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Why We Are Truly Better Together —
and a Giveaway!

by (in)courage

Surrendering to the God Who Sees

by Faith Griffin Sims

The Hard Truth About How God Feels About You

by Michele Cushatt

25 Days of Christmas Promises:
a new Bible reading plan from (in)courage

by (in)courage

Letting Go This Christmas Season

by Anna Rendell

The Four Friends We Need in a Crisis

by Jennifer Dukes Lee

The Need for Seasonal Bookends During Change

by Kristen Strong

A Frustrating Part of the
Vulnerability Conversation

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When Rejection Crowds Out the Rest of the Story

by Marnie Hammar

Six Ways to Show up for a Friend

by Jessica Turner

How to Pour Honey on Someone’s Soul Today

by Becky Keife

The Hard Truth About How God Feels About You

by Michele Cushatt

Grace in the Midst of a Marriage Crisis

by Grace P. Cho

God Has Not Forgotten You

by Aliza Latta

For Women Who Are Holding the World Together

by Anjuli Paschall

It’s Our Tenth Birthday!

by Becky Keife

Let’s Be Dangerous Women

by Holley Gerth

Women of Courage: a Forty-Day Devotional
is Now Available (plus a BOGO & giveaway)!

by (in)courage

Can You See What I See?

by Robin Dance

The Truth Will Set You Free

by Aliza Latta

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Finding Friendship Covered in Flour

by Amanda Wells May 24, 2017 in:Encouragement

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The rich tomato and oregano aroma of fresh baked pepperoni bread wafted through the room. I breathed deeply, anticipating the first cheesy bite. Women of various ages stood around the butcher block dining room, covered in flour dust, some still holding their rolling pins. I giggled softly. These women wouldn’t be seen in public wearing flour on their noses or brushed across their forearms, but here they didn’t seem to mind.

What an unusual group of women, I thought. Some widows. Some young moms. Some older moms. Some older married women. Different in many ways, but the one thing we all had in common was Jesus.

Just a few months ago, we passed each other at church, smiling and greeting one another, but the relationship stopped there. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. The busyness of life left us little time to socialize outside the church hour.

How different today would be if these women had declined the opportunity to mentor the younger women of the church.

The timer dinged and the women moved to the kitchen, filling their glasses with ice and the air with laughter and small talk. Our hostess pulled the garlic crusted loaf of bread from the oven, setting it on the table for slicing. The salad and dressings flanked the entrée, and someone slid the plates and silverware closer. We served ourselves and settled around the table, the older women sprinkled between the younger ones.

Conversation flowed. Concern rippled through the room as someone mentioned an older man of the church who had been badly burned recently and was still recovering. Chortles escaped as a young mom described her past week with her energetic, all-boy toddler and his explorations.

Who would’ve thought we would find friendship together?

Friendship comes in all different sizes — just like the dough we rolled out that morning, some more yielding and receptive than others. But with a little coaxing and a delightful combination of spices, both the crusty, cheesy pepperoni bread and our newly found friendship, tasted delightful. And right.

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. (Titus 2:3-5)

As these women fully embraced us, faults and all, and committed to training us according to God’s Word so that we would glorify Him, we found something:

Encouragement. Acceptance. Admonishment (lovingly, of course).

We found women who were willing to do battle for us in prayer. Women who heavily invested in us both emotionally and spiritually.

As a young mom of six, I considered this newfound friendship invaluable. Precious. Priceless.

Who better to seek advice from when my three-year-old twins misbehave in preschool than a woman who’s been there? Or when my fashion-conscious nine-year-old finds leggings and too-short tunics irresistible? Or when my husband and I don’t see eye to eye about our finances?

Women need other women. We were made for companionship, fellowship, and friendship. There’s not a substitute for someone who has been there already through pregnancy, birth, potty-training, and terrible twos. Someone who has lived single, pursued a career, or served in ministry. Women can help other women because they understand the many stages of life. They make excellent advisors and supportive influences.

When we look for friendship outside of our normal scope and seek older, godly women as counselors, we are richly rewarded.

by Amanda Wells
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Women need other women. We were made to train and be trained. // Love this from @incourage: https://www.incourage.me/?p=185843

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Amanda Wells

Amanda is the proud wife of a smokin’ hot third-generation farmer, and they have taken Psalm 127:5 literally, raising their quiver of six kids on the farm. She loves baking, reading, writing, and arithmetic (kidding!). Amanda writes about faith, homeschooling, the farm, and family life at The Farm Wyfe blog.
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Comments

  1. Lisa Appelo says

    May 24, 2017 at 9:58 am

    Such a sweet scene, Amanda. Thank Goodness for women who actively pour into others. And what a reminder that we never know when someone is craving friendship… even a mama in a houseful of people. ❤

    • Yvette says

      May 24, 2017 at 11:31 am

      This is a beautiful illustration of how we all need one another and how God can use us regardless of age in the lives of the women around us. We older women are so blessed by the energy & enthusiasm of the younger women and are encouraged by their dreams for the future.

    • Amanda Wells says

      May 24, 2017 at 4:31 pm

      Thank you, Lisa!!!

  2. Amanda Wells says

    May 24, 2017 at 4:32 pm

    Thank you, Yvette! What a wonderful picture of the cycle of encouragement!

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