“Two people are better than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9 NLT)
You know what I genuinely love about being forty?
My friendships are genuine.
This Valentine’s morning I am thinking about thinking about the ladies I’ve intentionally kept close year after year. These friends are folks who have seen stuff blow up in my story. They’ve fielded tear-filled phone calls. They’ve spent collective hours bent over in prayer with me. They’ve sent perfectly-timed texts in response to Holy Spirit prompting. They know when I’m being forthright and they know when I’m compromising. They see me even when I’m in hiding and they aren’t afraid to call me out with compassion. These ladies continually speak life and truth into my soul.
Everyone needs friends like these.
“Women friends help us define who we are.” (Women Rowing North)
Today I am tremendously grateful for a short list of ladies who have made a major impact. Over the decades, they’ve helped me figure out who I truly am. They’ve loved me at my worst and encouraged me to become my best. I can only hope to have made similar deposits in their stories.
“The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.” (Proverbs 27:29 NLT)
“A friend loves at all times.” (Proverbs 17:17 NLT)
Lord, we are grateful for the gift of friendship. A shared life is so much sweeter. Help us treasure the exquisite relationships You’ve intentionally sewn into the seams of our story. Continue to grow our genuine love for one another. Cultivate an affection that cannot be interrupted by miles or extinguished by misunderstanding. We recognize You as the common denominator in our stories. Thank You for intertwining our paths for a season, long enough to stitch our hearts together. Be glorified in our affection for one another. Amen.