When “Betty” first met “Sheri” at a beach social, she never would have guessed that “Sheri” would become an integral part of her life over the next ten years.  An onlooker might admire their friendship, but both know their relationship has stood many and various testings.  They have learnt many valuable lessons that would be helpful as they move from singleness to marriage.

In a marriage, your husband becomes your best friend.  If you were to learn the following principles when you’re single, you’ll be better prepared for marriage.

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 ESV

Here are 7 ways a close female friend can prepare you for marriage: 

1) Forgiveness becomes a way of relating.

In any relationship where there is growing openness, you will unavoidably hurt one another.  Even if you’re a woman who “cannot even kill an ant”, believe me, you have the power to cause great pain in any close friendship.  That’s just life and the nature of human relationships.  

As such, no healthy relationship can survive without true forgiveness … over and over and over again.  A close friendship with a female friend is a very good place to learn how to extend forgiveness and receive forgiveness from someone who is not blood-related.  In essence, an attitude of forgiveness prevents your heart from becoming hard.

To safeguard a marriage from separation and divorce, forgiveness has to become a way of life.  Without a doubt, forgiveness gets easier when you make the habit of it.  A close female friend will give you good practice! It can prepare you for marriage.

2) Learn to be yourself with someone who is not related to you.

You can be totally comfortable in your own “skin” with your family members.  For the most part, your family knows you inside and outside.  They are well acquainted with all your “dirty” ways and they still love you.  

With a close friend, you have to risk rejection by allowing them into your life, into your heart and into your way of thinking.  As you begin to share your life with your close female friend, you can experience acceptance and closeness with someone else outside your family.  It’s good preparation for a husband with whom you need to let down your guard and become “naked and unashamed”.

“And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” Genesis 2:25 ESV

3) Persevere in love.

Before my friendship with my closest female friend “Hannah”, I felt rejected by other women who I thought would be my perfect “bosom buddy”.  Therefore, I was no longer keen on this “best friend” concept.  Then, one day after resolving a conflict, we decided to fight for our friendship whatever battles may come (and they came ferociously and frequently, I may add!).  Through the ups and downs, our friendship has passed every destructive threat to our relationship and made it stronger.

Are you someone who has formed a habit of running away from relationships when things get rough?  Then, you may need to work on sticking with your female friend before you even consider a romantic relationship with a man.  Believe it or not, you actually have more in common with a woman (with similar values) than a man because you’re a woman too (just had to spell that out). The right female friend can prepare you for marriage.

4) Understand the importance of conflicts in building strong relationships.

Although it is easier to avoid conflicts, relationships are strengthened by them.  Through every conflict, you learn more about yourself and your friend.  More importantly, you learn how to love unconditionally.  When you resolve the conflict, it adds another level of depth to the friendship.  The more you and your friend work through conflicts and love one another, the stronger the friendship becomes. 

This is exactly the kind of skills that you need in a healthy marriage.  You need to have the mindset that conflicts can draw you closer instead of apart.  With every trial that a marital relationship faces, the love should deepen between the husband and wife because they share a knowledge and journey with one another that no one else understands.

5) Loyalty is crucial.

Any true friendship must be characterized by allegiance to the other person.  There should be no back-biting with others external to the friendship.  In a healthy friendship, you learn to keep your mouth shut.  When you have conflict with each other, you seek to resolve it between you and your friend.  You want others to think well of your close friend.  (However, there might be instances where you need the insight and intervention of a third party, but check your heart condition before you share.)

In a marriage, it is crucial that you and your spouse feel safe.  No man will feel secure knowing that his wife is bad-mouthing him with others.  If you develop the habit of keeping secrets and protecting the reputation of your female best friend, your loyalty should translate into your marital relationship as well.  You husband and marriage will be blessed because of it.

NOTE: If abuse is involved, you should seek help from external parties.  That should not be kept a secret.

6) Learn to love unconditionally.

God loves us unconditionally and He also wants to love each other through the power of His Holy Spirit.  A friendship with your close female friend will certainly test this love many times over.  When you choose to love each other when either one of you is unkind and unloving, you are learning to love unconditionally. 

In a marriage, you’ll need this depth of love toward your husband.  If you learn this with your close female friend, it’ll be easier to love your husband unconditionally.  

7) See your own flaws.

In your own family, you can relax and not deal with your own selfishness.  Your siblings and your parents might tell you, but you might ignore it.  Or, they can get so used to your bad ways, that they accept it as part of who you are.  However, your best friend may not understand or accept it so easily and may bring it to your attention.  

“Hannah”: “Kimberly, do you realise that you have a tendency to be revengeful?”  

Me: “Who me?”

I was stunned because no one had ever told me that before and I was personally unaware of that tendency.  Subsequently, I began to become more self-aware and it dawned on me that I was in fact, very revengeful.  By the grace and help of God, I’ve grown in this area.  

Close female friendships are a good starting ground for marriage because it shows you some of your flaws.  God can use it to help prepare you for marriage. Get comfortable with that kind of revelation as a single woman because marriage is a whole different level in revealing the real you.  Unlike any other relationship, marriage shows you how selfish you really are.  

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” Proverbs 27:6

Related Articles

8 Crucial Mindsets for Having a Female Best Friend 

How to Carefully Choose a Close Female Friend | 5 Tips

When Your Best Friend Gets Married | 6 Tips to Keep Your Friendship Alive

Summary

“Friendships with women are more trouble than they’re worth,” is often said by many women who have suffered hurt from other women.  I also could have had that stance until I decided to try again.  Both “Hannah” and I have matured as followers of Jesus Christ as a result.  I’m grateful to God for helping us to persevere when we wanted to give up on our friendship.  Not only has the friendship helped me in my relationship with God, it has also prepared me to enjoy my new marriage.

Do you have a close female friend who is helping to grow up?  Or do you have a “bitter taste in your mouth” due to painful friendships with women?  In what other ways do you see that your close friend can help prepare you for marriage?  Please comment below and share your thoughts and experiences.  We can all be enriched because of your contribution.

One of my greatest treasures in this life is investing in the lives of other women.  As a result, I’d love to help you to further develop your relationship with God; enjoy your journey as a single woman; reach your full potential as a woman; serve the Lord faithfully; and prepare you for the awesome godly man that you may meet some day.  If this sounds good to you, subscribe and I will seek to help you as best as I can with the help of God.  Also, you will receive a list of “My Favorite Books for Single Christian Women” when you subscribe.  Thanks for stopping by!

#madeforlove

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Love,

Kimberly Garth 

The post 7 Ways A Close Female Friend Can Prepare You For Marriage appeared first on Petals Bloom.

Then, “Jim” enters the scene.  You and “Jane” have been praying for years for “Jane” (and yourself) to meet your complimentary fits.  He’s an answer to prayer.  

Sincerely, you are elated for “Jane”, but a little part of you is saddened.  You’re wondering what will happen to your friendship when your best friend gets married.  Does this mean that you will lose your best friend?  Can you keep your friendship alive?

My story

In “8 Crucial Mindsets for Having a Female Best Friend”, I mentioned my closest female friend “Ruth”.  In the time when our friendship was developing, she got married. I never saw her marriage as a threat to our friendship.  As a matter of fact, quite the opposite occurred.  Her marriage gave both of us more opportunities to grow our relationship.

Hence, you do not have to suffer the loss of a close relationship when your best friend gets married.  As such, there is no need to look for another best friend who is single like you. Of course, if your friend’s husband doesn’t like you, then that will pose a challenge.

Here are 6 tips to handle when your best friend gets married:

1) Choose to be flexible and available.

After God, your friend’s husband is her next order of priority.  As the single person in the friendship, you will naturally have more available time and greater flexibility. 

This would mean that you might be the one to visit their home more often (the husband has to be okay with that).  If you and “Jane” had lots of sleep-overs in the past, say “goodbye” to that arrangement.  

Instead of resenting your friend’s new commitment to her spouse, you can choose to help strengthen their union.

An example

I remember a time when it was my friend’s husband’s (“Charlie”) birthday.  So “Ruth”, another friend “Ally” and I cooked a meal. Then, we turned the house into a little restaurant and “Ally” and I became the waitresses.  We all had fun putting the event together.  

2) Become friends with her husband.

“…’For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” Mark 10:7-9

Your friend is no longer single, but her and her husband are now “one” in the eyes of God.  Therefore, if your desire is to remain close friends with “Jane”, then it logically follows that you also need to be friends with her husband.  

If you successfully accomplish this, you would have gained a friend and a brother. 

“Ruth’s” husband “Charlie” considers me his sister and I see him as my brother.  He looks out for my best interests.  Whenever I wanted the opinion of a wise man regarding the eligibility of a suitor, he was always there to give me sound biblical counsel.  Imagine the void in my life if I didn’t have his friendship!

3) Always respect their marriage covenant.

As with any close relationship, you will see when your friend is hurting.  Because of your loyalty to your closest female friend, you might be tempted to take her side.  Even if “Jim” is truly following Jesus and seeking to please Him, he will not be perfect.  

He will hurt your friend at times and she will, in no doubt, hurt him also.  As such, I have found it best to pray and support my friend’s marriage.

It will be immature and unloving to give your friend’s husband the “cold shoulder”, disrespect him or give him the silent treatment when the couple is having marital challenges.  That will never be helpful to your friendship or their marriage.

4) Have healthy boundaries with her husband.

There should never be a reason for “Jane” to suspect that you’re trying to steal her husband’s affection.  Please ensure that you have proper boundaries with her husband. 

Tips for keeping healthy boundaries:

• Dress modestly.
• Don’t run from the bathroom to the guest room in a towel or your underwear (if the bathroom is not within the room).
• Don’t have secret counseling sessions with your friend’s husband.
• Please do not flirt with him under any circumstances!

5) Develop friendships with other single women.

Now that your friend is married, she will have less time to hang out with you.  Therefore, you need to develop friendships with other single women who are as free as you are.  

Besides “Ruth”, I always had other single female friends with whom I would go to the movies or try out new restaurants or attend a retreat. 

6) Become the best aunty (and free babysitter).

When children arrive, your friends need your help.  As a single woman, you have the privilege of being the best aunty to your friends’ children.  

You can either resent it and feel used.  Or your can see it as an opportunity to serve; to learn about parenting for your time in the future; and to invest in tomorrow’s future influencers.  It’s all about perspective. 

If you care about your friends’ marriage, you can provide the babysitting so that they can have dates as a couple.

Related articles:

8 Crucial Mindsets for Having a Female Best Friend 

How to Carefully Choose a Close Female Friend | 5 Tips.

Summary

When your best friend becomes a wife and you remain single, circumstances do change.  However, it can become an even more beautiful friendship between you, your friend, her husband and their future children. 

Your status might move from “best friend” to “closest female friend”, but you’re still important to her. 

In essence, a marriage does not have to be the end of a close friendship.  However, you both have to be willing to change and be intentional about keeping the friendship alive.  

Here are the 6 tips to keeping your friendship alive when marriage enters the picture:

1. Choose to be flexible and available.
2. Become friends with her husband.
3. Always respect their marriage covenant.
4. Have healthy boundaries with her husband.
5. Develop friendships with other single women.
6. Become the best aunty (and free babysitter).

What has been your challenge when your friend got married?  For those of you whose best friends are married, what do you do to nurture the friendship?  What changes did you have to make? Do you have any advice for the other ladies? Please share your experience and words of wisdom with us.

One of the best things you can do to strengthen any relationship is to become emotionally healthy.  Where do you stand?  Get your free “Emotional Maturity versus Emotional Maturity” checklist and evaluate yourself.

If you’d like to get other advice and tips about your relationships with God and others, subscribe to receive my weekly emails.  Also, when you subscribe, you’ll receive your free “Emotional Maturity versus Emotional Maturity” checklist. Thanks for stopping by!

#madetolove

Like, share & subscribe!

With love,

Kimberly

Recommended Books:

“Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It’s Impossible to be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally Immature” by Peter Scazzero

“Safe People: How to Find Relationships That Are Good for You And Avod Those That Aren’t” by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend

“Petals Bloom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.”

The post When Your Best Friend Gets Married | 6 Tips to Keep Your Friendship Alive  appeared first on Petals Bloom.

Believe me, choosing the right female friend is very crucial.  If you don’t, you may find yourself having a perpetual headache!

Here are 5 practical tips to carefully choose a close female friend:

1) She has had a life-changing encounter with Jesus.

Just because a person says that she’s a Christian, it does not mean that her life has been changed by Him.  There are religious Christians and in contrast, there are Christians who actually have a personal relationship with Jesus.  

For the latter, the Holy Spirit comes into a woman’s heart and she’ll become more like Jesus over time.  She will never be the same again.  Everything about her will begin to change (slowly but surely) – her values, opinions, conversations, decisions, and the like.   This, my friend, will affect your friendship.

It is fine and important to be friends with non-Christians, but for a very close friendship, your friend should have a similar devotion to Christ.  

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;” Psalm 1:1 ESV

You want a GROWING Christian as a close female friend because she can:

• Pray for you and with you when you’re discouraged; need healing, need a financial breakthrough, etc; 
• Hold you accountable to God’s holy standards;
• Give you sound biblical advice;
• Encourage and challenge you to grow in your relationship with God;
• Connect you with other like-minded Christians;
• Accompany you to events that will cause you to grow holistically;
• Do ministry together;

If you meet a Christian female friend who has had a life-transforming encounter with Christ, but refuses to grow up, forget being close friends with her.  Since you cannot be bosom buddies with 2-year old toddler, in a similar way, you cannot expect to be close friends with an adult woman who prefers to remain like a child.  That kind of person needs a different type of relationship.

2) Observe her life.

When I went to Israel on a study tour, I learnt a very interesting fact.  Jesus actually knew the disciples before he chose them!  I always thought that they were some random strangers.  You see, Nazareth was a small village, although it has changed since then.

Like Jesus, before you decide to make someone your close friend, spend time observing her lifestyle.  Undoubtedly, a fake person will eventually come out of the shadows.  On the other hand, a genuine person will remain consistent.

Things to observe:

• What does she post on social media about her relationships?
• Does she have a good reputation of being a good friend?
• Has she left a string of broken friendships behind?
• Is she reliable?
• Does she walk in integrity where her Christian values are aligned with the rest of her life?
• What does she say about her other friends?

3) She must also want a close friendship with you.

It makes no sense seeking a close friendship with someone and the feelings are not mutual.  You are wasting your precious time, energy and emotions.  For a close friendship to happen, the sentiments must be mutual.  

As I mentioned in last week’s post (8 Crucial Mindsets for Having a Female Best Friend), I wanted to be “Sue’s” best friend and “Sue” preferred “Joyce”.  As a teenager, it broke my heart.

4) Allow the friendship to blossom in its own time.

A good solid friendship will take years to develop.  Some relationships will form faster than others, but it might be wise to take your time.  Get to understand yourself and your friend.  Grow together over time.

If you have a tendency to get emotionally attached to your friends too intensely and too quickly, it shows that you’re too needy.  As such, your neediness may eventually ruin the friendship and make you absolutely miserable.  

Just like with a romantic relationship with a man, no female friend can fill the void in your life that only Jesus can fill.  Jesus is the only one who can actually fulfill his promise to never leave us (Matthew 28:20b) and to satisfy your deepest desire for intimacy.  To look to another human will only spell disappointment and disaster.

5) Listen to the way she speaks of others.

As a woman, you can tend to ignore this.  Perhaps, you feel a sense of importance that you’ve become her confidante.  But listen carefully to the way she speaks of her other friends.  

Even if your friend is relaying a story, you can generally sense her motives.  Does she want advice to work things through? Or does she intend to simply tarnish the character of others?  If she gossips about her other “good” friends, eventually she’ll do it to you.  So be aware!

Related articles:

8 Crucial Mindsets for Having a Female Best Friend

5 Crazy Things People Say to Single Women

Are you or your friend emotionally mature?

Although you’re sincerely seeking to grow in your relationship with God, you find that your friendships are always filled with drama and turmoil.  Check out “Emotional Maturity versus Emotional Maturity” checklist and discover if you or your friend is struggling emotionally.  That might be the reason why it’s more stressful than satisfying!  

Summary

Friendships with other women can be a joy or a pain.  Like any good relationship, choosing the right person solves half of the problems.  No one is perfect.  If you want to mature in every area of your life with your relationship with God as the centre, you need a kindred spirit in a close girlfriend.

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 ESV

In conclusion, here are five tips to carefully choose a close female friend:

1. She has had a life-changing encounter with Jesus.
2. Observe her life.
3. She must also want a close friendship with you.
4. Allow the friendship to blossom in its own time.
5. Listen to the way she speaks of others.

In your own life, what were the signs that someone could be a good female friend?  If you have a close female friend, what caused you to choose one another? Please comment below and help inspire and encourage strong healthy friendships among Christian women!

If you haven’t subscribed already, what are you waiting for?!?  Join the Petals Bloom movement of radical Christian women who are determined to allow Christ to permeate every aspect of our lives.  

When you subscribe, you will receive a weekly email sharing tips and challenges to help you grow in your relationship with God and others.  You can always unsubscribe if it’s not your “cup of tea”. You’ll also receive your free “Emotional Maturity versus Emotional Maturity” checklist.  Feel free to introduce yourself when you receive my first email! Thanks for stopping by!:)

#madetolove

Like, Share & Subscribe!

With love,

Kimberly 

Recommended books:

“Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It’s Impossible to be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally Immature” by Peter Scazzero

“Safe People: How to Find Relationships That Are Good for You And Avod Those That Aren’t” by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend

“Petals Bloom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.”

The post How to Carefully Choose a Close Female Friend | 5 Tips appeared first on Petals Bloom.

“Women are too much trouble.”

“My best friends are men.”

Generally, these perspectives come from women who have been hurt deeply by other women.  However, women who continue to hold on to these hurts will never experience the treasure of having a close female friendships.  

When I was a teenager, I wanted to be best friends with “Sue”.  However, “Sue” wanted to be best friends with “Joyce”. I was crushed. 

The hurt ran so deep that I made up my mind that I should avoid any best friend relationships.  A female best friend wasn’t worth the pain and effort.  

About ten years later, I met my current closest female friend “Ruth”.  There have been a lot of ups and downs through the years, but it has become one of my greatest joys in this life.

Here are the top 8 mindsets for having a female best friend:

1) Fight for your friendship.

As “Ruth” and I became close, we realized that the friendship would be tried and tested.  We knew that God would use our friendship to mature us and prepare us for His purposes.  Without a doubt, it would take a high level of persistence to keep the friendship. 

Many years ago, I remember one afternoon when we sat in the car in an effort to resolve a conflict.  In that conversation, we both committed ourselves to fight for our friendship.  About twenty years have passed and we are still very good friends despite our disagreements, unloving actions toward each other, marriages, children, heartache and the like.

We’ve been through a lot together. 

If you want an exceptional friendship that would last a lifetime, you both need to agree to fight for your friendship when the going gets tough. 

2) Go deep.

In order to love deeply, you have to go deep.  This will involve a willingness and consciousness to expose your “good, bad and ugly” in your being.  In essence, you have to be vulnerable. 

Only then would you be able to know if you’re being truly loved and if you will, in return, choose to love the other person.

If you’ve been hurt by other women in the past, it will take time (maybe years) to come to the point where you feel this person can be trusted with your heart. 

Best friends are for the long haul, but just know that you may not experience the level of closeness that you desire until you go deep.

3) Love unconditionally.

Learning to love your best friend is one of the best training grounds for marriage.  Although you have similarities because you’re both women, there would be differences in values, experiences, opinions, customs, family culture, etc.  That being the case, conflicts are inevitable.  

Therefore, accept and love your friend as she is today ….not the friend that you’d like her to be in the future.  You cannot change her and she cannot change you.

Just as God loves you unconditionally with your all your flaws, you are also called to love your friend.

4) Don’t run from the process.

When your heart hurts and the pain is unbearable, the easiest thing to do is to harden your heart and move into another friendship or ditch female friendships altogether. 

However, you wouldn’t grow.  If you sincerely desire to mature as a Christian woman, you have to learn to stick with the harsh realities of life and not run away.  These are opportunities for growth.

There have been several times through the years when I felt like giving up my friendship with “Ruth”.  At every point, God brought me to the point of yielding to Him. 

I would often pray that “God would pour his love into my heart by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).”  I kid you not … every single time, I felt the coldness in my heart begin to melt away. 

Then, I was able to love “Ruth” again.  Also, I would read 1 Corinthians 13 to remind myself what true love looks like.

Although she’s my female best friend, I have experienced the greatest hurts with her than with any other friendship.  Nevertheless, I wouldn’t exchange the growth and closeness for an easier process.  

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV

5) Choose loyalty.

Men gossip too, but women seem to have a special inclination toward it.  In order to have a strong friendship, you need to decide to protect your friendship. 

This means that you avoid bad-mouthing your friend with others.  If you’re having a conflict with your best friend and you need the advice of a third party, be careful to give a fair and sober account of the circumstances, without skewing the information to make you look better. 

Also, choose someone who will not take sides.  This would mean that you need to speak with an emotionally mature Spirit-filled person.  You don’t want to destroy that person’s relationship with your friend “Ruth”.

I have found that as a friendship blossoms, the desire to paint your friend in a bad light goes away.  So you have to ask yourself, how deep is this friendship?

Additionally, loyalty involves defending your friend.  If someone comes to you and begins to gossip about your friend, you need to respectfully and tactfully ask them to speak directly to your friend. 

In closing, always choose to believe the best about your friend (if you choose the right friend to begin with!).

6) Extend grace and mercy.

As flawed human beings, we will hurt each other.  Just expect it. Indeed, how we deal with it is what matters. 

Understand that you and your friend are in a process.  As a result, you will make foolish decisions and hurt the people closest to you.  Your best friend will do the same.  

Some years ago, I read this simple explanation about grace and mercy in a Daily Bread.

“Grace is receiving what we don’t deserve.”

“Mercy is not receiving what we do deserve.”

Just as Jesus extends grace and mercy toward us, in the same way, you need to extend those qualities to your friend.  

7) Become emotionally mature.

As a growing Christian, you need to learn to handle your emotions well.  An emotionally mature Christian woman is in touch with her emotions and allows the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit to guide her behavior. 

On the other hand, an emotionally immature woman will be on an out-of-control emotional roller coaster ride.  Subsequently, she will damage herself and others in the process. 

Are you leaning toward emotional maturity or emotionally immaturity? Click here to get the “Emotional Maturity verses Emotional Immaturity” checklist in your Inbox. You’d actually want to see this list!

When you read the list, you’ll begin to see areas for your own growth and have some ‘aha’ moments on why your last ‘best friend’ relationship didn’t work out. The fact is all of us need to mature emotionally!

“… emotional health and spiritual maturity are inseparable. It is not possible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature.” – Peter Scazzero (Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It’s Impossible to Be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally Immature)

8) Forgive frequently.

If you want a friendship that will last for a lifetime, you need to forgive and forgive and forgive.  The person will hurt you time and time again.  Admittedly, their actions may not be intentionally wicked or selfish but it happens.  

When things get really tough, take a moment and remember all the times that your friend forgave you in the past when you have hurt her.  For an even better comparison, recall all the sins that God has forgiven you!

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13 NIV

Other articles:

10 Easy Tips to Start Journaling today 

10 Fun Ideas to Kill Boredom

Summary

Cultivating a friendship with a female best friend will take a lot of investment.  However, if you do the work and stay the course, you will find that it will be a great source of love, laughter, enjoyment and personal growth. 

It will enhance your life tremendously even if it might be painful at times. For a building a strong healthy relationship with your best friend,

1. Fight for your friendship;
2. God deep;
3. Love unconditionally;
4. Don’t run from the process;
5. Choose loyalty;
6. Extend grace and mercy;
7. Become emotionally mature; and
8. Forgive frequently.

Do you have a female best friend?  What do you love about your friendship?  What tips can you share that has strengthened your friendship with your female best friend?  For those of you who have felt betrayed and hurt, what key insights can you share that would help the rest of us to have better friendships? Please share by commenting below.

To receive my weekly email tips to help strengthen your relationship with God and others, click subscribe.  You’ll also receive your FREE “Emotional Maturity verses Emotional Immaturity” checklist. Which one are you leaning toward? You’ll want this checklist! Thanks for stopping by!

#madetolove

Like, Share & Subscribe!

With love,

Kimberly 

Recommended Books:

“Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It’s Impossible to be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally Immature” by Peter Scazzero

“Changes that Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You” by Dr. Henry Cloud 

“Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life” by Henry Cloud and John Townsend 

“Petals Bloom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.”

The post 8 Crucial Mindsets for Having a Female Best Friend  appeared first on Petals Bloom.