Busy Biz Blogs: Backer

Backer\ n. A person who supports or aids a person

Christian should be a synonym for backer.
While talking with a friend today I realized that all too often we are surrounded by downers and NO this friend was not a downer.
Downers are those people who bring you down, who can be pessimistic, who ultimately assume the worst of all situations, and sometimes wish the worst on people to prove their points.

During our chat I mentioned the following:
"It's frustrating when we are judged by Christians, people we expect to lift us up and help us. It seems sometimes that when we have actual problems they distance themselves from us as though it's contagious or too heavy for them".

My friend commented that some people say they are Christians without holding themselves to the standard.

I wanted to counteract with something I felt God lay on my heart:
"Christians are a multitude of people and we are at all different levels in our walks. I still fall. We all will, forever and always. We can try to be Christ-like but we will never achieve that fully. I think that people are afraid to allow others hurt into their own world for fear that it'll reveal their own hurt. We are a society that doesn't know how to deal with hurt".

Our conversation brought us onto a very special topic.
MARRIAGE.
This is one of my engaged friends and recently the individual was confronted by people who didn't understand why that relationship or our other friend's relationship felt they were ready for marriage.
People who thought maybe they were too young to get married a.k.a. downers.
I had an opportunity to remind this friend that I was younger then anyone we know getting married now, when I got married.
I was only 19....Bud was 21.
We faced criticism from family members and other individuals, all who thought we might be too young for this next step.
Let me say now, "Nana nana boo boo"! Sorry...maybe that was inappropriate.
On a more adult level...It's over 6-1/2 years later and those people know we made the right decision.
I told my friend that it's such a blessing that these engaged couples are all Christians.
It means we can all be backers for each other!
We can all support each other and help each other.
I didn't say marriage was always easy, but how important is it that we surround ourselves with people who are willing to listen when we are hurt and are there to support and build us back up and point us back towards Christ!!!
I'd like to thank all my friends who are a constant reminder of God's love.
I'd also like to remind everyone, myself included, that the next time we are approached (by anyone Christian or non-Christian) with a plateful of hurt that before we speak as a downer would, that we pause and see how we can use that opportunity to glorify God. Be a BACKER not a DOWNER