"The Hill We Climb, The Fall We Face, and the Healing We Find."

“Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.” – Psalm 37:24

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.” – Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Jack and Jill’s journey up the hill is more than just a nursery rhyme; it serves as a powerful metaphor for life, relationships, and purpose. The hill symbolizes the challenges we face, the goals we pursue, and the burdens we carry in search of what sustains us. Let’s be real: climbing hills is no easy task, especially when you’re dragging a metaphorical “pail of water.” These hills represent life’s struggles—steep and exhausting. The water we seek? It embodies everything we long for: peace, purpose, love, mental clarity, success, or maybe just enough Ryze tea to get through Monday morning.

However, there’s an intriguing twist: Jack and Jill climbed together, but along the way, Jack fell and broke his crown, and Jill came tumbling after. What’s especially noteworthy is what didn’t happen next: Jill is never mentioned again. Why is that? Was her absence an oversight, or is there something deeper at play? What if Jill’s purpose was already fulfilled, and her role in the story had come to an end ?

Sometimes, the people we start the journey with aren’t meant to go all the way to the top with us. Jill’s presence in Jack’s life was necessary for the climb, but her mission ended with the fall. In life, there are “Jills”—friends, partners, or mentors—whose role is seasonal. They come into our lives to help us through a chapter, to teach us something, or to be a source of strength during a particular hill. But when their purpose is fulfilled, they fade into the background, not because they failed, but because their mission is complete. Jill wasn’t forgotten; she was foundational. Without her, Jack wouldn’t have made it as far as he did. But her role was temporary, and her chapter had to close so Jack could rise again and move forward.

This is a hard truth to accept, especially when we feel a deep connection to those who journey with us. We want everyone to climb every hill with us, but the reality is that not everyone is meant to reach the summit. Some people can only go partway. Jill’s fall wasn’t a failure; it was a fulfillment of her purpose. She was there when Jack needed her, and when her role was complete, she stepped out of the story. This reminds us that in life, we have to let go of those who can’t join us in the next season—not out of bitterness or anger, but out of gratitude for the part they played.

Jesus experienced this, too, as He climbed His ultimate hill—Calvary. Not everyone could follow Him to the cross. Some disciples abandoned Him, others stayed at a distance, and only a handful remained until the end. Even then, His resurrection marked a shift. People like Mary Magdalene and Peter played crucial roles in His earthly ministry, but their relationship with Him changed after the resurrection. Some couldn’t fully grasp the new season He was stepping into, and that was okay. Their purpose in His story had been fulfilled.

Jill’s absence challenges us to reflect on our own lives. Are we holding on to people whose mission in our journey is complete? Are we trying to carry relationships up a hill when they were only meant to help us start the climb? Letting go doesn’t mean their role wasn’t important. Jill’s tumble doesn’t diminish her value; it highlights her purpose. Sometimes, people leave not because they don’t care, but because they’ve already given you what you needed for the next part of the journey.

But Jill’s story also warns us to recognize when we’ve been the “Jill” in someone else’s life. There are times when we’ve fulfilled our role in someone’s story, and clinging on could hold them back—or hold us back from our own growth. Walking away with grace is just as important as staying with purpose.

In the end, the story of Jack and Jill is a reminder that God orchestrates the seasons of our lives, including the people we journey with. Some are there for a lifetime, but others, like Jill, are there for a season. Their purpose isn’t diminished by their departure; it’s defined by it. Just as Jill’s fall marked the completion of her role, we must trust that God knows when it’s time for someone to step out of our story—or for us to step out of theirs.

So, the next time someone’s absence feels like a loss, ask yourself: Was their mission in my life already fulfilled? And as you climb your next hill, trust that God will provide the right companions for the journey. Some may only stay for a chapter, but their impact will last a lifetime.

-Jermy Arnold