Two are better than one because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, the other can help him up...A chord of three strands is not quickly broken.   

  

I just finished reading Marian Jordan's latest book, The Girlfriends Guidebook: Navigating Female Friendships. Jordan, also the author of  Sex and the City Uncovered: Exposing the Emptiness and Healing the Hurt, is the founder of Redeemed Girl Ministries. Her books are informed by her Christian faith.

I'm glad I had the chance to read this book and become more familiar with Jordan's work and life. Relationships between females have always perplexed me. For example, why do they ebb and flow to the degree they do? It's always bothered me that seemingly authentic relationships can evaporate into thin air when we encounter the inevitable transitions and/or major events of life: marriage, divorce, births, deaths and career changes, just to name a few.

And, why is it so easy to tell one friend how bad life sucks sometimes, but with other friends we feel compelled to be whimsical and less transparent? If we're compelled to gloss over our realities is it really a friendship at all?

After reading Jordan's book, which provides the most authentic definition of a friend, I'm thinking not. She points to those verses in Proverbs and the Book of John that we've all heard a hundred times. A friend sticks closer than a brother. A friend will lay down his life for you. 

Armed with a seminary degree, Jordan explores jealousy, competition, control, anger, manipulation and resentment in female friendships. She points to Biblical principles as a standard for conduct, and weaves meaningful, personal anecdotes into each chapter. She even provides a great, fleshed out list of the characteristics of Christ-like friends.

Jordan's book made me want to be a better friend, and it made me more thankful for the handful of true friends I have. When I think of each one of them I know God has ordered my steps and their presence in my life is Providence. 

Check out Redeemed Girl Ministries on Facebook.