I feel very blessed by female friendships. I feel like I have a wonderful circle of women friends whom I can turn to at moments notice. Friends that I can call and rely on when I need them most. Friends that will support me and pray with me when I am struggling and friends that will also rejoice with me when I rejoice. I can send a text in the middle of the night and receive a response first thing in the morning. I can log on to social media and put out an SOS for help with a family in need and friends respond immediately with clothing, gift cards and food. I will never take this for granted because it hasn't always been the case. And I understand that so many women crave community and fellowship with other women but struggle forming a circle of friends.
But something that I have also observed, are men who struggle to make male friends. In high school and in college, friends are everywhere. Sometimes even after from sports leagues or even work friends. However, men lack one thing across the board. Other close male friends. Men that support other men during trials and support each other during sickness. Men that make life fun again when life seems like too much work. Men that help other men network after job loss or a relocation. Men that put others first and care more about relationships than they care about putting themselves first. Men that hold each other accountable, model for each other how to be a great husband and father and also are not afraid to keep each other in check is someone's behavior isn't acceptable. Men that do life together.
I have been married for a very long time. 24 years in June. I have learned many things during this time. And a whole lot of them are about how I can support my husband as he continues to support me. One of the things that we make sure we do is to enable each of us to attend Bible Study. Monday nights for the men where Josh leads a small group, Tuesday nights for the women. I then also teach on Tuesday mornings. We also make sure that we are able to have time with friends. Josh is going out tomorrow evening after work with friends and I am going shopping and out to dinner with my sister this upcoming Sunday. We enable the other to go by making sure that the other is home for the kids. We also enable each other to attend meetings and fundraisers without the other spouse attending. Not everything Josh attends is fun for me, and likewise. Sometimes, it is just more fun to attend certain events with my female friends.
Tonight was a perfect example of why I strive to make this possible for Josh and why he does it for me. This group of men are sitting around a bonfire in our backyard studying the Bible together. They are praying with each other and for each other. They are supporting each other. They genuinely care for each other and go out of their way to get together every Monday night at our house for Bible Study. Many of their wives are also in the same studies that I attend or teach. This is how our circle of friends support each other. Husbands and wives, together and separately.
These are also the families that I love their children as if they were my own. They hold a very special place in my heart and I treasure that all of our families have fit together so well.
Husbands, love your and support your wives. Enable them go to Bible Study and to spend time with friends. Wives, love and support your husbands. Enable them to go to Bible Study and to spend time with friends. Marriages tend to prosper when couples place being in The Word and Relationships as a priority.
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