Let’s Hear it for the Boys - Tom's Band of Brothers Tour

Several years ago my husband and a couple of his buddies from high school started talking about a 2019 trip to Europe to visit meaningful World War II sights. I’ve since learned these trips are often referred to as Band of Brothers Tours, designed to take visitors through time and history as they travel to significant war sights of several neighboring countries.

I was excited beyond belief to think that Tom might get to go on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Especially after Matt’s recovery (and the realization that life is fragile and short), I wanted Tom to seize the opportunity to explore time and history. In doing so, this group of men wasn’t only honoring the sacrifices made in WWII, but those made for each other over a lifetime of being friends.

Eric and Darrin, two of the men making the trip, have been Tom’s friends since middle school. James became a member of the crew when they were in their 20s. None of those original three have brothers, but they have each other and refer to each other accordingly. Together, they have weathered the deaths of parents and marriages. They have celebrated the births and accomplishments of their children and rang in a new millennium together. They have also ran hundreds and hundreds of miles together.

I wonder how many men are so lucky to have other men in their lives that they can be real with about the heartaches of this world? To share their fears about their marriages, children, and careers? To discuss their faith, and sometimes the lack of it? To laugh with -full-on belly laughs - about things that the rest of the world might not find humorous. 

Relationships like these are worth every dime that was spent on this adventure. They are worth every investment that has been made over a lifetime of being friends. 

It’s my hope that the women reading this will help create space for the men in their lives to nurture and develop meaningful relationships with other men. And it’s my hope that men reading this will be courageous and have real conversations about something other than the news, weather and sports, with the men that God has placed in their lives. 

We were all created in His image, which means we were all created for relationship. We need it. It’s why Jesus tells us that the greatest command, after loving Him, is to love each other. And it’s why he gives us John 15:13 that says, “There is no greater love than this—that a man should lay down his life for his friends.”

Do you have friends like this in your life?