She walked into our Bible study. I knew her a little bit from church. Friends with some of the ladies who already attended our Wednesday morning group.

I took great delight in watching her faith grow. We welcomed her week after week. And before you knew it, we also started socializing outside of our weekly meetings. 

Girlfriends.

A few months after she’d been with us, she shared something with our group I’ll never forget. She said,

“When I first got invited to this group, I didn’t plan on going. I work with a bunch of ladies in my career at the salon. I have a ton of girlfriends. I figured I had enough girls in my life. Within my circles, you have to be careful though. If you leave the room or turn your back for a second, they might start talking about you. I have often walked back into a room only to have the conversation stop dead in its tracks. And I knew. They were talking about me. But with you ladies, it’s different. I have never felt talked about. We support one another. We have fun. We make each other stronger.”

Better. Together.

Today’s post celebrates girlfriends. In women’s ministry, I find myself surrounded by girlfriends. I’ve learned a thing or two about why it’s good for us ladies to have some real, supportive friends in our lives.

We can laugh together.

Yes, I laugh with my husband. But that’s different form the way I can get tickled with a group of girls. The jokes they think are funny that would only get a blank stare from my husband. The stories we share around a table or at the local bounce house as the kids play. Girlfriends give us a chance to laugh. Perhaps even at ourselves.

We support one another.

If we do this friendship thing well, we don’t leave any room for competition. I had a girlfriend return to work recently. Back in the workforce after years of staying at home with little ones. This isn’t about her decision to work vs. my choice to remain unemployed for now. This IS about me praying for her all day that first day back. It’s about me checking in on her after the first few days to see how it’s going. Maybe we find the time to meet up for coffee or dinner so she can openly talk about all the changes she’s experiencing.

We carry one another’s burdens... and secrets.

I wrote about the time I went with my friend to her biopsy. We all need someone to walk this daily journey with us. Someone who is always just a phone call or a Facebook private message away. 

Pray for me as I prepare to talk with my son’s teacher about his behavior in the classroom. Lift my family up as we look for a job or a house. Intercede for me because I am so burned out in this chapter of my life.

If we do this sharing thing right and well, no one knows us quite like our girlfriends.

We are reminded we’re not alone.

Our daughter is an only child. I’m new to parenting and our enemy likes to constantly make me question if I’m doing it right or well.

Read this Facebook post from March of this year...

Allieisms from our road trip to a basketball tournament I worked at this weekend... 1) She gave out two autographs (something like an A with a fancy 6). 2) She told the event photographer she was 18 and getting married next week. 3) As she dribbled the ball onto the tournament court, she gushed, "I am so glad my mom is a basketball teamer so I can go on the court." 4) In the car, she said, "I wish I was still a baby. One year olds get everything done for them. It's like everyone is their maid." #‎cantmakethisstuffup 

Our little ones say the funniest things. And we love that. But every mom I know wonders if their children are saying too much. At inappropriate times or places. How do you know when you should just let your kid be a kid? Or when you’ve got a teachable moment on your hands?

In part, you can ask your girlfriends. Again, together you’ll laugh about your adorable kiddos. You’ll swap stories about her Ms. Juniorette who did something similar last week. But you also offer and receive advice. From someone who’s been there. 

*****

I spoke with another gal recently. She is new to our community. During the week, she has a long commute to her job. She doesn’t have a lot of girlfriends where she lives now. She shared with me how hard it is to not have a confidant. How much she would enjoy joining some girls for dinner. I made note to be sure we include her next time a group of us get together. I know we can offer her just what she needs!

You see, I love my man. But I also count my girlfriends as gifts. Gifts I wouldn't trade for anything.