I was watching Marshals the earlier today when a commander (Pete) gave Casey Dutton an instruction that caught my attention. He said something along the lines of, “When I move, you fire. When I fire, you move.”
He was referring to a military strategy where two people work together, providing cover for each other as they advance. When one moves, the other provides cover. When the roles are reversed, the other takes over. They keep alternating, ensuring that neither is left exposed.
I found the instruction quite interesting. And when I sat with it for a bit, I found it even more interesting because of how easily I could relate it to family life.
I began to think about parents and children, husbands and wives, siblings and even the relationships we share with other members of our families.
What if we approached some of our family relationships this way? What if we understood that we don’t always have to move at the same time? Sometimes, one person is pursuing an opportunity, taking a risk or simply trying to find their feet, and the other provides the support that makes that movement possible.
There will be times when one person has to carry a little more because the other is having a difficult time. Sometimes, one parent takes a step back so the other can take the lead. Sometimes, a sibling needs help, and the other steps in.
But providing cover does not mean putting your own life on hold indefinitely. It simply means understanding that there are times when supporting someone else’s movement is just as important as making your own.
I also think that this should go both ways. Nobody should always be moving while the other is expected to provide cover. At some point, the roles must change.
After all, we are supposed to be on the same team. We should be able to move, pause, support and take turns without feeling that we are competing with one another.
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