The Friendships Inside The Friendship

Welcome to Episode 5 of Six Voices, One Story.

In this honest and heartfelt conversation, six lifelong friends, Dee, Shaneena, Stephanie, Rhonda, Theresa, and Bisea explore the reality of the friendships inside the friendship.

Hosted by Shaneena, this episode dives into the natural layers that develop within long-term friendships. While the women share a bond that has spanned more than 25 years, they openly discuss how smaller connections formed over time, why those relationships don't diminish the larger friendship, and how trust, communication, and grace have allowed each relationship to flourish.

Together, they reflect on navigating different dynamics within a friend group, overcoming feelings of comparison or jealousy, honoring one another's individual relationships, and embracing the unique role each person plays within the circle. Through transparency, laughter, and faith-filled wisdom, they remind listeners that healthy friendships leave room for both closeness and individuality.

This episode is a reminder that genuine friendship isn't measured by equal time spent together it's built through mutual trust, understanding, and the freedom to celebrate every relationship without fear or competition.

In this episode:

• Understanding the "friendships inside the friendship"
• How smaller connections naturally develop over time
• Navigating different friendship dynamics with grace
• Addressing comparison and jealousy in healthy ways
• The blessings and challenges of maintaining a close-knit friend group
• Why understanding your friendship values strengthens every relationship

Reflection Question:
How do you navigate the different layers of friendship in your own life, and are you celebrating the unique connections God has placed around you?

If this conversation encouraged you, be sure to subscribe, share this episode with a friend, and join us next time for another honest conversation on Six Voices, One Story.

Transcript

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SPEAKER_03 0:11

Welcome back to Six Voices One Story. I'm Shanina and we're so glad you're joining us today. For more than 25 years, the six of us have shared a deep friendship. But like many long-term friendships, there are also smaller connections within the larger group. In today's episode, we're talking about something many people experience but don't always discuss openly: the friendships inside the friendship. We'll explore how those smaller connections form, how we navigate them, and why they can actually strengthen a friendship instead of dividing it. Before we begin, let's take a moment for everyone to introduce themselves. I'm Shanina. I'm Dee.

SPEAKER_00 0:58

Rhonda.

SPEAKER_03 0:59

I'm Stephanie. I'm Teresa.

SPEAKER_04 1:01

And this is Bicea.

SPEAKER_03 1:03

Great. So to start each episode, we wanted to share a quick getting to know me question. So our question is: who in this group knows you the best and why? So I'll start first. I will say D knows me best because of our conversations and the trust that we have. Because I know D, she keeps everything private. Yes.

SPEAKER_05 1:31

This is Stephanie. And I would say Rhonda slash Damika. And because they both get one gets the wife and one gets the mother stories.

SPEAKER_01 1:52

I would this is D. I would have to say that it's fluid for me. It depends on what's the day or the occasion. I felt closest to each one of my sisters at different times, and I believe that I played different roles in each of their lives too.

SPEAKER_04 2:10

Who's it now?

SPEAKER_01 2:12

I really can't say.

SPEAKER_00 2:16

This is Rhonda. I would say Stephanie. And I'm why. Initially, it was the connection with her children as I am her their godmother. And then it evolved because we have the commonality of marriage. Teresa, you're not.

SPEAKER_02 2:48

Oh, why, right? Why I think like like a lot of you said, like Domika just holds everything tight. And for me, she's the it's not even that. It's that because she is the glass half-full person. Like the glass could be 90% empty and it's still 90% full. Yes. Yes. And so I think that is for me why Damica. And then why Stephanie, um, I think one, because of our profession, but two, I I think we think alike in a lot of ways, but she's also going to tell me the truth.

SPEAKER_03 3:20

Yes, in a loving way.

SPEAKER_04 3:22

And for me, for me, also, I agree with Damica that it is kind of fluid initially. Initially, it would have been Teresa, because we spent a lot of time together. And thanks. And presently, it would probably be D'Mika as well, because we spent a lot of time together as well, talking or praying, or coming over to my house. So it would probably be her.

SPEAKER_03 3:51

And the Oscar goes to D. Well, thank you very much. The goat of friendships. Okay very much. But as you can see, everyone, we people see a close-knit group like ours. They sometimes assume we do everything together. But the truth is, friendships naturally develop layers. Within a larger group, smaller connections often form, and those connections can add depth, understanding, and support. So today we're talking about what that looks like in our friendship. So, you know, I have a question, ladies. When we say the friendship inside the friendship, what exactly do we mean by that? And Stephanie, why don't you take it?

SPEAKER_05 4:39

I think that it is important for each person in any given space that they find their lives in to have a voice. And sometimes you don't want to crowd the space with six voices. So sometimes you need just one or two voices. Things can be going well or things can be going in a bad space, but you need that individual, that sister, to help you navigate. Or you just may have, you know, been connected in a spiritual way. Maybe it's your prayer life. Maybe the two of you are encouraging each other in the areas of whatever's going on in your life. So I think it's important to have one or two in any given space where you can feel connected and vulnerable.

SPEAKER_02 5:35

So when I think about the friendships inside the friendship, I think of the fact that we each have individual relationships with each other. So I have a relationship with Stephanie, a relationship with Rhonda, relationship with Bicea that will stand whether I'm connected to the entire group for me because all those relationships were there from the very beginning. And also, as Stephanie said, life is seasonal. And so there are moments when I am, I feel closer to Rhonda because of the season that I am in. There are moments when I feel closer to Shanina or Bicea, again, because of the season that I find myself in. And I may spend more time with them, I may reach out more to them, or vice versa. So it's those connections that we've made. You know, it's kind of like the smaller branches on the tree. That connection that makes up the bigger tree when you see it.

SPEAKER_00 6:36

That's good. Rhonda? Well, I mean, pretty much what everyone has said friendship inside of friendship. What does that mean? I see it that there's someone in the group that I can share more vulnerability with, uh higher frequency, an interaction, maybe a shared history. It's pretty much what everyone has said here. And I like what Teresa said, it's about a season that I may be going through. We pretty much said that Damika has won the award as far as who we connect with or go to. And like Teresa said, she definitely is that sister that if there's only 10% in that glass, Damika's going to say isn't 95% full. And I appreciate that about her. She is one of our biggest cheerleaders. Yes.

SPEAKER_04 7:34

Absolutely. And for me, um, the friendship within the friendship, although earlier in the episode I said that we don't have a leader per se, but I think we all designate someone. Since Teresa started the group, she kind of has an unofficial title. So when anything is going wrong in the group, I always make that pre-call before I spaz out with the whole group. So I said, Teresa, this is happening. What we're gonna do. I love how you say that. Yes, and so I I really because I respect the God in her and I respect the level-headedness and the wisdom, and I know that she's invested in the success of our group. Maybe some people could give and take a little bit more or less than Teresa. So I go to her if I have major issues.

SPEAKER_03 8:24

I think I think we all go to her, just you know, even for I'm laughing because for the spiritual part of my life, I run to Sister Lisa, and for the logical part, I go to Teresa. You know, we all look at Teresa. What are we gonna do? So yes, I definitely agree. You know, for me, I say a friendship within a friendship is is it's about layers, and some friends within our group knows different layers of me, and that could be based off of just you know, time, like you know, by C and I, we know each other since we were teenagers, you know. We we went on vacation together, you know. We we also are roommates when we stay in a hotel, you know. But now you know Stephanie's about to be a room. She has a new room.

SPEAKER_04 9:10

I have been by C and I get married next year and don't try to come be my roommate again.

SPEAKER_03 9:21

Do you have anything to say?

SPEAKER_01 9:24

Well, I just think when we think about friendship within the friendship, is that we all just hold each other at different places. I kind of look at it like the heart and the different chambers of the heart. So it's different roles and functions, but it's still one. So sometimes we we can you know operate whether it's you know different stages, but you know, we still operate as one, but uniquely and different.

SPEAKER_03 9:49

So I do I do have a uh another question just about the roommates in the hotels. Do you ask for a specific uh roommate when we go out, you know, vacation because you uh want to get them to get to know them differently, or you know, you're just so comfortable with them that you know you don't want anyone else there, you know, because of you know the the relationship that you do have?

SPEAKER_02 10:15

Teresa. She raises her hand. So I don't choose roommates based on closeness. It's you know, how hot do you need the room? No, this is honesty. How cold do you need the room? I roomed with two of my sisters. We went away. I'm being transparent here, and one of them needed to sleep in the tundra, and the other one literally needed to sleep in hell. It was so hot, it was so absolutely hot. And I said, never again. I need I need Rhonda here. I need Rhonda here to room with because we like it the same. So for me, it's not even about connection necessarily, it's about comfort, physical comfort.

SPEAKER_04 11:02

You said, do we get another person better? Like after 25 years, I don't think any of us make the decision to be with somebody to get it on better, because I think we all think probably we know each other well enough. I that's my opinion that each person will make a decision based on the comfort.

SPEAKER_03 11:19

Well, I will say in response to that, during my bridal weekend, it was I was it was told to me that Stephanie and I were room because we haven't room before.

SPEAKER_04 11:31

Yeah, I thought that it'd be nice because uh it's supposed to be all about you. So you're using my roommate. So I said, well, maybe it would be Stephanie's roommate this time because you're about to get married, and maybe Stephanie can help you with some things like that. I didn't intend for you to go and ever should be me forever, like but when I get married next year, I'm cracking up.

SPEAKER_03 11:55

So, how did some of the smaller connections within our group naturally develop over time? You know, I believe for me, location played the biggest part, you know. D, Basi, and I, for the longest time, we lived the closest to one another, so it was natural, natural for us to meet, and also we participated in many of our church events together. And I also believe that we also had many friends within the same circle, so it was just natural for us, you know, to gravitate. What's everybody's thoughts?

SPEAKER_04 12:27

Well, I didn't drive for a long time, so um, Teresa was my chauffeur for several years, so we we had many, many hours of conversation in the car, so that was how that you know probably blossomed. And like Shanina said previously, we've known each other since we were 16. Well, really, I knew uh knew of her since I was 12, but we became friends when we came to church at 16. Wow, and Damiki was my chauffeur as well, too. She would drive me home in that car and have velvet seats, didn't it? Listen to the oldies. Yeah, we did with Naeem in the back.

unknown 13:06

Exactly.

SPEAKER_05 13:06

Yeah, this is Stephanie, and I was thinking for me, I guess it was intentional. So I remember having individual outings with By CEA or something. Went to Hawaii, remember? We went to Hawaii, yes, and we went to, yes. Didn't we go to Virginia, you and I, Shiny? We went to Virginia, we went to Miami, yes. So for me, it was individual intentional outings, gatherings with individuals.

SPEAKER_02 13:41

And I think for me, sometimes it was age differences because our age span is 12 years. And uh although, so it's gonna say although we have one person who is confused about her her age, but she has wisdom now, she has wisdom now, okay. She's aware, so sometimes age difference too, you can naturally navigate to different people based on age differences or life experiences as well.

SPEAKER_01 14:07

And I think that sometimes it comes comes down to ease of schedule and natural temperaments, also. Some of us are more vocal, you know, you know, some of us are more observant. So I think there's a lot of different characteristics that play a part.

SPEAKER_04 14:21

Could you elaborate as far as as far as temperament?

SPEAKER_01 14:29

I just I just think there's sometimes, you know, some you have people that are more creative, more people that are more talkative, more for example, like some of the ladies have things in common, like escape rooms and things like that. So hobbies that they like to do. So of course they will gravitate, you know, to separate outings because escape rooms I can't get out without Teresa.

SPEAKER_00 14:50

Right. Neither can I for me, it was just evolution simple from casual connection, like gatherings, you know, our gatherings coming together and to being intentional, providing emotional support. So it was the evolution that was how it actions for me.

SPEAKER_05 15:14

Can I I wanted to go back when we were speaking about the friendships within the friendships? And I was thinking that it's important for anyone who's interested in establishing or creating space where they have different individuals coming together for friendship and connection to realize that there are times where one person can catch the other person, where maybe, for example, if Teresa is hiding, Bicea may be more sensitive to that, where the rest of us may be, you know, caught up in our lives and unaware and realize that wait, Teresa hasn't said anything in about five days in our group text. By Cia is the one who is aware. So the friendships within the friendships is a safety net in my mind that each person is is caught if they are falling or trying to isolate or hide.

SPEAKER_03 16:07

And that's good. But you know, also I would I would say the opposite of that is sometimes when someone is absent and they're not within the core, I I feel so I feel bad because I didn't think about you know hearing from that person, but you know, like I will say if I don't hear from Damika, you good, or Rhonda, you know, you good, but I wouldn't think, and I'm sorry, Teresa, I'll do better. You know, with Teresa, you I wouldn't think to call. Maybe it's due to the fact that I feel as though you always have your life together. That could be it. And who am I? Like, who am I to reach out to Teresa? Teresa will reach out to me, so that's something that I will have to work on, and I apologize for that.

SPEAKER_02 17:00

Oh, you don't have to apologize for that because I think that one, my life is not together. So I prayed that my life is messy, and God answered. But it's interesting that you said that because you know I'm always moving. And a few years ago, when I was moving, I think I had been injured, one of my many injuries, and Stephanie called me or came over. Came over. We were moving, yes. And you know, when I move, I am packed a month in advance. Things are color-coded, organized. Movers love me because of my organization. And Stephanie came in and she said, Yeah, I knew this. Because if you saw my place, it was horrendous. A tornado had come through, not one thing was packed. Yeah, but she picked up on that, and so I think that even though you may not have picked up on that, she knew, and she actually was in a little bit, she was glorying in it in a little in a way. No, no, she wasn't glorying in it. But but it was a life lesson for me, too, to see me so vulnerable like that. But she had clearly picked up on that and showed up. And I think that's the point that Stephanie was making is that someone will pick up on the signal that I am sending, because we're always sending signals. Someone will always pick up on it, and it doesn't always have to be you because you do check in on me. And I do appreciate when you pick up the phone and say, Hey, just call and see how you're doing. And like, oh, she cares. I know you care anyway. So, no, I think that you do a good job.

SPEAKER_03 18:28

Thank you. I do see that Bacia actually, I feel as though you're the one that really is intentional about making sure everyone is okay. And I I definitely appreciate that. So, what is your secret to you know, following up on everybody? Is it just that you didn't hear from me a couple weeks or you see a post on you know social media, you know?

SPEAKER_04 18:52

Well, I'll just put my notes here that I believe that um oh, I wrote in my notes that I believe that we're led by the Holy Spirit, you know, and in your prayer time, the Lord will bring the person to you. And so whether it means that I need to pray for Stephanie, whether it means I need to reach out to Shanina, whether it means I need to go to lunch with Damika, whether it means I need to call Teresa or pray for Rhonda. So, whatever it is, like I just believe that the Holy Spirit is the one that's concerned about each and every one of us. And so, since we're all connected, he uses each of us to maintain that connection in some way.

SPEAKER_00 19:32

Amen. Amen. That's good. So that's what makes our group so special to me. The fact that when someone is going through but hasn't mentioned it, but is suffering in silence, one of you ladies, it doesn't have to be every hand, but one of you will pick up on it, and that's so beautiful to me because it's like the SOS hey, we haven't heard from Rhonda. What's going on? And it's not that Macia will say to me specifically, she'll put it in the group chat. Where are you at, Rhonda? We haven't heard from you. So now everyone's antenna is hey, Pasia's right. We haven't heard where you at? And now I'm getting the flight, right? So again, that's what makes this group so special.

SPEAKER_02 20:27

So special.

SPEAKER_03 20:29

That's good, that's good. So you know, just let's flip this a little bit. So, you know, we we understand that it's good to you know hear from everyone and connect with everyone, and but in our friendship within a friendship, how do you, if you do, experience jealousy within the group? Have you experienced jealousy? And if so, you know, how did you handle it?

SPEAKER_04 20:58

Well, I'll let y'all think whether y'all gonna be transparent or not while I talk. I have not experienced jealousy within this group, but I have experienced it in another group. I had two friends that introduced to each other and they became closer, then they were starting to leave me out. And then I have this unfamiliar feeling like, wait, hold up. I didn't like it. I didn't like that feeling of jealousy, and so I prayed and I said, Lord, take this away. And the Lord led me to pray, whatever it is that they need from each other during this season, let them be able to get it. And so, because I did not want that feeling, something similar. If I can connect it to this group, I don't necessarily feel jealous, I might feel left out, and so yeah, I'll address it. That's how I deal with things, I'll address it most times. Okay, anyone else?

SPEAKER_05 21:50

I've this is Stephanie. I've never experienced the feeling of jealousy. I for me, because I have a low energy, a level. At times where it becomes exhausted, I would say that I maybe have felt um overwhelmed by energy. And not that I'm moved by energy, but just, you know, maybe someone's feeling really high and I am tapped out on E. So it's more of me just managing and recognizing that this is about me and not making it about that person. And so I just give myself space to refuel so that I can come back and to honor that friendship and not move quick or fast in responses, just to separate and give myself space to refuel back on love and patience and kindness and all those things.

SPEAKER_04 22:37

I don't understand. So if your answer to the question, have you felt jealous? No.

SPEAKER_05 22:41

So you said no, but then you would start explaining what? The feeling of feeling overwhelmed. So it was just another feeling that was a negative feeling. Okay, it's not jealousy. I've never felt jealous, but I I guess I want the listeners to not think our friendships as always, you know, rainbows, rainbows, and all. So I have had feelings of feeling uh overwhelmed by someone's energy. And so therefore that's what I do for it.

SPEAKER_00 23:07

I felt jealous. Yes. Boldly, yes. Initially, when I found out that you ladies had other friends, I was jealous. I was shocked, and I was like, wait, what are you doing, Randy? Because as I said earlier, I'm a loyal person. I consider myself to be a very loyal friend, and I'm there thick and thin. And that's what I expected in return. But over time, maturity, wisdom set in, and then acceptance that okay, they have other friends. It's not gonna change who they are in my life, and I'm not gonna change who they are. All right, it's just gonna be what it is. But yes, I was jealous because y'all wasn't supposed to have no other friends, it was just supposed to be us.

SPEAKER_03 23:54

Yeah, I I know for me, just being transparent, I was jealous between D and Bicea. I guess that was during the time you know she was chauffeuring you around. I think that was years after that. But I did go to D and I did express that I missed our friendship and you know, told her, you know, the challenges that I was facing. And because my you know, my love language is quality time, so I felt rejected, and I was in my FOMO era. But you know, the good thing is that I was able to go to D and talk to her about it, and you know, she said, Oh, okay, I didn't know, I didn't realize I didn't hear from you from a while. No, always you always hear from D. Okay, I just didn't hear from D. So, you know, we resolved that.

unknown 24:47

Please stop.

SPEAKER_02 24:49

So I don't think I'm trying to figure out is jealousy the right word.

SPEAKER_05 24:54

Yep, is it? No, I'm sorry.

unknown 24:55

Go ahead.

SPEAKER_05 24:56

She wants us to say it at word.

SPEAKER_04 24:58

Yes, I'm sorry, go ahead. What is it called?

SPEAKER_02 25:02

I am not sure if jealousy is the right word. It may be. So you all know that I've historically had the Kool-Aid house. My dining room table is a place where people gather, and I would see all these people coming to my home and interacting, and and I would say, none of these people invite me to their homes or their things. Wow. And us because the question was not necessarily within our friendship, but in in in general. And I prayed hard about that because I said, God, I always opening up my home to people, and I love doing it. Like, I am not in any way will I not continue to do that. And God made it very, very clear to me that what I do was ministry, and I had to separate ministry from friendship. One of the things, you know, is this an assignment or is this someone who I am supposed to cultivate a relationship with? And what was happening was the majority of the things that I was doing, you notice that you would all be there, but also I would pray over who else got invited. And I would see these other connections blossoming in that space and outside of that space. But it didn't make it any easier, even when I first found out that it was ministry. And I would hear you all being invited to these individuals' homes. Like, you've been to my house a hundred times. Where's my invite? But over time I got better with that and said, okay, like this is really ministry. That's an assignment. You were supposed to create a space for these individuals to connect with other individuals. And some of them are people who you are really close to, so they're gonna get invited, and you are not. So maybe it was a little jealousy, maybe it was disappointment. I don't know what the right word is. My vocabulary is too limited when it comes to answering this question. I'm sorry, I'm mad about that.

SPEAKER_04 27:11

You don't need to be mad about it. I know, but I don't like it. I appreciate that you like it for me. Because I don't like that, I don't like it. It's it's it's it doesn't feel good when you're always giving, and then when you turn to get, is you're lacking. So I don't like it. I have a sensitivity for it, so I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_02 27:27

It's okay. I've I've learned to accept it because it really is ministry, and it's and it's had me fork focused even more in my prayer time. Like who's supposed to sit at the table? Yeah, and then there are times when I invite people because of just purely connection and relationship.

SPEAKER_03 27:43

And I like that because you know, back to what Bascia was stating, you know, when she spends time with the Lord, and the Lord could bring, you know, even one of us to her face to individually connect. I believe also just being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and you know, with Stephanie, when you're saying, Oh, I want to hang out with you today, you know, you definitely could be walking in the spirit with that, you know, just to share with me. So, you know, I could because I just got recently married, and I've been, you know, reaching out to Stephanie, and she's been there and you know, just you know, pouring into me, you know, her wisdom, you know, understanding. And, you know, that's God, you know, because at times, you know, it can be challenging, you know, being older and getting married and learning how to leave and and weave and cleave, you know, at the age that I am. Thank you, Stephanie, for just being there and for God just to open up that door, you know, so you can help me. I really appreciate that.

SPEAKER_04 28:45

And while we're thinking Stephanie, I like to thank Stephanie as well, because she's always up for a prolonged fast. If I want to fast for a week, Stephanie will do it. Stephanie will do it with me, and I appreciate that. Amen. And we need another one. She'll do her check-ins, she'll do her check-ins. I feel like I'm on a timer when she checks in, but still, she does them, and I appreciate it.

SPEAKER_05 29:05

Yes, yes, this is true. I try not to make people feel that way, but this is I do have a timer in my head of like, and then I need to have kids start working. Yes, there is an agenda. I want to know how you are. I want you to know that I thought about you, and I need to start the wash.

SPEAKER_03 29:22

That's okay. That's okay. So, although we are close, we don't do everything together, right? As you can obviously tell in this conversation. So, whether it's women's fellowships, trips, travel, or different life commitments, we just don't do everything together. But what are some of the benefits and what are some of the challenges of not doing everything together? Let's start with the challenges. What are some of the challenges of not doing everything together?

SPEAKER_00 29:53

Um, they've already spoken about jealousy. Jealousy can come about, miscommunication, feeling neglected, those emotions and feelings are real, so that can come about.

SPEAKER_04 30:15

So those are just some of the things that can I was gonna say just someone feeling left out by the group. So it's important to me that each person knows, they see, and they feel, and they internalize that they have value to each of us. So that's a negative that can happen if someone feels left out or that they're not cared for.

SPEAKER_03 30:39

Yeah, that's good. I I do struggle with that at times, feeling left out. However, the Lord always reminds me of the times that we're all together, and it's okay, right? Because I do a lot of things with different people, so it's perfectly fine to have that feeling, but it's just a feeling, it's not it's not the truth, it's not the reality. The reality is, yes, there are times where Rhonda and Stephanie are together. Have a great time. I'll see you next time. And that's just what it is.

SPEAKER_04 31:16

Yeah, I think that's a thing I wrote down as well that we don't micromanage each other. Sometimes, if you could micromanage each other, you could post suffocated. And so I think that's how we're able to maintain our connection over the past 25 years.

SPEAKER_03 31:30

And you know, I'll tell you this also. I know at times when I do hang out with someone individually or like in a smaller group, I I wouldn't want to post it on our on our our feed. I don't want to say anything because I don't want them thinking, oh, they they they they doing this without me. But now I'm like, you know what? We pass that, you know, even though I know Bastia, you feel the type of way.

SPEAKER_04 31:54

No, I brought that down too that I don't we I'm sure we don't post certain pictures, like, but we were we all meet Damika, Teresa, and Stephanie went to a play, but I made sure that I invited you and Rhonda, even though I knew y'all probably wouldn't go, but I didn't want y'all to feel left out at all either. So I don't like to go downtown. You just got married, but I was intentional of making sure I invited you all so that you wouldn't feel left out because that's important to me. Thank you, thank you.

unknown 32:21

I didn't remember that.

SPEAKER_04 32:22

But no, I wasn't made about the marriage pictures. I was happy that y'all had that to go to. No, you just made it, you made it come. Yeah, I was like, we're just saying because it's made a marriage ministry.

SPEAKER_03 32:31

That's funny. If it's not a marriage, I didn't get this text.

SPEAKER_02 32:35

But you know what I appreciated about that is one, what I always appreciate about you, Barcia, is that you will ask the question. If I want to know, I am going to ask. And then I appreciated the response that you were accommodated.

SPEAKER_00 32:54

So that's how it's fixed, right? Open communication. We sit there or we address any conflicts directly and we're honest with one another rather than let her letting it fester. So that's how we fix that. If it's an issue.

SPEAKER_03 33:11

Yeah, that's good. That's good. I just wanted to reflect, you know, one thing we've learned is that friendships often work best when people understand their values around friendship. And also, I love one of the main keywords that Rhonda brought up is communicate, communicate, communicate. If we don't understand those values, it can make it harder to navigate the different connections that naturally happen within friendships. Thank you, ladies. This was good. I enjoyed this discussion, and I hope, audience, you did as well. So, as we wrap up today's conversation, we love to leave you with a question to think about. How do you navigate the different layers of friendships in your own life? Do you struggle with cultivating those relationships? If so, how did you overcome? Post on our Six Voices One Story IG page and let's talk about it. Your journey may help someone else. Basia, could you end with a word of prayer, please?

SPEAKER_05 34:08

Sure.

SPEAKER_04 34:09

Lord, we thank you and we bless you, we honor you, Lord. We thank you for your faithfulness, we thank you for this time of ministry, we thank you for the listeners that they will be able to gain something from this conversation, that they will be able to have honest open communication with their friend groups and that they will be the better for it. We just thank you for unity within friendships. We thank you for good communication. We thank you for love, we thank you for each person being able to do the value. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

SPEAKER_03 34:38

Amen. Thanks for listening to Six Voices One Story. If you'd like to continue this journey with us, subscribe and walk with us through the next conversations. Join us next time for episode six. Goodbye.