The coach has already navigated through the issues of life that you are currently facing, giving them the insight to guide you through the different seasons of your life. Don’t hesitate to ask for help from someone who has succeeded where you want success.
The peer – One of the other relationships that empower your life are those who stand beside you. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” The quality of your life will never rise above the quality of your friendships. Your life is defined by your relationship with God and your relationship with others. I encourage you to take a look at a previous article where I list 6 characteristics of healthy relationships.
Those we coach – Everyday you have the opportunity to establish relationships that empower others. In speaking about the law of God with all of its commands, Jesus summed it up with only two commandments – Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus said we were to make “disciples” of all nations. You have the privilege of empowering the lives of others. The things that last for eternity are the investments you make in the lives of those around you.
An old proverb says, “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”
I have taught my children that in rellationships, both in friendships and in whom you choose to marry, that the person you are with should make you a better person.