by Lexi Morris
“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother,”
Proverbs 18:24.
“Sisterhood” - one word that has meant so much to me over the past few years. When I think back to my freshman year of Bible College, I remember my intense desire to feel wanted. Being welcomed into a dorm full of girls can be a scary event, especially when you’re known as the shy one. Little did I know, the most loving girls were ready to welcome me in as one of their own. My first year at Bible College seemed much easier because of the friendships that it brought. Before long, we all felt like sisters.
If you have a sister, or even close friend, then you know just how fun life can get. I have so many memories of dorm life. From mattress surfing down the stairs, to serious talks with our dorm mom. Midnight tortilla fights and pranks that would leave us all crying from laughter. It was a normal occurrence for all the procrastinators to gather in one tiny room in order to finish our essays on time. But did this actually accomplish anything...? Absolutely not, but the snacks and conversations were worth staying up until 3 a.m. Oh and by the way, never prank a girl with a fake snake…it never ends well.
Not only have I witnessed it in a dorm full of girls, but I have also been fortunate enough to see this sisterhood in my 5th grade classroom. The girls in my class heavily outweigh the boys, so I get to witness this loving atmosphere on a daily basis. One of my favorite occurrences so far is watching the girls when they choose to be the “nice girl”. Maybe it's because of my intense desire to feel wanted by others, but it still catches my eye when I see it taking action. Now, I can easily tell the difference when one of my students wants recognition for their actions or if they genuinely desire to be kind to others.
One thing I know for certain, the Lord intends for us to have community! Recently, I witnessed multiple young girls talking about the struggles that they face on a daily basis. These struggles weren’t terrible sins that they were committing; instead, they included worry, anxiety, depression, and fear. In this group of friends, you could feel the change of atmosphere as one girl after the other shared her heart and even her testimony. There was such unity and love present in that room. It wasn’t a blame game or a time of pointing fingers. Instead, it was, “let me help you, I understand exactly what you’re going through”. I have never witnessed a deeper desire for a friend to bear her sister's burden. You could see that there were girls who desired to help one another in their time of need. Genuine care, love, and support were present. Competition and shame were absent. Authenticity loudly spoke through each girl as she shared her heart. Through this, my heart was challenged to be the girl who shows up. We need less friends who are not willing to go in the trenches with us. We need friends like the four men who broke through the roof just to get their friend to Jesus.
New Year's resolutions come and go, but let's be the girl that chooses to uplift others when they are discouraged. Be the girl that cheers her friends on when you aren’t being promoted yourself. Be the girl that serves selflessly to those around her, even when it's a small deed that will not receive recognition. Be the girl that has good intentions for your friendships, rather than an ulterior motive. Be the girl whose character is of more value than your physical appearance. We all need that girl, so let's be her!
While we are striving to become the person that our friends need, let us remember the One who has been a Friend to us. “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother,” Proverbs 18:24. This verse has been my absolute favorite over the years because of the last line. Have you witnessed this friendship? When we are lonely, afraid, or disappointed from failed circumstances or friendships, “There is a friend.” When the weight of life seems too hard to bear, “There is a friend.” Because of His unmatchable companionship, we can be the friend that our sisters need.
