One Another, Each Other

Dad and his grandson Philip

One Another, Each Other

Last time I started with a story. This round I'm beginning with a definition. Why? Because for this subject, ONE ANOTHER, we need to be on the same page of how I am referencing this term.

Webster: each other

Britannica:

a. each of two or more people who are doing something together in a relationship to the other or others in the group

b. reciprocal pronoun because it shows bidirectional action

Some say each other is two people and one another is everyone in a group.


There are many one another verses:



1 Corinthians 12:25 Look after the others with mutual concern so there is no division in the body.



Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another.

Colossians 3:16 Teach and instruct one another.

Hebrews 10:24 Stir up one another to love and good works.

1 John 3:11 Walk in self sacrificing love toward one another.... John repeats this 5 times in this book alone!

There are 59 one another's in the New Testament. A few more without the references: bear one another's burdens, love and serve one another.

Back to the top with Webster: EACH OTHER



I think about my dad always opened doors for anyone who was near and would comment, 'after you'. If he knew you really well, he would say, "Age before beauty!" To me that's a fun one another. If someone needed a tool, my dad was the man. Letting someone borrow is a support for one another. What I have is yours.

Each other, in my perception rings a bit different in tone. It feels a bit more personal. According to the Word of God, some versions have in some verses the words each other. 



Each means a distinct person, every individual, one by one. It's a part of one another.

Golden Rule: Matthew 7:12 In everything you do be careful to treat others in the same way you'd want them to treat you.

This is beginning to speak differently to my heart. I can help someone who needs assistance and that is good. I can help and serve at church, in the community, or at my job and that is good.

Even more so, I was processing about how we are paying it forward in life. I believe in "how much more", relates to those with whom we have relationship.

In doing that, it takes me getting to know them. It's easy often in the beginning of a relationship. It's later, when life has its messy bits we jump ship on how we are treating those around us.

Back to my dad. Here's the storyline for today.

My dad was a blue collar worker that took his job seriously as well as providing for the family. Growing up, until I heard stories many years later, I didn't know what actually made my dad tick, what was truly important, gave him value.

He was a guy who truly didn't know a stranger. His laughter was the one everyone in a room (and down the block) would know it was him. From my teen years, he loved Jesus with all his heart. He irritated people and minced no words telling others they were living in sin or needed to hang up a particular habit. But they didn't know his past. He was doing everything he could, one person at a time, to change their trajectory. He was trying to save them some of the hard knocks in life he had experienced.

Dad was not a people pleaser. He was direct and forthright.

But he was also so very fun! Everyone thought he was competitive, but he was one who was always happy if you won the card game. He loved practical jokes (as well as my mom). In my family, you had to be on guard, literally. You might get a cup of cold water thrown on you in the middle of your shower. 



I say all this because I learned his language. I learned how to love on my dad. I didn't know I was doing this until later. If I cooked something, he would say, something like "hey, save me a bite of that". So later when he'd ask, I'd say it was in the fridge, and I literally left him only a bite. He would roar with laughter! Then say, "where's the rest"? Dad, "you said a bite". He'd chuckle and grab a cold hot dog.....yes, his favorite snack. As soon as he'd eat it, I'd pull out the portion I'd saved for him. 



Dinner was always together (unless sports interfered). He would finish his last bite and ask me for a toothpick. Only me. No one else. I never realized it was one of our little things. Pretty soon I watched and as he finished that last bite I was already up and getting the toothpick. Could we have put them on the table? Sure. Could I get one by his plate ahead of time? Sure. Could he have gotten it himself? Sure. But it was a little thing between us. I miss all these things and more.



Many years later, lots of life lived out, dad and mom moved in with us. Dad had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. As the disease progressed, we still played lots of cards. He wasn't adept at keeping track well, and he would play the incorrect card. I would joke with him and tell him he was cheating. He would look at me and chuckle. The glimmer in his eyes different, but he KNEW I was joking. On a clear headed day, only months before he graduated to heaven, he asked me if I could still finish his sentences. I had completely forgotten that he would start to say something and I would jump in and finish it. We had a deep laugh that day because some of them were quips he would always say and that's what he remembered. Precious times.

Why the memories? It made me realize how much our Heavenly Father knows us. Every single detail. He made you. He made me. It's on our end to discover how to reciprocate with God and others. How much do I know him? What does he like? How about my spouse, my friends?

Each other! Powerful. One another. Important. You may be the gesture of kindness they needed. And of course there's one more other, you. 



He made you in His image. Genesis 1:27

He made you the way He wanted you. Psalm 139

Perfect is your beauty, without flaw. Song of Songs 4:7

He gave his son for you. John 3:16

He chose you. Ephesians 1:4

You Heavenly Father LOVES you. Everyday is a new unfolding of each other.

 Keys to Whole Living