Friends are an important part of life and without them life would not be as rewarding. I’ve learned that some friends are in your life for only a season, some for a reason and a few for a lifetime. I have a variety of friends in my life but the most important factor we all share is honesty. They are honest with me and I with them. They don’t freak out or have a drama meltdown or talk about me to others (including their husband) with any issue that comes up. Here are 7 types of friends that I Need…

1. THE FUN FRIEND

Laughter is good medicine for the soul and so is a fun friend. This type of friend has a great sense of humor and is just fun to have around. You laugh a lot together and probably cry together too, from laughing so hard or at the right movie. I have never been into shopping (not even the day after Thanksgiving), but I can handle it with a fun friend. She can even make cleaning fun. The more of these you have the better!

2. THE POLITICAL FRIEND

I enjoy being active in politics and that involves keeping informed of all that is going on. My political friend and I enjoy discussing issues and sharing our views. Maybe we don’t agree on everything but that’s okay. We share current articles, emails and new reports. Liz has been the best political friend I have ever had.

3. THE FIT FRIEND

These friends are important but I seemed to have more of them when I lived in California. Lots more. This type of friend is obviously fit and eats healthy. Much of what you do centers around being healthy and you probably exercise with her sometimes. My current schedule makes it difficult to exercise with a friend but it’s still important to grow in the area of fitness. Julie was the most healthy friend I ever had and I sure miss connecting with her.

4. THE HEART FRIEND

The heart friend is one that I can share the deepest longing of my heart, my dreams, passion and the depths of my soul. We talk a lot about Jesus, God’s Word, how the Holy Spirit is speaking to us and ministry. This type of friend will keep EVERYTHING I share with her confidential, even from her husband. If we have a temporary conflict she does not share it with anyone and we usually work it out soon. Sometimes I’ve had heart friends that I had to let go because they didn’t keep what I shared with them confidential. I didn’t blow them off and stop being a friend but I had to change their place in my life. If you are in any type of leadership position you must choose your inner circle very carefully. These friends are rare jewels and come and go as I move around the country.

5. THE PROVERBS 31 FRIEND

This friend is one who has been married longer than I have been and she will have children who have passed the stage that mine are in. She is not perfect because none of us are but she has walked the road before me and strives to be a godly wife and mother. She is a great sounding board. The bottom line is that she motivates and challenges me to be a better wife and mother. Thank you Sharon Maguire, Kathy Keller and Kay Owen.

6. THE INTERCESSOR FRIEND

This is a friend that I can pray with. She has a heart and passion for prayer, does it and believes in the power of it. Terry Porteles was my intercessor friend in NYC and we prayed together as well as corporately at the Brooklyn Tabernacle Prayer Meeting on Tuesday nights when I lived in NYC. Even if distance separates you can pray on the phone together.

7. THE MENTOR FRIEND

This friend is rare indeed but they are out there of you want them bad enough. When you connect with a mentor friend either casually or in a structured setting, they will challenge you to stretch and grow. The first female mentor friend I had was Sheryl Fleisher and she challenged me on having a dynamic walk with Christ through prayer and in areas of ministry. Carol Kent helped develop me as a public speaker. Geri Scazzero challenged me in emotionally healthy spirituality. Kathy Keller challenged me when I lived in NYC on trusting God with my children.

In my field of work I have had male mentors but because I am married and they are married we are not going to hang out together. These mentors I will share about at another blog post.

This list is not all inclusive but the most important for me. Sometimes what you learn from friends will overlap but I have found that most women have certain strengths that draw me. Don’t you love hanging out with women you connect with? What about you? Who are your girlfriends?