Doing Life with Good Girl Friends

“Doing Life”… have you heard this term? I’ve mentally applied it to good girl friends lately.

This term is synonymous with prison terms, but recently I heard it used another way. Karen Robinson, the executive director of Solomon’s Porch Society and my adorable cousin, used this term at a women’s conference at my church. She wasn’t talking about incarceration, but about the rich fellowship that happens between people who share their lives with one another in real and meaningful ways. This particularly happens with my “gal pals.”

Good girl friends are so important!

The other night, I had an opportunity to “do life” with a few of my girlfriends.

Each woman is significant to me in a specific way. For instance,

Brenda is wise and deeply in love with Jesus. Her very presence makes a lunch better and a room brighter. I’m blessed to know her. Like me, she’s a busy bee, but through the years, we have maintained a close connection that enables us to pick up right where we left off every time we see one another.

The good girl friends roll call

Just like Brenda, Rachelle has been my friend for many years. She doesn’t say much, but what she does say always has depth and meaning.

I love to spend time with her and exchange God’s goodness in our lives. She balances my energetic personality very well.

Then there’s Cheryle Ann – as I call her. Cheryle is as close to a sister as I have on this earth and our twenty-year friendship has stood the tests of time. I always call us the Golden Girls because we have done life for so long and- God willing- will do so until we’re both old and gray. If you want to see a pic of her and I, click here.

I’m very blessed to have these ladies in my world.

It’s a beautiful thing to have people with whom to share life’s struggles and joys.

These women were each involved in some of the most challenging transitions of my life. They each comforted me through change, encouraged me through struggle, and pointed me to the cross the entire time.

Brenda did so once at the “Grand Street Cafe” as we ate yummy food.

Rachelle and I have gone through so many deaths, struggles, and challenges, I don’t remember them all.

And Cheryle is just…family…there forever. I admire her and love her incredibly.

I thank God for my friends and the joy of “doing life” with them. I praise Him for the kindness of sending good people my way. I am also thankful for the great evening of movies, cheesecake, key lime pie, cake and pizza we enjoyed last night!

Sad update 2020: Brenda and I have distanced. The current political season has driven a wedge in our friendship. We both have tried, but each of us is too passionate about what we consider important that we could not remain in close fellowship.

It’s so sad and has broken my heart. I’m sure it has hers as well. But, our political ideologies are such a huge part of who we are. I believe one thing because it’s what I think is critical. She believes another because she does too.

As far as I’m concerned, we are still friends. We have just separated for a season as Paul and Barnabus were.

Acts 15:36-39
Paul and Barnabas Separate
36 After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.” 37 Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. 38 But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work. 39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus.

I hope it all works out in time. Still, I have not hatred or ill-will toward her. Fellowship has been interrupted to avoid bickering…that’s all.