Concrete, Hopes, And Dreams

Concrete, Hopes, and Dreams

Encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

Aaron and I became friends with Jason and Christa years ago when we invited them to our house for dessert. As the evening was winding down, Aaron and Jason were in the family room while Christa and I settled into cozy chairs in my living room. Christa is the kind of woman who quickly moves past small talk, and we were soon laughing and crying as we talked about hopes, dreams, and the hard things in life.

After I hugged my official new friend at the end of the evening, Aaron and I gently shut the front door and they disappeared down the sidewalk. Moving toward the kitchen for a quick cleanup, I asked what he and Jason had been talking about for the hour or so that we had separated into different rooms.

“Concrete,” Aaron replied.

I paused, certain I had misheard. “You talked about concrete?” I asked, slightly incredulous.

He suddenly looked a bit uncertain. “Umm, yeah? What did you guys talk about?”

“Umm—we cried over hopes and dreams . . .” I trailed off, now wondering which conversation was weirder for a first evening with new friends.

Both slightly confused at the wild difference between our respective conversations, we couldn’t help but laugh at the difference between male and female friendships.

That memory is the perfect reminder for me that my husband tends to grow and bond with new friends in physical ways—often over a task or activity—while my relationships tend to grow deeper through coffee and conversation. I intentionally keep that difference in mind as I encourage Aaron to set aside time and space for activities with his male friends—whether that means watching a soccer match, playing a sport, or even chatting while manning the grill. My husband needs the encouragement and support found in godly fellowship as much as I do, and I actively seek to support him in this effort.

— Julie

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Find a way to support the friendships of the men in your life, taking into consideration how their relationships may look different from your own.