"Little girls have best friends. Grown women long for them. To have a woman friend is to relax into another soul and be welcomed in all that you are, and all that you are not. To know that as a woman, you are not alone. Friendships between women provide a safe place to share in the experiences of life as a woman....And let me say clearly, true friendship is opposed." taken from Captivating.
What is it about having our girlfriends around us, laughing with us, playing with us--that somehow empowers us? Think back to the times when you were hanging with your girls and somehow making that first move was so much easier. Or how you felt when you told a funny story and they all laughed? At that moment you feel so free, and well, YOU.
It's just right and fitting for women to have their girlfriends be their other family, the shoe that fits perfectly at all times. So why is it so opposed? We as women fight against it and sometimes don't even realize it! Because of one circumstance or another we slowly put up walls around our heart. We create a "check-in point" for any who want to enter, saying "STOP! Who goes there?" Is it really because we're afraid of being hurt, because we don't think they're really our "type" of friend, because we don't like their clothing style?
Yes, when it comes to matters of the heart we should always be protective of it. Our heart is precious and exquisitely designed for you. But how do you know if it's even going to be hurt or broken?
This past year I have let people in my heart and in my life, that if I tried to "check them in", we would never be friends. But due to circumstances they kinda"fell" in. But I appreciate them and who they are. No one is perfect. No one will ever fit the Mold of Perfection in life. But what if we stop. look around and say welcome? We would gain so much more! You might look at someone and say-they are definitely not my type. But let's step back and take in a woman for the simple beauty of being a woman. Because I decided to stop letting myself get in the way-I've met some truly beautiful women. I've learned from them and I hope they've learned from me. We all have different things about us that make us who we are. So let's appreciate those things in other women. Let's be the friend we so long to want. Let's not be the Judge, but be the friend.
There is a very good friend of mine whom I love dearly. But I hurt her. Over the years she has taught me how to live life freely and sweetly, even though she doesn't even realize she's done that. It was through her I realized how to truly be a witness for Jesus-by my everyday actions and words. She's been an example of that. And although I've been saved nearly all my life, I realized how simple being an example of Christ was, through her.
I hurt her because I disagreed with a decision she made. And although I disagreed in love and with Biblical backing- it broke my heart to know I pained her. I thought , maybe I shouldn't have said anything, maybe I should have let her just make her own decision and kept my mouth shut. But I knew deep in my heart that I did what I was suppose to do. I know that one day I will look back and be proud of how I stood my ground and because I love her, I only spoke Truth.
But today, I cry.
As a woman I let someone in who has changed my world forever. And even though right now there is some pain there, I will never regret that decision. I have learned and been through a very emotional situation. But it was an even bigger situation for her. And love truly stands the test of time. It is with faith I believe this.
So I challenge you, beautiful women, to take on a love that is fragile and precious. Something that you may even cause a nick or two on, maybe even break. Take on the heart of a woman. Life is not complete when only your heart is at stake. But life becomes fulfilling when you pour your love into another and another and another... You begin to see qualities and treasures in yourself and in life you may have walked past without knowing it.
It's all in matter of the heart.
