Just Following the Frog

First, let me say thank you to all of you who submitted feedback on those struggles that make women feel alone. I’m working on addressing each of those issues. Stay tuned!In the meantime…For several days, I’ve put off emptying the skimmer in our pool. When we moved last year, we decided we wanted a pool, even if we had to live in a one bedroom house! Yes, I grew up in Florida with a pool; but the much greater reason was that we wanted our teens to invite their friends to our house. It’s been a good decision, but I forgot how icky skimmer baskets can be. I opened it this weekend to find three bloated frogs. I’m not incredibly squeamish, but I decided I would delegate the job to one of the males in my home. Only problem: I forgot to tell them. So, this morning I swallowed hard and took care of the job.As I was tossing the shiny little bobbers into the trash, I thought that the two little ones were probably just following their big frog friend and had no idea he would lead them to their doom. You see where I’m going with this, don’t you? Of course, children do this all the time… big ones and little ones, they follow the ring-leader. However, I was recently reminded that all the things we often term as “middle school” and “high school” behavior often still live in the graduates.I bet it’s not a news flash to you that issues like clicks and following the crowd exist even among adult women. We would like to think that we have matured past that, but the reality is that the sin nature doesn’t turn off when we receive a diploma or two. So, when is the last time you, as a big girl, evaluated your friends? I challenge you to build strong and healthy friendships, but protect yourself from becoming so comfortable with each other that you grow soft.Consider….

• Do you help each other become better women? Or do you allow each other permission to lower the standards as time goes by?
• Do your friends hold you accountable? Or do you laugh at things that are not truly funny, but can be unhealthy over time?
• How often does someone speak the truth in love or challenge another’s thinking?
• Do you ask each other meaningful questions that cause each of you to grow in your walk with the Lord?
• Do you conduct yourself in such a way that God is honored when you are together? If an outsider were to observe, would your speech and actions validate who you are in Christ or compromise it?

Friendships take work at every age. Sometimes, out of fear of being alone, we will take whatever friend we can get. If you are a stronger believer than your friend, then I challenge you to act like it. That doesn’t mean to be religious or hyper-spiritual. It doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. It means that your relationship with Christ should allow you to lovingly bring others up to a walk that is worthy of the Lord. If you see a pattern where you are not strong enough to lead, then pray through whether this is where you should spend your time. There are times when acquaintances need to become friends and friends need to become acquaintances.I would love to hear your thoughts… twitter | facebook