Happy New Year, friends! I pray that 2010 will be an amazing and wonderful year for us. There were times in 2009 I was ready for the New Year to begin 'right then' because I was disheartened with circumstances. I saw both of my dear friends and roommates lose jobs and struggle with unemployment as I had in the past. It was a tough year for many of us...so many people in my circle of acquaintances lost their job, filed bankruptcy, experienced physical illness or the death of loved ones. Yep...2009 was a tough year. For me, there were situations that would have been so much harder to bear without my friends and family. That leads me to share with you about what the Bible says about the "value of a friend."
In Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 we hear from the son of David, Solomon, as he reflects on life (post-Proverbs authorship) and see some truths he has observed and learned over the years:
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls, when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together, they keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. (Holy Bible, NASB Version)
This passage shows the value of a friend, a companion...some one who 'has your back' as they say. As you probably noticed, this passage also reflects my blog's namesake. My sisters (in Christ, and roommates) Dawn and Daphne have been the other two strands in my life for the past 10 years. Together our friendship has forged a strong cord. Have you ever looked at woven cord? When it's loose you can pull apart the individual strands, yet when you apply tension, those strands draw tautly together and you cannot pull apart the strands. The tension is when the individual strands draw together to become a strong cord.
Friendships for women should be like that. It may be rare to find friends that you remain that close to personally, but a good friend is one that you can resume a conversation with as if you just paused for a moment, even if it's been years! Those, my dear ones, are the friendships we, as women, need to cultivate and nurture. Those are the relationships that we, as women, crave (God-given, I believe). I have a number of other friends with which I am blessed to have such friendships. I have no doubt they would have my back any less than my dear roommates. However, proximity has some of these dear sisters apart from me by states, even continents. Thankfully communications can still happen via phone, email, Facebook, Skype, etc. That's an 'amen' to technology!
Ladies, if you have not made a resolution this year...even if you have...may I encourage you to add one? Add to resolve to reconnect with lost friends and/or establish new friendships and seek to truly make them ones that reflect Solomon's verses above. As a single Christian woman, my sisterhood-friendships are essential in my life. Whether single or married, we all need friends, ones who can support, encourage and admonish us in our spiritual growth and walk. I pray that if you have not already experienced the marvelous blessing of such a friendship that you will in 2010!
