CeCe and I were driving home after our second out-of-town family wedding in a few weeks. At that stage, you’re always a little tired, travel weary, and ready for the comfort of home after days of celebration, laughter, and travel logistics—and just enough family storytelling to remind you some stories should stay untold.
Seriously, though, we are incredibly excited for both of these couples and the energy, love, and commitment they will bring into our extended family. There is something refreshing about watching two young people step into the beginning of their lives together with optimism, confidence, and a belief that the future will be something they build together.
One of the greatest gifts of these weddings was reconnecting with family we rarely see—a reminder that relationships thrive on presence, not convenience. While texts and social media keep us in touch, nothing replaces time spent together.
As I sat through the ceremonies and reflected on the drive home, one moment stood out: the exchange of rings. It’s always deeply moving—two people standing before God, family, and friends, making a public, lifelong commitment. The ring, an unbroken circle, symbolizes enduring love and a promise meant to last. And like many married people in that moment, I found myself glancing at my own ring, quietly reflecting.
Have I strengthened that circle of love and commitment over the years? Or have I scratched it up a little at times by becoming too focused on myself, my schedule, my priorities, or the never-ending list of things that always seem so urgent? That kind of reflection can be healthy for any marriage.
In fact, if you asked CeCe, she might tell you that those reflections have led me to volunteer for a few extra CeCe-favors around the house over the last couple of weeks. Apparently, wedding reflections can be quite motivating.
But as we continued driving home, another thought crossed my mind. What if we expanded that reflection beyond our wedding rings? Because the truth is, our lives are filled with other important relationships.
Family members, friends, co-workers, church friends, neighbors… and yes, even that first cousin we try to avoid at every family reunion. We don’t exchange physical rings with those relationships or stand before a crowd and speak vows. Yet every one of those relationships is still built on something very similar to that wedding ring—a circle of love, commitment, and trust.
And just like a wedding ring, those circles can either grow stronger over time or slowly become scratched and worn through neglect, selfishness, impatience, or simply failing to invest the time and care those relationships deserve.
Leadership works the same way. Relationships thrive when people feel valued, respected, and included in something meaningful. They weaken when people feel overlooked, unappreciated, or taken for granted.
So as I thought about those two young couples exchanging rings and beginning their journey together, I realized something that applies far beyond marriage. Every meaningful relationship we have is built on its own circle of commitment.
The question we should occasionally ask ourselves is simple.
How are those circles holding up? Are we strengthening them? Are we investing in them? Or have we allowed them to become scratched by distraction, busyness, or self-centered priorities?
The beauty of an unbroken circle is that it reminds us of something powerful. Commitment is not a one-time moment. It is a daily choice. A choice to care and invest in others.
When we strengthen the circles of commitment in our lives, something remarkable happens. Families grow stronger, friendships deepen, and teams perform better. And our influence grows in ways that truly matter. Let’s keep strengthening those circles. And always remember to #beBetter.
“If you were to anticipate how strong a company’s culture needs to be to transform and thrive in the future, Joey Havens paints a beautiful horizon in his book Leading with Significance.” Daniel Burrus
Grab your copy of Leading with Significance to find more magnetic insights to help you on your unique journey.
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