First off, I want to know what you think about this verse.  What does it symbolize to you?  How does it tell you to live?  Does it speak to your individual life or the way you are with friends and even dating relationships?

For me, this verse had a huge impact on everything that has happened over the last 8 and a half months.  I believe one of my last weblogs talks about how I shunned one man I like to go out with another, only to realize how much I still love the first man.  He is always honest, very sincere, knows exactly how to make me laugh and understands me probably better than I do myself.  Well, in one of the recent e-mails I sent to him, I quoted this verse.  Although, I did not explain to him why I quoted the verse because at the time the e-mail was already well over three pages long and I did not really understand yet myself why that verse got to me so much.  So, I'll give you all the details of my thoughts and how I broke down this verse.

Part One

"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated."

Have you ever been walking anywhere, alone, late at night, and at that feeling that someone would attack you at any moment?  Have you ever felt vulnerable in any way simply because you didn't have anyone to back you up, or on your side.  I believe that is what this part of the verse speaks to, the people who stand on their own.  For some, this does work, but deep down, are they truly content?  I thought I could be content on my own, that I did not need God or friends surrounding me and giving me support.  Because of this thought, I allowed my actions to hurt those I cared for the most, to hurt those I was closest too.  I stood on my own and then Satan attacked me, and he defeated me because I gave in.  Before this thought loomed into my mind, I was one of those people that was completely and totally against even attending any party where there was alcohol and/or underage drinking.  I am completely against premarital sex, and very much so against abortion (granted there are some circumstances that I can understand, but even then I still feel that it is wrong to kill any unborn child, no matter how the baby was conceived).  Living by the thought that I needed no one, I became even more nonchalant than I was before about how people acted towards me, and around me, and even said I would be a designated driver for some (although that never actually happened).  That being said leads me to the next part of the verse....

Part Two

"But two can stand back-to-back and conquer"

My first thought when reading this part of the verse is that you always need God by your side and He will help you conquer everything that comes your way.  While this is very very true, this part of the verse also speaks directly to relationships and maybe even friendships.  Like I mentioned in the first part, when you are alone, you feel vulnerable, like something horrible could happen at any second.  This part of the verse tells us to surround us with people that can help comfort and support us, to keep us accountable for our actions.  My problem these last several months is that I had no one to keep me accountable, to keep from straying from the path set before me by God.  Now I see that every friendship is a chance to stand back-to-back and conquer, to stomp out the devil's evil wishes and keep him far from us.  More than anything though, this part of the verse hit home because of the relationship I broke and am now doing my best to mend as much as possible.  I felt as though God was speaking directly to my heart telling me that I was doing the right thing by continuing to speak to this man I still care for because, with him, I can stand back-to-back and conquer.  Together, he and I are so much mroe than we are apart.  It took me nearly 9 months to figure it out, but I finally realized that this man is the missing piece to the puzzle that is my life.  I already have my Savior, our Lord in Heaven above, and for that I am eternally grateful.  Unfortunately, I had lost one of my closest friends here on this earth.  Fortunately though, he and I are taking things step by step and willing to follow the path God has before us.  Neither he nor I know if our paths are together or apart, either way we are trusting that God is leading us in the direction.

Part Three

"Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

As I said at the end of the last part, we are bothing praying that God will lead us in the correct direction.  I believe that trusting in God is the key component to making a reltaionship work.  When it really boils down, it may be possible that any relationship could work if the foundation is built upon the Lord.  This was the part that I believe both he and I began to forgot.  When we first met, we talked about our faith quite often, and even began a joint site much similar to this one (it was actually the exact same name, just without the underscore).  Then, I'm not sure what happened, maybe it was my fault, maybe it was simply a lack of time, but talk of faith became less common.  Nevertheless, after reading this verse and really thinking about, I finally realize that our God truly is the key to the universe.  Without Him we would be nothing. 

It amazes me that so many people in this world live from day to day without thanking God for every breath they take.  Every breath is a gift from God, every little raindrop, every tiny atom that works according to the way God made it. 

So when you reach that point in your life where you meet someone whom you feel you can spend the rest of your life with, remember one thing: God.  Do not stray from God, do not replace Him with some boyfriend.  There are too many friends of mine (mostly girls) who try to fill the void they fill with boyfriends, and not with God.  Our God provides us with everything we need, everything He gives us is a gift that we should be thankful for every moment of every day.

I am grateful to know that I have a God who knows, understands and cares for me, that hears my prayers.  For so long now I wondered if He was really there, or if He was simply a figment of our imagination.  Now I know, I know that my redeemer lives, that my Savior lives, and I know that I will be welcomed with open arms into heaven's gates once I pass from the world (which I pray will not be for many years).