As a young girl I remember desiring so badly to be liked, to have friends, to be popular... I would do anything (don't tell my mom, even if I'm turning 30) or become anyone to "fit in." Then I grew up and still struggled with the internal desire to be a part or claimed in a group. No matter how hard I've tried I've always felt like I didn't quite "fit in." My anxiety after Titus took off on a level for many months that caused my normal introvert nature to skyrocket into a hermit crab/ borderline recluse. Which most people would have never known, because I still functioned decently in ministry and as a pastor's wife from the outside...
I've come to terms though with my personality versus my desire, but it doesn't stop me from knowing that I need friends and most importantly women in my journey. To those that say they don't like having women as friends, I tell them they just haven't found a woman willing to really be their friend: no strings attached, but willing to ride the waves of authentic relationship (including the fights). Once you've found one, you really can withstand the others that pass through.
I've been called a bad friend, I've lost friends, I've left friends, but in all of that I still value friendship. I recently went through several months where all of those things were happening. I felt terrible because the mixture of my family, life in ministry, and the overcast of anxiety really didn't give off the vibe that I wanted any friends or even wanted to be a friend. Most nights I cried, I felt stressed, I didn't know why I thought having a second baby was gonna make motherhood super amazing and easy. So it made it that much tougher that all my lines of communication were strained, and I was at a loss of how to fix them. Some still aren't, that's the truth...and that's okay.
Because in that time the stillness of knowing that especially in this season as a woman and mother you need friends, I had to get over it day by day. Less time appearing engaged and more time showing up face-to-face. As a woman we all need other women, from all different backgrounds and life experiences than ours. I love reading posts about the types of women you need in your life as a mom and I often laugh, because you really need ALL types of women. As women we are so complex and multi-faceted that it never really fits into specific categories and every season requires a change in friendships, because YOU CHANGE. I've just begun to realize that about myself more and more. The woman I am today is nowhere near who I was a year ago or even six months...and I become better when I have other women beside me to continue to nurture and foster the changes I want more of and those I need less of.
So with that I say...I've been called a bad friend, I've lost friends, I've left friends, but I will always be and need a friend to walk this life with. Women are strong beautiful and gifted and authentic friendships bring the best out of us as women, as mothers, and beyond those things.
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