Chocolate, books, long talks, and shopping often are symbols of what girlfriends share. Hey, when your girlfriend helps you pick out a cool purse you can't help but love her!! When your sick with the flu and she brings over some chicken noodle soup, you gotta feel a little better just knowing your loved. When she texts just to ask how your doing it can only make you smile. When she knows just the right gift or the right words to say at the perfect time you know you have a keeper. When you need the right shoes for an outfit and she shares from her collection well, is there really anything else to say? I have been blessed with some of the most amazing girlfriends. My mom always told me if I was blessed to have one good friend throughout my life I was a blessed girl indeed. The Lord looked down upon me and blessed me beyond words with girlfriends. I have a few that if truth be told they know me better than myself. I have girlfriends I go to when I need advice. You know, those wise ones who always have the words that stretch your heart with a knowledge that only brings peace. I have those I go to when I am having a pity party. Now these are my mercy sisters! lol They will cry with me as I lay in bed with the covers over my head. I too have those who are truthful and share with me when I am going down the wrong path. Their love helps set me back on course. You could say I have a kaleidoscope of girlfriends. Each one brings something special into my life I would have otherwise missed on my own.
We all know the blessings of girlfriends, but sadly, we too know the effects of drama and hurt that can come with girlfriends. If we are honest we can admit we have been on both sides of gossip. We have been on the side where hurtful words have spurned us to tears. We too have been on that side where the words have spun out of our mouths like coffee grounds ready for the trash. And oh, can we cover up our talk. We can smile one minute and the next as we are walking away can turn on another with fury. When exactly did we learn this? Elementary school on the play ground when someone was being unfair? Or in high school when jealousy got the best of us? At some point being a girl became an ugly thing. Beauty does not come from our make up on the outside, but the very soul inside of us. That tender spot where love should abide. But many times through hurt we get tossed around and begin to hurt others before we ourselves get hurt.
What is gossip? It's selfish. It is words that we can never take back. It's like an oil spill that not only causes damage in one area, but spreads to other parts of our lives and to those around us. We cannot trust gossip. The king of gossip is Satan. Oh, he is the beginner of lies. He is the author of deceit.
We must teach our children, our daughters what it is to be women of God, sisters of sisterhood. We must be those examples for them to follow or they to will get caught up in the gossip train and believe me it stops everyday and boards many. There is a station in each town, in each work place, in every school and yes, in our churches, the very last place it should be.
Now, before you think I am suggesting I am above gossip, I will be honest and say, I fall into it just like others do, but we must make a choice. We must stay focused on Christ and allow His words and will flow from us. Charles Swindoll says, The remarkable thing is, we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We must be accountable for our actions each day and hold one another accountable. If we see a sister stumble may we love her enough to speak to her in love. We all falter each day, but together we can stand stronger. We can encourage one another. We can lift each other up and make this journey more sweet.
If someone has hurt us, may we turn to that person and share with them. Oh, how that is an ugly game. You remember as high school girls right? When one hurt you, you didn't go to that girl and settle things, you went behind her back to everyone else and killed her spirit like that. My friends, that is being a coward. May we face those who hurt us and bring healing to our lives. Boys were so different. You do something to a boy, you know what they did? They would punch you in the face and then be friends. It was settled and done. I never hear men talking about others. I never hear men in a circle of gossip. Satan knows our weakness. He knows just where to attack and whatever side we are on, there is no winning side. As women we are insecure and in our insecurities we find it easy to lift ourselves up by tearing another down. Shame on us. Shame on us for speaking wrongly of another. Shame on us for not walking with the attitude of Christ.
1 Timothy 5:13 "And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not."
Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."
Proverbs 15:1 "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."
Proverbs 13:20 "He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed."
Just think what we can do for the kingdom of God if we all come together. Nothing in this world can hold us back but our stinkin selves! We can be our own worst enemy. Let's come together girls and make each day worthwhile. Let's share this road together. Let's agree to disagree on subjects. May we hate the sin and love the sinner. Let us put others before ourselves and treat others how we too want to be treated. Let's show Satan he has nothing on us. With Christ living in us, dwelling among us we can do all things!!
