I spent Friday evening in the presence of women that I have known for several years.  We used to see each other six days a week and now have had to make do with once a month because life is full of change.  We’ve gone through a lot together in the past five years.

Each of us is still going through a lot, but the occurrences are in three separate spaces.  In the first hour we talked about everything from vacations and plans for the year to television shows and responsibilities.  For the rest of the evening we began to share our hearts.  We each voiced our worries, our struggles, and our weaknesses.  The listeners would nod and ask and press the speaker to honesty.  There weren’t tears this time, but there might be next time.

I value our time together so much because it reminds me of what we talked about on Friday, I’m not in this alone.  I shared things that I haven’t even shared with myself because I was being asked the right questions… the hard questions.

Do you have a network?  I talked about this a few months ago, but wanted to make sure I pointed it out just in case you didn’t catch it the first time.  Having wise counsel in your life is so important at every stage.  I hope there is never a point in my life where I assume that my job is just to give advice and never to receive wisdom from others.  I’m so thankful for these women who are willing to ask me the challenging and pointed questions that I need.

“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14

“A wise man is strong, yes, a man of knowledge increases strength; for by wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 24:5

“Every purpose is established by counsel; by wise counsel wage war.” Proverbs 20:18

“Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established.” Proverbs 15:22

“Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days.” Proverbs 19:20

Get intentional with your friendships.  Locate a strong network of people who will provide wise counsel in your life.  Don’t go this alone!

Following,
Ginger