A group of local friends just recently started a “women’s group”. It’s more of a “girls getting together group”. We call it Exhale.

It’s made up of a group of women, most empty nesters or soon to be. Some of us knew each other, others didn’t. And it has been an answered prayer.

I’m not sure why friendships are hard. Especially friendships with women. I have alot of women acquaintances, and some who I think of as friends. Most of us call each other friends but rarely spend time together. Or make time for each other, even though we probably have more time on our hands now than we ever did.

I suppose at each stage of life friends mean something different. At this stage, for some reason, I feel the pull for true friends. Real friends. Friends who can accept one another’s warts and all, and not feel the need to hide the warts.  Not just friends who you speak to when you see them, give them a hug, ask about the kids, share a laugh and then move on.

Feelings of isolation can happen when you are surrounded by people. When you are busy and pretending to have your perfect life.  But real friendships bring you back to yourself, they allow you to let your guard down and be real. They don’t judge. Instead they see you and they really pray for you. Not the “prayer chain” prayer… but a heart prayer. And then they follow up on you. They reach out to you…not you always reaching out or you always waiting and hoping someone would reach out.

As we get older I think we need those “really real” friendships. The ones who walk you through losing a parent, who understand the transition to empty nest and the new phase of married children. Who cheer you on in your next phase of life project or dream. Who allow you to just be with them and…Exhale.

Facebook and Instagram can create a world where we check in on our friends via a “like” or an emoji. We present our best selves, our best homes, our best kids on social media and then talk about those pictures when we see each other. But they don’t tell our whole story. They don’t tell our worries or our heartaches or our depression. Because who wants to see those on their Facebook feed?

I am grateful for new friends in my 50s. We are at an age where we know how important a real friend is. We know that these friendships will see us through this new phase of our lives and “get it”.  For these old and new friends I am grateful. For God’s answered prayer I am most grateful.

I took these Mocha Cupcakes with Espresso Buttercream to our latest girls’ group and they were a hit! Check them out!