Friendship is Freedom
posted in God-sightings |
“There can be no friendship where there is no freedom. Friendship loves a free air, and will not be fenced up in straight and narrow enclosures.”
William Penn
I have been blessed with several dear friends throughout my life. At this very moment I can pick up the phone and call on any one of several women knowing they will laugh with me, cry with me, pray for me or support me in whatever way I need. I know this is not the case with everyone and I don’t take my dear girlfriends for granted. I treasure them and pray for them often.
In fact, as soon as I knew I was moving to Raleigh, NC I began praying for kindred spirits, special girlfriends. I didn’t know anyone in Raleigh, but I knew I needed a friend, or two, with whom I could be completely open and honest. I needed a friend who would love me for me and not judge my actions or decisions. I also needed that friend to love me enough to be willing to hold me accountable and “call me on the carpet” when I need it.
My treasured girlfriends are ones who give me the freedom to be myself, good qualities and bad. They listen to my heart’s cries and don’t try to change them or “fix” them. They don’t tell me I’m wrong for feeling a certain way because they understand feelings are neither right or wrong, they are feelings. When the time is right, they do, however, help me to see that sometimes my perceptions are wrong and those wrong perceptions may lead to unnecessary pain or wrong thinking.
But mostly, my kindred spirits just love me and allow me to love them in return. This is the freedom William Penn talks about in his quote. And friendship thrives in freedom.
Are you giving your friends the freedom to be their authentic selves? Do you feel the freedom to drop your walls and take off your masks with others? Most of us have been hurt along the way so authenticity can be frightening at first. If that is true of you, pick one person with whom you feel safe and share your heart. You may be surprised by their response.
A few days ago a girlfriend said to me, “Stephanie, because you were so open with me the first time we met, I knew it was okay for me to be open with you too.” This friendship has blossomed since then and I truly count this woman among the great blessings in my life.
Choose a Better Life by choosing to be authentic with others understanding that authenticity doesn’t require you to divulge your deepest pains or darkest secrets with everyone you meet. But, by removing your masks and being “real” you will know when you are in the presence of a kindred spirit.