Angie's Answer

"LIFE-GIVING RELATIONSHIPS"

"LIFE-GIVING RELATIONSHIPS"       

 Today was a very heart-wrenching Friday with the CHGs.  One of our dear friends was bearing her breaking heart with us as she is trying to discern the correct way (God's way) to deal with her teenage daughter and the related issues.  This led to lots of advice and finally another dear friend bearing her heartache over a wayward adult daughter. 

           I was reading All About Mom (an Assemblies of God Mother's magazine that comes out every May) and there was an article titled "LIFE-GIVING RELATIONSHIPS".  To quote: "As mothers, it is easy to allow the demands of daily life to consume every moment, leaving us feeling disconnected and unfufilled.  Our lives may be full of activity and yet there is an unexplained emptiness.  In my years as a pastor's wife, I have been approached by many women who are confused by these feelings. Yet I have observed a common thread among the women who experience this type of discontent.  All too often we have been neglecting the most essential aspect of our unique design as women - our need for satisfying, intimate, life-giving relationships. 

       "Women are relational - it is part of our design.  At the creation of the world, God call everything " very good."  However, in the second chapter of Genesis says something is "not Good."

      "It is no good for the man to be alone, I will make a helper suitable for him.... So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, he took one to he man’s ribs... Then the Lord God made a woman form the rib.    and he brought her to the man." (Genesis 2:18;21;22)  Whereas Adam was formed in an untamed world, Eve was created to meet a relational need.  As women, we were made in and for relationship. " (unquote)

               The article went on to say that men find great fulfillment in their jobs, but women for the most part find their greatest fulfillment in our relationships with others.  This is so true for me!!!  And I think of other women.  The author also commented that "withourt helathy relationships with other women, we may inadvertently puyt too much pressure on those relationships closest to us - our husbands and children."  This is so true for me as well.  Having a healthy handful of gal pals to relate with has actually improved my relationship with my husband.  I do not expect him to act like a female when I am talking to him.  I do expect him to listen to me, but I do NOTexpect (at least not anymore) uncharateristic enthusiasm in some of the things that my girlfriends would understand and comment on with heartfelt emotion.   However, we do have to make sure that those oh so needed freindships are healthy.  If you and your girlfriend are doing nothing but berating your husbands, it is not a God honoring use of your time.  I must say that I was guilty of this in the past.   God was thankfully paitient with my arrogant/hurt heart at that time.  I now see the wrong in all that bashing, but then I was hurting.   I am still friends with the lady who listened to me pour my heart out several times a week.  Thankfully there has been a change of heart, to have been witnessed. in both my husband and Moi! God is so good.  I have a wonderful, faithful, God-honoring husband ......AND my wonderful lady friends.  My cup gets refilled almost every Friday.  And occassionally if it really needs it I may even get the cup cleaned!!

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              So here is a relationship checkup:

1. How is your relationshop with God?  Are you spending time alone with HIM?

2.  How is your relationship with your husband?

3.  How is your relationship with your children?

4.  Are you taking Time for relationships with your freinds?  If not you may want to organize your own GHCs.  If you commit to it then over time there will be the sweetest friendship to on which you can rely.

              Well that is it for tonight.  My eyes have started to close against my will.