The other morning my husband and I were joking around with each other. I suggested I was going to divorce him and he said, “I’m not worried about that. You are my ride or die.”
I gotta tell you, I was a little offended. I thought, “If he thinks I’m ride or die, he hasn’t been paying attention the last thirty years.”
Ride or die is slang for a person, usually a woman, who will put up with anything yet stay true to their partner. Woman who have stayed with their partners through multiple affairs, verbal or physical abuse, or jail terms are considered ride or die.
Now, my husband has never tested this theory that I am “ride or die” but when he jokingly said it, I didn’t like it. I thought, “I am no one’s doormat. I am strong. And while I love you and our partnership dearly, I could make it on my own just fine. You don’t want to test your ride or die theory on this woman.”
The next day, I pursued repairing a relationship with someone. Earlier in the week, this person and I had a heated disagreement. Of course, I felt as if I were in the right but I called to repair what had happened. We had a great conversation and things were restored.
When I hung up the phone, the Lord said to me, “Melissa, you are ride or die because I am ride or die.”
God is not a doormat. He is strong. He doesn’t need us. Yet, He never gives up on us. He pursues us. He pursues a relationship with us. We have done the most dastardly and vile acts, yet He still seeks relationship with us. He is the original ride or die.
Now, I am not suggesting that anyone stay in an abusive or dysfunctional relationship. As a matter of fact, I’m giving you permission to leave an abusive relationship. But what God was showing me is that He doesn’t give up on people and neither should we. Even if sometimes we have to be “ride or die” from afar.
This is God’s definition of “ride or die”:
Forgive quickly and easily.
See the good in others even when they can’t see it themselves.
Love unconditionally.
Bless not curse those who hurt you.
Pursue reconciliation when possible and when it’s not pray for reconciliation.
Never give up on people, knowing God is pursuing them and can heal their hurts.
It’s okay to be “ride or die” from afar.
So, I guess my husband was correct. I am “ride or die” just like my Daddy.
“Let those who fear the Lord say, “His faithful love endures forever.””
Psalms 118:4 CSB