Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Friendship Improves Happiness and Abates Misery


By Doubling Our Joy, and Dividing Our Grief

They call themselves the "Ladies of the Lake" but they never set out to be a club.  Rather, the group began when one of the women returned home exhausted from a business trip and came to the conclusion that she had too much of one thing in he life:  MEN!  With a husband and two boys at home, a work environment that was mostly male, and an elderly father and uncle for which to care, she resolved to set some time aside for herself and a few female friends.

Over the years, Paula hadn't cultivated very many friendships with other women, but she was determined to see that change.  Eventually she discovered three like-minded women:  one owned a machine shop, one worked or a contractor, and one ran a truck stop.  The women pulled out their calendars over dinner one evening and agreed on this schedule--"A trip to the lake at least once a quarter!"

At the lake, the women would listen to Mozart, fix gourmet dinners, and sit on the deck overlooking the water.  They would talk for hours--about everything--without an agenda.

Over the years, they became very close and often refer to each other as "sister."  Says Paula, "Nobody understands like another woman."

For all of my "sisters" I love you and I thank you!
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 17:17

No comments: