Friends: Unbroken and Unshakeable

Every woman needs a community of friends. These are the people who know and accept you as you are. There is no need to pretend or feel greater or lesser than the other. Perhaps the greatest friendships form as you grow older and as time and life become more precious. These are the types of friendships that cross racial lines, cultural backgrounds, religious origins, and political views. These relationships remain true through the good, the bad, and sometimes even the ugly. It is in this relationship where there is the communication of truth not to be given vindictively but spoken in love. No one can ask for much more than that.

Every year a group of friends head to the beach as their annual get-together to catch up on the things in life: new marriages, children, grandchildren, retirement, travels, and new adventures. There is excitement about coming to enjoy some good ocean air, good seafood, and camaraderie. There is a great appreciation and respect for one another. This trip allows every person to be who she needs to be and do what she wants to do. There are no rules that one has to be overly social or be the life of the group. A person is just allowed to be quiet, reflective, or alone. This is a community that everyone needs because there should be a space that is a no-judgment zone. It is a space where a person can be her true authentic self without judgment or hearing a recap about her actions or behavior at a later date.

Sometimes the term “community” is thrown around casually, but a community is not a group of women who will smile in your presence and then gossip and betray trust to benefit themselves. Community is the coming together of women who encourage one another, listen to one another, encourage one another, and pray for one another. These are the women that you can count on to be there in a time of need, sometimes above family. There is no need for compensation for helping each other, no tally of how many times they have come to the aid of another, and no feelings of guilt for needing someone’s help. Your community is a place where you can be vulnerable without shame.

If you are fortunate enough to have a group of girlfriends that have formed your community, consider yourselves blessed because we were not meant to do life alone. Think about the number of people who do not have a community. A community is precious so we must be careful how we form our communities. Communities won’t survive unappreciation, jealousy, mistrust, or betrayal. It can’t be based on wealth or competition. Romans 12:10 explains that we are to “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.” Community sometimes means that we must put someone else first.

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