What makes a good partner?

When Stoz so artfully foreshadowed his post Friends are Forever, I also began thinking of what makes a good partner. I decided to hold off until after Stoz's post, but now here is my answer!


What makes a good partner?
* Someone who can jump from a moving horse onto the horns of a runaway steer and never lose his hat.
* Someone who’s by your side in a gunfight.
* Someone who doesn’t let the saloon doors swing back and hit you in the face as you enter.
* Someone who says “Howdy!”
* Someone who has integrity, honesty and respect - maybe even the Sheriff!
* Someone who says “Reach for the sky!”
* Someone who can shoot straight.
* Someone who's a quick draw.
* Someone with whom you can ride off into the sunset.

What? Isn't that the kind of "partner" you meant? Well, just in case, I'll show you how these things can line up for a real relationship too...

Someone who can jump from a moving horse onto the horns of a runaway steer and never lose his hat.
Amid all all the hustle and bustle of chasing down a runaway steer, he still holds on to what is important to him - his hat. In all the craziness and busyness of life, they still hold onto what is important to them - God. That is always their first priority, and in much more than just a superficial way.

Someone who’s by your side in a gunfight.
Any good partner is at your back in a gun fight, and any good life partner is by your side through life. They're with you through the thick and the thin, and you really share your whole life with them.

Someone who doesn’t let the saloon doors swing back and hit you in the face as you enter.
A good partner is considerate and compassionate towards both you and others. They are thoughtful of others' needs before their own. They have humility and are willing to serve.

Someone who says “Howdy!”
Communication is incredibly important. Not just in terms of the ability to communicate with one another effectively, but also the enjoyment of communication with each other.

Someone who has integrity, honesty and respect - maybe even the Sheriff!
Integrity is a deep and often misunderstood word. Having integrity is more than just being a (wo)man of your word, but also being someone who adheres to their values and beliefs, and who seeks to have God's way in their lives in entirety.

Someone who says “Reach for the sky!”
A good partner is encouraging and inspires us to reach our life's highest goals. They're behind us every step of the way, supporting us, and not afraid to challenge us if we drift.

Someone who can shoot straight.
A good partner knows where they're aiming in life. They also aren't afraid to pull us up on our faults and say it like it is, constructively of course!

Someone who's a quick draw.
A good partner is quick to love and forgive, quick to offer help, and quick to seek forgiveness.

Someone with whom you can ride off into the sunset.
A good partner is one with whom you can enjoy doing things together... And a little bit of romance never goes astray!

Everyone needs good partners in their lives, whether they're romantic relationships, close friendships, family or other support groups. We all know that ultimately God is the best partner we could ever have.

In conclusion, these are just my ideas. I'm sure the list is not exhaustive. I hope you found this both enlightening and amusing.