Women are like that, aren’t they? We long to find someone who has been where we’ve been, who shares our fragile places, who sees our sunsets with the same shades of blue. Beth Moore, Jesus the One and Only
Beth Moore has a way of speaking and writing words that feel like they were meant just for me. She gets to the heart of the matter quickly even though I tend to read the same words several times to absorb their meaning. But even through the processing, I know Beth speaks my language.
When I read the quote above, from Jesus the One and Only, by Beth Moore, I paused at the first four words, “women are like that”. “Like what”?, I wanted to ask Beth. I believe all women carry a deep need to connect with other women. The burden we carry is that even with this deep–seated desire to hang out with other women, we many times don’t let other women know this.
I’m as guilty as the next woman, but slowly my mind and heart is shifting. How will anyone know how much community feeds my soul if I never tell them? What would happen if I allow myself to share the vulnerable pieces of my brokenness?
[Tweet “How will anyone know how much community feeds my soul if I never tell them? #TellHisStory”]
Other women tell me how much they appreciate the chance to spend time together. Are you one of those women? In the midst of your crazy, busy life have you ever slowed down long enough to gift yourself with some “me time” with other women?
God promotes community throughout the Bible. Hebrews 10 takes the time to encourage us to persevere and not neglect time together. These words share the power of faith when in community.
This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing, because we need each other! In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning. Hebrews 10:24-25 TPT
And then I wonder, is the answer as simple as inviting women to gather for coffee and conversation. If I opened my heart to allowing others to see in, would I find these women nodding their heads in a silent “me too” agreement.
My life is not quite as busy as when my sons lived at home, but I am finding I need community even more in this stage of life. I know that in order for this to happen I need to intentionally reach out and invite other women to gather around my table or at the local coffee shop. One invitation is all it takes to make a difference in another woman’s day. Will you join me and and make a coffee date today?
I know that even as an identified introvert, who I am is always better when I am in community. Sharing my hopes and dreams with someone else plants the seed that is needed to begin moving forward. Finding out how others fulfilled their dreams or overcame a challenge gives me the opportunity to know I am not alone. The bottom line is that hanging with other women feeds my soul.
Who doesn’t need encouragement, empowerment, and enrichment? Whenever I have provided a space to meet with another woman, I have always walked away better than I arrived. In our culture of do more and be more, it is refreshing to sit across the table from another woman who cares just as deeply as you do. We can create community and it is only one phone call away.
Join me this week on Instagram as I create a space for women to just be and know they are better together.
1st photo –Â Photo by Eduard Militaru on Unsplash
2nd photo – Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Blessings,
P.S. I am so thankful for each of you and your stories. My oldest celebrated his 31st birthday and I did not have a chance to read all of your beautiful words. Grace, please!
P.P.S. Â Did you know today is Amazon Prime Day? And guess what, you can use the code PRIMEBOOKS18 to get $5.00 off $20.00 worth of books today. Just think, you could include a copy of Brave Faith: A 31 Day Devotional in your cart today. Click here for all your favorites.
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As women we want connection, but a lot of us seem to be scared of other women. Why is that? Don’t we have such a deep desire to be accepted just as we are? I have often mistaken acceptance for agreeing 100% with me on 100% of every topic. That’s not acceptance though and God has had to really heal me in some deep places. I loved meeting up with you Mary for coffee or fruit smoothie and a chat. Looking forward to our next gathering.
My thought is that women feel threatened by other women. It causes us to stay to ourselves instead of reaching out in friendship. You are the real deal and meeting you was a highlight of my summer. Have a wonderful weekend!
Ohhhhh, thanks, Mary. I want to be the same no matter whether I am online or at work or at home or neighborhood, grocery store. My prayer is that the same stories and words and smiles and laughs and tears come across no matter where or when or with whom. Thank you for letting me know that God is answering my prayers to let Him make me authentic.
Might I say I would have recognized you anywhere? =) What a delight you are to my summer memories as well!
You’re welcome! I love speaking truth into others.
As a teacher I tend to hunker down in the summer, to feed my introversion. Then, during the school year, I justify my need for quiet since I’m with kids all day. But I find myself missing community. Currently, my best community is online – so thank you all for that! 🙂
I am a retired teacher so I understand the need for quiet during summer and the school year. It’s easy to want to stay home because you expend so much energy all day with your students. I am glad to hear you have a wonderful online community. Blessings!
Mary, these are such true words. I really want to burrow into my corner, with my books (esp my Bible!), my computer and such, until some person/event/thing drags me out. And then, when I’m connected, I’m astonished at how much more “me” I feel.
One day I want to be the woman brave enough to be the one to issue the invitation.
You’ve written good stuff here!
Connections do allow us to feel more like ourselves because we find out how much we have in common with the other person. I am praying right now that you feel brave enough to invite another woman to join you in conversation. Blessings!
Today a neighborhood woman, who I met thru my daughter, opened her home in my honor to greet and meet several other over 60 women. It was lovely.
How absolutely beautiful Susan! And yes, honoring. I love her for that. Wow what a blessing to be invited in.
What a wonderful gift. Now I imagine you feel more welcomed to the neighborhood and have some new women you can say “hi” to.
I’m an introvert as well, and I often forget how much I need community until I am in it. Thanks for the reminder!
It’s easy to forget we need other people when we are so comfortable being with ourselves. You are welcome for the reminder. It was as much for me as anyone else. Thank you for being here.
Awwww, Mary. Yes, we women neeeeeed community. Hubs and I had a conversation early in our marriage that we laugh at now. The gist of it was he was out of words, but I wasn’t. When I tried to engage him, and he had nothing left, we both realized it was important for me to have friends. He’s always been amazing at encouraging me to get together with girlfriends.
I can be an ambi-vert. I am an extrovert in some situations, but very much an introvert in others. And there are times when I refuel by being alone . . . especially if it’s been a full day of engaging with our boys. 🙂 Community fills us women in a unique way, doesn’t it?
I smiled reading how your husband runs out of words. I know he is not alone in responding that way. What a blessing that he encourages you to engage in community with other women. And it’s interesting to know you are an ambivert. I describe myself as an extroverted introvert in some situations. My refueling always comes from alone time.
If you think back to a year ago when we met at the FMF retreat, all the women loved spending time with each other but each one did it at her pace. Community is a blessing for me and I love that you are part of this community
Love this friend! Community is so important to me too. That is the one thing that I haven’t necessarily found in my new community yet. But it hasn’t even been a year. I am thankful for social media and other communities that give me life and hope when I cannot find it in real life. And I chuckled at the coffee and conversation idea. Because at the church, I offer Coffee and Conversation with Tara whenever the kids don’t have school. It has been a blast! And why didn’t I read your post before I bought some books as part of my Amazon Prime Day order?!?!
I can see how you thrive in community. You are good at cultivating it online. I bet your coffee and conversation times at church are a blessing to all. Thank you for being part of this community and such a good online friend.
This is a needed, gentle nudge for us introverts who love our own company …
The way you described introverts makes me realize I do love my own company. But with that said, I know God made me to spend time in community too. As hard as it is sometimes to take that first step I always leave that time with a friend better than I arrived.
Yes, we need that kind of community so much- a place where we can connect with others who understand and where we feel free to be ourselves. Thanks for this reminder that we need to be intentional in finding these opportunities!
I pray we all find these connections in our lives. It is a blessing in my life and one that I continue to work on. May you find many of these opportunities in your own life.
Hi Mary – Yes! We need a coffee date! Miss you my friend. What does your schedule look like for the remainder of this week?
Blessings,
Karen
Connecting with you, Karen is always a sweet gift. Can’t wait to see you.
Beth Moore is very gifted at expressing who women are at the deepest level. I’m blessed to have women friends. I like to use the word ‘cultivate’ when it comes to connecting with them. By making a coffee date, or another type of gathering, we are cultivating our healthy and inspiring girl-friend relationships and reap the harvest from them! Recently I took up golfing lessons so that eventually I can join a women’s league as see this as a great way to stay connected with gals later in life too. As an introvert too, generally I find my connections one on one with deep conversations and fun, while other women I know like to have many more around them and sky dive. 🙂 Thankfully God made us different, but knows we are relational and gives us those friends that are perfect for us.
Beth Moore has a way of speaking what is in my heart. She gets me. I love knowing that you cultivate connections with other women. We learn so much when we allow ourselves to connect with others. It sounds like we both feed our souls with one on one conversations. My introverted self does much better in this situation than in large groups. I love that our uniqueness is what grows our relationships with others.
YES! And I also agree with Michele. I have to push myself to both get around people and admit my needs. Thank you so much for this, Mary!
I agree with Michele too. It’s not easy to go first and be the one who invites someone else to sit at your table. But as women we are wired for community and we lose out when we don’t give ourselves that opportunity. Love when you stop by, Meghan!
This is my story as well, Mary: an introvert who often neglects the need for connection in the busyness of life, mistaking time in the midst of the sound and fury of life with a house full of sons for personal contact.
I want to be more intentional about connecting with others, not only for my own need, but also for the sake of building into others and encouraging them in their journey. I’ve received so much in that way from others, and it’s my duty and joy to give.
It’s easy to let our busy lives and kids become the reasons we don’t pursue community. But I love hearing you say that you want to be more intentional in connecting with others for you and for them. We have this wisdom and experience that needs to be shared. I can’t wait to hear more about how this unfolds for you.