I’ve always been the kind of girl that has been surrounded by lots of friends. I love people, I can’t help it. My mom says that I have always been this way and my husband says that I am “socially overproductive”. Yes, it is all true, but there is such a difference between having lots of friends and having a few awesome girlfriends.

A friend will listen to you and tell you how awesome you are.

A girlfriend will listen to you and then tell you how it really is.

A friend will make meals for you when you are sick or hurt.

A girlfriend will come over to your house, cook you a meal for your family, and then clean the house for you.

A friend will be there when times are tough.

A girlfriend will be with you in the thick of the mess.

I am by no means discounting having lots of friends, no, not at all.  As a matter of fact, I think you need all kinds of friends; Acquaintances, Social Friends, Spiritual Friends, and True Blue Sister Girlfriends.

For years I had taken for granted the blessing of a good friend, and now as I get older it is becoming more and more evident to me that to have those girlfriends around you, in good times and bad, can radically bless your socks off.  Let me take it one step further and put it all into perspective for a minute…my husband is my first and best friend, and make no doubt about it, I share everything with him (as it should be), but let’s face it, he doesn’t always understand the need to cry, the need to share a story in more than ten words, or the need to just hug because for some reason a really great hug can change your day.

Proverbs 25:13 ^TM ~ reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in sweltering heat—refreshing!

I love that verse! It is so true, isn’t it? When you can be you, the real you, with your girlfriends it refreshes your soul.  What a great visual reminder of not only what a blessing it is to have a friend, but also what it means to be a friend. You need to give refreshment as much as you receive refreshment. A great relationship is evenly balanced so that the love is spread around.

Does that mean that it always needs to be “balanced”…of course not, let’s face it; life is not balanced, is it?

I have been through some really horrible times over the last few years and while I sat there watching my son lie in the PICU of the hospital for 51 days my friends cooked for me, cleaned for me, took care of my youngest son, prayed for me, sat & cried with me, ate M&M’s (a whole 1lb bag) with me, and truly showed me that being a friend is an action word.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 ^TM ~ by yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.

We’re not meant to be on this journey called life by ourselves. We need the loveand support of our families and the gift of great girlfriends.  Because the truth is “Every Girl Needs Girlfriends in Their Life”!

Now it’s your turn…

If you are in a season of your life right now where you really don’t have any great girlfriends, then I would love to challenge you to ask God to show you how and where to meet new girlfriends.

If you are already blessed with incredible girlfriends, then take some time today to encourage them, thank them, and show them just how thankful you are to have them in your life.  Don’t take your girlfriends for granted.

Father God, thank you for the gift of girlfriends. You show us in your word how important your friends were to you and your ministry and we know that we can’t do this thing called life alone. Guide the ones who don’t have girlfriends, show them where to go and how to meet them, and encourage those who already have girlfriends to shower their friends with blessings today. Father, we love you and we love that you created us for community. We are so thankful for the lessons you teach us and for your grace and mercy in all we do. In Jesus Name, Amen.