Community, Encouragement, and Coffee
We weren’t created to live life alone. As the Body of Christ, we were created to do life together.
Does that sound like a cliché?
Some people don’t like the phrase “do life together.”
But that’s what we’re called to do.
There is something about having a group of people who will rally behind you and do life with you without judgment. That’s not to say they won’t call you out if something goes down. They will.
But they have earned that right.
They know everything about you. When something happens, they are the first people you text or call, and when you feel like you can’t go on, they point you to Jesus.
We all need people in our lives who will point us to Jesus. People who will pour into our lives as we pour into theirs. People who will come get your kids without you asking because they know you need a break, or people who will stop by with coffee because they know sleep escaped you the night before.
How to Create Community
But how? If you don’t have people in your life to do life with, how do you find them?
It’s not easy.
Especially for an introvert like me.
But it’s not impossible.
First, make a list of the people in your life who you want to get to know more. This could be the mom you always see in the carpool line. You both wave, but that’s about it. Maybe it’s the girl you say hi to in the hallway every Sunday as you drop your child off in Sunday School. They might be feeling the same way.
Now that you have a list, pick a couple of people and invite them to coffee. It doesn’t have to be a formal thing. It can be as simple as “Hey! Would you be interested in catching some coffee sometime?” It can be coffee at a coffee shop, but it can just as easily be coffee at your house. You can enjoy coffee and fellowship together while your kids play. {I love using (my referral link) Swagbucks to earn points towards gift cards for places like Starbucks and Amazon.}
Making friends is a lot like dating.
Join a small group. This is easier if your church already has small groups who are doing life together. It could also be a Bible Study that meets weekly.
Start your own small group. Invite some friends over for a Ladies Night Out or a Ladies Night In. During the day, invite some moms over for a playdate. Host a craft meet up once a month. The possibilities are endless.
Asking can be scary, but don’t let that stop you.
Start a Dinner Club. Invite several couples over for a monthly dinner. Rotate houses each month so no one family feels too overwhelmed. The Host Family cooks the meal and the attendees bring refreshments or dessert.
Just Do It
It’s scary to be vulnerable and put yourself out there at the risk of rejection. But when you meet those people that you click with, it’s so worth it.
Before you know it, you’ll be surrounded by community, by the kind of people who speak truth into your life and are there no matter what.
