Everyone needs a support system of influential people that they can lean on, learn from, and grow. I consider myself to be well rounded, and the well-roundedness that I possess would not be possible if not for three instrumental Godly men in my life. We are taught in Proverbs 27:17 that, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” This scripture describes the blacksmithing that these Godly men have performed in my life. These men, who have helped me get where I am today have personified Strength, Drive, and Discipleship; without them, I undoubtedly would not be where I am today. Strength is often thought of as only a physical attribute; However, this first person embodies all aspects real strength. On the surface, my dad, Jayme, would seem to most like “happy go lucky guy” without a care in the world; however, it is also what you do not see that tells the story of his strength. Scars on his hands and worn leather like skin provides vivid details of a life spent working tirelessly to provide for others at his expense. The son of a Builder, my father, followed in his father’s footsteps as a master craftsman. Beyond his ability to create beautiful houses, my dad showed strength in building a healthy, quality, home life for my siblings and I; A home life whose foundation was laid by the Lord.

There are a lot of people who are happy with mediocrity; they lack the drive and determination to go the distance. My older brother, Jayson, worked from the time he could ride a bike, doing whatever he could do to make his way in the world. He has always been the favorite guy with a large circle of friends. He was the football star, and was no stranger to the title “homecoming king”, and “prom king.” He is a socialite at heart, but more importantly, he is the image of a perfectly balanced scale, equally weighted in relationships and work. He paid his way through Hampden-Sydney College without ever spending a single cent of anyone else’s money. Furthermore, he continued blazing his path into the professional world; experiencing success at every turn. In the world of racing, you qualify based on your best lap time; my brother has continually set records at all of life's racetracks tracks which have resulted in countless trips to victory lane.

Last but not least there is the man who has been to the top; he experienced wealth, fame and fortune, and just about every opportunity one could imagine. From an early age, Matt said that he wanted to be a pastor, that he felt a call to ministry. However, his father, a successful business person told him that “there is no money to be made being a preacher.” As a result, he decided to chase the mighty dollar down the rabbit hole and forget his dream of being a pastor. Matt found his pot of gold at the end of the rainbow as a successful culinary artist. By the age of 30 he had had made tons of money, cooked for The Food Network, and found himself comfortably resting in a circle of fame and riches. Alone and depressed, Matt felt Gods tug after years of running and gave everything over to him. He sold off his businesses and has followed Jesus ever since. Matt had a “Saul to Paul” transformation and is a beaming example of Matthew 13:23. Matt has since found much greater success as a pastor a fantastic role model, a disciple, and an author.

As you are reading this, you may find yourself asking how anyone of these men could help anyone. I can say with certainty; without these three men, I would probably be nothing more than a faded memory on a headstone. We learn in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 that” two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” In closing, each of these men each possesses God-given talents that have been sharpened as a result of their individual stories. It is with these sharpened talents that each of these men are able to impact others and help sharpen their lives.