GirlFriends

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter.

"Don't forget your girlfriends," she advised, swirling the tealeaves to the bottom of her glass. "They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter howmuch you love the children you'll have, you are still going to need girlfriends. Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them. And remember that "girlfriends" are not only your friends, but your sisters, your daughters, and otherrelatives too. You'll need other women. Women always do."

'What a funny piece of advice,' the young woman thought.'Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! -- a grownup, Surely myhusband and the family we'll start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!'

But she listened to her Mother; she kept contact with hergirlfriends and made more each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature worktheir changes and their mysteries upon a woman, girlfriends are the mainstays of her life. After almost 50 years of living in this world, here is what I've learned:

Times passes.Life happens.Distance separates.Men don't call when they say they will.Children grow up-and leave you.Love waxes and wanes.Hearts break.Self-absorption refuses to see the truth.Careers end.Jobs come and go.Children forget to call.Parents die.Girlfriends understand.Colleagues forget favors.

BUT, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you,girlfriends are there. A girlfriend is never farther away than needing her can reach. When you have to walk that lonesome valley, and you have to walk it for yourself, your girlfriends will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting withopen arms at the valley's end. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you. Or come in and carry you out. My mother, sister,sister-in-law, "sisters," extended family, and friends bless my life! The world wouldn't be the same without them, and neither would I.
When we began this adventure called womanhood, we hadno idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other. Every day, we need eachother still.

" There's no oil if olives are not squeezed, no perfumes if flowers are not crushed, no wines if grapes are not pressed. PRESSURED? GOD is just bringing out the best in us!