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Friendship @ AVirtuousWoman.org

Friendship {Day 52}

Being a friend is about more than just getting together for lunch. Being a real friend means being there for that other person in times of need. Being a real friend means not just hearing, but really listening. Being a good friend means paying attention and being thoughtful – not always taking but giving.

This post may contain affiliate links. You can read my disclosure policy here.

Friendship @ AVirtuousWoman.org

From Chaos to Calm: Day 52

Scripture Memory: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17

As you continue working on your entryways, I want you to thoughtfully and prayerfully consider yourself as a friend. The question is: Are you a good friend?

[Tweet “Are you a good friend? #friendship #proverbs31”]

Being a friend is about more than just getting together for lunch. Being a real friend means being there for that other person in times of need. Being a real friend means not just hearing, but really listening. Being a good friend means paying attention and being thoughtful – not always taking but giving.

Some women just seem to have the knack for being thoughtful, others need to really think about it and pay attention. Whether you fall to the right or the left or somewhere in the middle, there are ways that you can befriend even the most unlikely person.

If you are a woman who finds yourself with no close friends, take heart. You are not alone. In today’s society, women are often lonely and in need of friendship. Often, families relocate to areas where no family is present and they have a hard time finding other women to get to know.

[Tweet “Make it your ministry to reach out to those around you who may not have close friends #friendship.”]

If you are a woman who is blessed to have close friends, take note. There are women around you – in your neighborhood, at church, at the park, etc. who are longing for a good friend. Make it your ministry and expand your circle to include new comers. So often women who have already established their friendship circle forget that there are women who are lonely. They don’t even think to say more than a “Hello.”

Friendship {From Chaos to Calm: Day 52} @ AVirtuousWoman.org

Begin a personal card ministry. Take note of church members who are absent and send a card to them. Keep a chart of Birthday’s and Anniversaries of those who are close to you. Remember to send the card in the mail before the actual date. Keep a running list near your prayer corner. Stock a basket with pretty note cards, pens, an address book, and stamps. Take five minutes a day to write a note to someone. In the course of a year you will have sent out 250 note cards!

My daughter-in-law, Chelli, began a card ministry some months ago. As a pastor’s wife, she wanted to find a way to reach out to others and express her love. She makes her own cards! I am so proud of her and this has been such an inspiration to me. If you are crafty, you might enjoy spending time each week creating meaningful cards.

Begin a Prayer Ministry

Make a commitment to really prayer for your friends, church members, and people in your community. Prayer is one of the greatest gifts you can ever give. When you are out, offer to pray for and with those who are hurting. They will be encouraged. You will be blessed.

Begin a Play Group

If you are a mom with young children, and there is no group in your area, start one! Stay at Home Moms crave friendship, but are often lacking. Set a date and time and place flyers with the information in grocery stores, at the library, and at the park. Your local radio station may even run free Public Service Announcements if you ask!

Begin a Women’s Bible Study

If your church does not have a women’s ministry that meets on a regular basis, talk to the pastor or women’s ministry leader about starting a weekly or monthly meeting. Amazing friendship can be gained by studying the Bible and praying together.

There are endless ways to meet new people and make new friends. If you are shy, God will open up the door and allow you to make friends if you just ask him. Don’t be afraid to step out. If you bathe your idea in prayer, you are sure to succeed!

Have you struggled to make close friends? Do you have a story of friendship to share?

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About Melissa Ringstaff

My name is Melissa Ringstaff and I've been blogging here at A Virtuous Woman since 2001. I'm a pastor's wife and homeschooling mom living in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of Southeastern KY. I believe in finding freedom from perfection and living life with purpose and I want to help you do exactly that.

I'm so glad you've stopped by to visit with me. I hope we can be friends!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. tara pittman

    July 16, 2014 at 12:07 pm

    Friendship takes work but it is well worth it. Us ladies need girl friends.
    Reply
    • Melissa Ringstaff

      July 16, 2014 at 12:45 pm

      I agree, Tara!
      Reply
  2. Mary

    July 17, 2014 at 1:55 pm

    A nice message. I, for one, pledge to reach out to someone new. No one likes to be the new guy : ) Enjoying your blog Melissa. thank you, Mary
    Reply
    • Melissa Ringstaff

      July 18, 2014 at 8:57 am

      Hi Mary, I love that! Yes, no one likes feeling like they are the only one who doesn't have a friend or know someone in the room they can connect with! God bless you!
      Reply

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Hi There! My name is Melissa Ringstaff and I believe that being a Proverbs 31 Woman isn't about being perfect. Here at A Virtuous Woman you'll find freedom from perfection and the confidence to live your life with purpose.


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purposenotperfection

Freedom from perfection. 🪁
Live with purpose. ✝️
Proverbs 31 for modern women. 👱‍♀️
Wife + Mama + Homemaker + Kentucky
Life: @melissa.ringstaff

Melissa Ringstaff
Not gonna lie. 2020 was a hard year. And not just Not gonna lie. 2020 was a hard year. And not just because there was a pandemic. Our family has faced many trying times in the past but 2020 gave us some doozies.  I’m looking forward to a new year. The beginning of the new year always feels like a fresh start to me. It feels like HOPE.  But the truth is, whatever heartaches and hardships you and I were facing on Dec. 31 will most likely still be there on Jan. 1.  That’s why it’s hard to keep New Years resolutions. It’s easy to feel motivated for a few days or a couple weeks until we realize life hasn’t really changed and things are still hard.  But if we want to see real change it takes hard work and real effort. It takes showing up every day - even when it’s hard.  Whether that means working on your fractured relationships or setting healthy boundaries or cultivating self disciple... whatever that hard thing is that you need to work on ... it will only get better if you work on it.  We aren’t promised an easy life. But we are promised an “Ever Present Help in times of trouble.” Psalm 46:1  *
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#faithblogger #faithfulness #faithandfamily #bibleverseaday #christianbloggers #dailyverses #christianlife #jesuscalling #shereadstruth#proverbs31women #proverbs31life #10virtues #daughteroftheking #jesuslovesme #womenoffaith #faithquotes #proverbs31
We’re coming into the new year with all the same We’re coming into the new year with all the same problems we had in the last year. And that’s okay! Life doesn’t have to be perfect to still be amazing. Perfectionism is a joy stealer. Let’s determine to enjoy life right now in all its messiness.  I believe you can find freedom from perfection and the confidence to live your life with purpose. #purposenotperfection  #christian #Jesus #love #quotes #quoteslife #quotestoliveby #godisgood #votd #lifequotes #inspirationalquotes #life #motivationalquotes #inspiration #bible #bb #bestoftheday #happiness #wordofgod
🏠 Being a homemaker is such an important role. 🏠 Being a homemaker is such an important role. It’s a ministry to your family and all who enter your home.  But I want you to know: You don’t have to be perfect. ❤️  There’s a fine line between teaching your children to be neat and insisting on perfection. No one can meet that kind of standard and it can be detrimental to the emotional health of your family.  What we want for our homes is to provide a space that is neat and clean enough that your family and friends feel comfortable and well loved.  There is freedom in accepting the fact that you’re not perfect. Not to make excuses for slovenliness - but to give yourself grace.  It’s when we recognize our weakness that we find ourselves reaching out to Jesus to receive the power that comes only from him. As homemakers, when we can find grace for the moment when we accept His Gift.  “But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage. Ezra 9:8  Let His Grace wash over you, cleanse your weary heart. Homemaking isn’t about creating a perfect space. It’s about creating a home where loved ones feel cared for and nurtured. 
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#proverbs31 #proverbs31woman #purpose31 #10virtues #homemaking #homemakingministries #happyhomemaking #homemaking101 #cleanhome #cleanheart #fromchaostocalm #housekeeping #cleaningroutine #inspiredhome #makingahome #lovewhereyoudwell #homemaker #homebody #biblicalHomemaking #wearethehomemakers
❤️Your attitude about homemaking matters.⠀
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A homemaker by definition is someone who manages and makes a home. 🏠⠀
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But, anyone can clean and organize a home. ⠀
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☑️ Homemaking is about more than checking off the items on your to do list.⠀
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Learning how to be a homemaker means you learn how to make your home feel like haven of peace and love. You seek out ways to make your home feel inviting. You work at it.⠀
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There is no easy button for homemaking. There are easier, more efficient ways to do chores, but the chores still have to be done. If you live in a house, you will create the need for the house to be tidied every day and cleaned on a regular basis.⠀
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Having the right attitude about homemaking is the first step in learning how to be a homemaker.⠀
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The good news is, even if you’ve been struggling with your homemaking, you can always go to God and ask Him for help. ⠀
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He sees the unseen work of your hands. And He loves you very, very much. He wants to help you succeed. ⠀
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#proverbs31 #proverbs31woman #purpose31 #10virtues #homemaking #homemakingministries #happyhomemaking #homemaking101 #cleanhome #cleanheart #fromchaostocalm #housekeeping #cleaningroutine #inspiredhome #makingahome #lovewhereyoudwell #homemaker #homebody #biblicalHomemaking  #youngwife #housewife
🙏 If you’ve found it difficult to have a regu 🙏 If you’ve found it difficult to have a regular time with Jesus every day, you’re not alone. Lots of busy Christian women struggle to find time for a daily prayer and devotion time. ⠀
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But I still want to encourage you to start your day with God! ⠀
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⏰ If it’s hard to spend 30 minutes in the morning for a quiet time, I want you to remember you can still begin your day with God – even if that means saying a short prayer before your feet hit the floor in the morning.⠀
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✝️ I also want to encourage you to memorize this verse:⠀
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“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.⠀
Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” Psalm 143:8 📖⠀
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In the morning you can recite this verse and say a prayer. It doesn’t have to take a long time. Although – if you do have time – you will be greatly blessed by spending more time in prayer and devotion.⠀
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📌 Free Printable Morning Prayer Prompts on the blog today: https://avirtuouswoman.org/morning-prayer-prompts/  #linkinbio ⠀
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#faithblogger #faithfulness #faithandfamily #bibleverseaday #christianbloggers #dailyverses #christianlife #jesuscalling #shereadstruth #Christ #Church #Christian #Jesus #Jesuslover #JesusChrist #JesusisLord #CreatorGod #Devotional #verseoftheday #Love #Faith #biblestudy #God #dailydevotional
🏠 As a homemaker, one of my goals is to be inte 🏠 As a homemaker, one of my goals is to be intentional with how I plan our days. I love any opportunity to create a good memories at home for my family and guests. ⠀⠀
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📌 If you're looking to make this holiday season really special, you need to be intentional. Goodness knows 2020 has had a lot of ups and downs. And maybe you feel like it's been mostly downs. ⠀⠀
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🎄 But the holiday season is a chance to focus on celebrating the life we have right now. Things don't need to be perfect for us to celebrate life right now!!⠀⠀
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☑️ Inside the pages of my Purpose 31 holiday planner, you'll find 8 weeks of planning and cleaning all laid out for you. Recipe pages, journaling pages, and more - 120 pages total. ⠀⠀
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✏️ The Purpose 31 Holiday Planner is by far one of the most popular resource I produce each year. ⠀⠀
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Thousands of women have downloaded it over the last four years I've offered it.⠀⠀
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So, even though it's early still, you can go ahead and downlaod it. Print it out and then set it up so you're ready to go.⠀⠀
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I usually take my holiday planner down to Office Depot and have them spiral bind it with a plastic cover for about $5.00. This year, though, I just bought a new 3 ring binder at Walmart, printed off extra cover pages to slip in the clear sleeve, and created a binder with it. ⠀⠀
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📌📌📌 If you use the planner this year, be sure to share and tag me in your photos! ❤️⠀  Download: https://avirtuouswoman.org/holiday-planner/ #linkinbio
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#proverbs31 #proverbs31woman #purpose31 #10virtues #homemaking #homemakingministries #happyhomemaking #homemaking101 #cleanhome #cleanheart #fromchaostocalm #housekeeping #cleaningroutine #inspiredhome #makingahome #lovewhereyoudwell #homemaker #homebody #biblicalHomemaking #christmas #holidayplanning #planningaddict #plannercommunity #freeprintables #thanksgiving #christmastree  #plannerobsessed
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