Hugs For Friends

I woke up this morning and realized how important my friends are to me. Sometimes I have the tendency to take them for granted. I know for some women friendship can be a sore subject because of past and or present experiences. One things for sure, we as women need each other. I learned a long time ago that I couldn't walk this journey alone. I needed to have friends.

Often times I hear women say that they get along better with guys because women are "messy" Yes, there are women out there who are "messy" I for one quoted this statement on numerous occasions all the while my heart ached for friendship with other women. It wasn't until I changed when I realized just how much fun friendships can be. I had to let my guard down and stop playing Magnum P.I. looking for clues to prove that "her and I just can't be friends because of....."

If you have been hurt because of past friendships with other women, take it to the cross. Forgive. Open up your heart. There's a woman out there who's looking for a friend like you. Will you be her friend?
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Friends possess remarkable keys. They open the locked doors of our lives. They give us entrance to places we'd never dare go by ourselves. They fling wide the gates of lush, secret gardens. They take us to treasure rooms glistening with gifts we're sure we don't deserve.

Friends unlatch the windows of our souls. They grip the drapes we've drawn around ourselves and yank them back to let God's gleaming light stream in. They pull and tug until the windows pop open and fresh, new breezes fill our musty hearts.

When storms throw trees across our path, a friend will lend her strength to haul the logs away. Friends are not fazed by our roadblocks. They come equipped with chain saws. They help us chop our obstacles like firewood then strike a match to them. they make sparks fly up from the flames. They say, "Why not sit awhile and warm yourself by this nice fire?" When the smoke clears, friends pass out coat hangers and feast with us on roasted marshmallows until the last ember dies.

Friends have sight where we are blind. They are guides through the jungles of our past. They are fearless to face the dangers we know lurk beneath the brush. Friends hack and slash at the wild, clinging thoughts that bind us. With grace, they loose us from our blindfolds then tie them on branches, making trail for the future.

Friends create breakthroughs. The best ones are agents of God. Like him, they stand us in front of a mirror and introduce us to ourselves.

*From the book "Hugs For Friends" by: LeAnn Weiss & Caron Loveless