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Friends can’t fix all your problems, but they can make sure you never have to face them alone. |
The fall 2011 edition of Girl Talk Live was all about friendship. Our guest speaker was Margaret Ziegler, a fun-loving, energetic, woman of God who is passionate about spreading the word about girlfriend-ism.
Margaret’s convictions about our need for close girlfriend relationships run deep. She doesn't just talk the talk; she also walks the walk, and she brought a crew of her girlfriends along to prove it.
The women on our girlfriend panel (Tobi Hedrick, Elease Jones, Donzella Kay, and Marta Anderton) were from all stages and walks of life. Each one had a unique perspective on relationships and a special nugget of wisdom to share.
Here are a few of the things we learned about girlfriend-ism from Margaret, our girlfriends panelists, and the comments that were shared by Girl Talk participants:
1. Open your heart to building new relationships, even if it's
uncomfortable:
I know, I know…easier said than done. We’ve all been hurt, and we’ve all been disappointed by “so-called friends” who have not met our expectations.
Put all those negative experiences aside for a moment and think about this … wouldn’t it be nice to have a shop-til-you-drop, laugh-til-you-cry, through thick & thin, friend to share life’s joys and struggles with?
I know what you’re thinking … does such a person exist? Well, Proverbs 18:24 says, “there is a friend who sticks closer than a [sister].” Why don’t we concentrate on finding ways to live out this verse on a personal level in the relationships around us, and count on God to do the rest. He will multiply our efforts and send people to refresh our souls at just the right time. [Proverbs 11:25 [she] who refreshes others will [herself] be refreshed.]
2. Spend time together often:
You don’t have to plan a formal gathering or wait for a special occasion to spend time with your girlfriends. Building close relationships takes time, but bonds can be created/strengthened while engaging in everyday life activities together (like grocery shopping or walking your dogs). Think of all the “not so exciting” tasks you perform on a daily/weekly basis. Spice them up the next time by inviting a friend to join you.
3. Think outside the box:
Maybe your current circumstances prevent you from seeing your friends face-to-face as often as you’d like. Maybe your friends are miles and miles away; or maybe you are home-bound due to illness; or maybe your life is completely unpredictable due to the recent arrival of a newborn. Life can be tough to “schedule” sometimes. There will be times when, despite our best efforts, we just can’t seem to get out of the house and/or our girlfriends can’t get to us for some reason.
When life throws its curve balls, you’ve got to step out of the way -- and out of the box. Send your friends an email when you’re up and can’t sleep at 4 a.m. Sign up for Skype so you can see and chat with your friends even when they’re far away. Send text messages to let your friends know they are on your mind and in your heart. The possibilities are endless.
4. Seize the moment & follow the Spirit’s lead:
Sometimes, you can’t plan things. You’ve got to just go with the flow. If a friend is on your mind all day out of the blue, call her or drop by to see her (if your schedule permits a visit). She’s probably on your mind for a reason, and the sound of your voice or the gift of your presence may be just the thing she needs to make it through the day.
We are so grateful that Margaret, Tobi, Elease, Donzella, and Marta took time out of their busy lives to share their “girlfriend-ism” experiences with us.
What about you? How would you rate your current relationships? What can you do to make them better?
