When soldiers are in battle fighting a common enemy and intentionally or unintentionally turn on a fellow comrade it is called friendly fire! The name belies its logic, for there's nothing friendly about pain no matter where it comes from! Yet Christian sisters (women who are supposed to love one another) activate friendly fire way too often!
IT'S TIME TO CALL A CEASE FIRE!!!!!
I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the information, misinformation, and disinformation surrounding the Coronavirus, so I'm taking a break from the chatter to put the spotlight on a similar but more deadlier pandemic--Toxic Female Relationships!!!
For too long we have been defined by men and culture by our stanky interpersonal, ministry, and work relationships with other women. The result has been that we can't get a doggone thing done for the Lord, ourselves or anyone else!
DO I HAVE TO SPELL IT OUT FOR YOU? THINGS LIKE...
1. COMPETITION - I'm willing to fight you for what I want!
2. JEALOUSY- I want what you have!
3. BETRAYAL - I gave you my trust and you didn't deserve it!
4. INSECURITY - I feel inadequate and defensive and somehow that's your fault!
5. BULLYING- I can't compete with you at your level so I''m bringing you down, girl!
With the Coronavirus, health experts encourage anyone with symptoms to put on masks! I'm suggesting that Sisters in the Lord, take our masks off and deal with the situation. There's no better time then now. The month of March ushers in the Lenten season (a period of self examination, repentance, and renewal) and it celebrates women excellence. How about combining the two and doing a Spiritual reset with a Frienemy!
Sister relationships are not easy! They are complex, sensitive and very risky! ! But I do believe it's a risk worth taking. The Apostle Paul thinks so too. He tells members of the Philippian church to do a spiritual intervention between two ministry leaders:
I implore (beg) Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I urge you also true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of life. (Philippian 4:2-3).
Here's the bottom line sisters...we need each other! We also need a plan. Click on the one I found in Christianity Today by Jen Oyama Murphy. Ally or Adversary Please read the entire piece! She does a much better job than I could ever do explaining the urgency of the matter. But I will do a quick summary with my own translation to give you a jump start and set you up for victory ✌ over this Sister Pandemic:
✌ Admit there's a problem -(This sickness is REAL and denying it delays healing!)
✌ Name your hurts -(Claim the pain, Speak it so God can fix it!)
✌ Own your desires and dreams - (Don't demand opportunities! Pray and work for them!)
✌ Wrestle with God - (Don't put your identity in anything you can lose. Talk to God about it)
✌ Create community - (Build a network of support & advocacy. Bond and have fun)
✌ Collaborate - (Share your natural and spiritual gifts! We're better together than by ourselves)
SISTERS UNTIL NEXT TIME...KEEP THIS CONVO GOING - GET RIGHT WITH THE LORD AND EACH OTHER! THIS IS A VIRUS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE A CURE FOR!
If you would like to leave a comment please send an email to: sisters4sisters@att.net OR scroll to the bottom of my blog page at http://alittlewiser63.blogspot.com click on the no comments by the pencil and it will change to a writing space.
For many years now you've teach us women about our stinky relationships. Some of us sincerely try to put an end to the toxic relationships, but both sisters have to be heartfelt about it. Thanks for sharing
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