How to Plan a Girlfriend’s Getaway!
How to Plan a Getaway with Your Girlfriends
I love the autumn season! It’s my favorite time of year. I also believe it’s the perfect time of the year for planning a weekend getaway with girlfriends! I believe it is vital to our relationships that we gather together to renew and strengthen our bonds with our female friends , despite being busy with obligations like family, jobs, and more.
Who Do You Invite?
So, who should you invite when planning a weekend of fellowship with your friends? I surround myself with my besties, my girlfriends who have my best interests at heart, while encouraging me in my faith walk. The women around me inspire me to be a better person each day. They know my challenges, my fears, and my weak points, and they protect me. They also accept me for who I am—the person God created me to be, with my own unique qualities and gifts.
Have you read the book by Danny Silk, Keep Your Love On? I strongly recommend you place this book on your reading list if you haven’t read his book. It is an insightful book about healthy relationships and boundaries.
Silk explains the “levels of intimacy we need to cultivate and protect with boundaries.” I will discuss this further in a few weeks. Still, the point I hope to make is that we are “responsible for managing our levels of intimacy, responsibility, and trust with the people in our lives.” I take this advice into consideration when it comes to my friendships. Trust is the foundation of healthy relationships. When planning a girlfriend’s getaway, it is essential that the women gathering together are supportive, encouraging, and trustworthy.
I am also mindful of the advice shared by Christian Counselor Marla Castrilli, “safe relationships honor boundaries and always have your best interest in mind.”
What to Plan?
Whether formal or informal, a faith-based getaway is a beautiful opportunity for renewal and rejuvenation. It is a boost to my spiritual growth. Although I typically create an itinerary, I know it is God’s plans that matter most. “Prayerperation” is essential to the quality of our time together.
I prefer to keep it simple. Allow the conversation and the group’s needs to guide the journey. Sometimes we just need the fellowship of one another, guided by prayer and God’s Word. So, don’t get caught up in the details. The best gatherings are those shaped from the heart as God speaks to us. Often, in planning such an event, we get lost in the what, not the why. Focus on the why. This will allow you to create a retreat to remember for years, or better yet, to schedule each year as a time for rest and renewal!
When and Where?
There are many opportunities for planning a girlfriend’s gathering. Your home or the home of a friend is a low-cost option for a first-time gathering. You may also have a connection with a condo on the beach, a cabin in the mountains, or a country home. There are several practical options available to you, depending on your time and budget.
I also believe the time of year is essential to consider when planning your getaway. For example, I love autumn. However, planning a retreat in the mountains can be costly. This time of year, many people travel to the mountains to see the leaves change color. It’s a beautiful time of year to visit. It’s also a popular time, so the rates are “in season,” and the accommodations may be scarce. If you’re a beach lover, summer is the best time to visit Florida beaches since the summer months are not considered in season.
Again, it doesn’t need to be fancy (unless this is your preference). So many times, we put off gathering together due to a perceived lack of time or resources. I think back on some of the best times I’ve spent with my girlfriends, and in most cases, the best times were unexpected spur-of-the-moment get-togethers. It was elaborate or extravagant. It was simply a small group of women friends supporting and encouraging one another in love.
If your heart is in it, and your intentions are for the right reason, it will happen. There’s something truly special about spending time with my girlfriends that refreshes and renews my soul. I highly recommend it, even if the getaway is an evening spent in the backyard sharing our stories and watching the stars!
“We enjoyed being together, and we went with others to your house, our God.” Psalm 55:14 CEV
Why Gather Together?
Sometimes, we just need to be together without distraction and remember who we are and why we’re here. I love how gathering together can remind us of the importance of fruitful relationships. When we’re relaxed, we have an easier time opening our hearts and minds and listening to what the other person is really saying. Spending time with my friends also allows me to reflect on God’s Word and apply it to my current season. My favorite question to reflect upon is, This is where I was, this is where I am, this is how I got here.
We learn from one another through our conversations. We connect through our stories. The significance of our faith walk, shared with our sisters in Christ, is a reflection of Christ’s love. I encourage you to take the time to spend a weekend with your friends, listening, sharing, and encouraging one another in love.
“Love is kind and patient,
never jealous, boastful,
proud, or rude.
Love isn’t selfish
or quick tempered.
It doesn’t keep a record
of wrongs that others do.
Love rejoices in the truth,
but not in evil.
Love is always supportive,
loyal, hopeful,
and trusting.”
Keep on Shining!
