A Friend Called “Sister”

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid days

drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother.

As they talked about life, about marriage, about the

responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood,

the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass

thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance

upon her daughter.

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“Don’t forget your Sisters,” she advised, swirling

the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass.

‘They’ll be more important as you get older.

No matter how much you love your husband,

no matter how much you love the children

you may have, you are still going to need Sisters.

Remember to go places with them now and then;

do things with them.’

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‘Remember that “Sisters” means ALL the women…

your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other

women relatives too.

‘You’ll need other women. Women always do.’

What a funny piece of advice, the young woman

thought.

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Haven’t I just gotten married?

Haven’t I just joined the couple-world?

I’m now a married woman, for goodness sake!

A grownup!

Surely my husband and the family we may start

will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!

——————————————————

But she listened to her Mother.

She kept contact with her “Sisters” and made more

women friends each year.

As the years tumbled by, one after another,

she gradually came to understand that her Mum really

knew what she was talking about.

As time and nature work their changes

and their mysteries upon a woman, “Sisters” are the

mainstays of her life.

——————————————————

After more than 50 years of living in this world,

here is what I’ve learned:

THIS SAYS IT ALL:

Time passes.

Life happens.

Distance separates.

Children grow up.

Jobs come and go.

Love waxes and wanes.

Men don’t do what they’re supposed to do.

Hearts break.

Parents die.

Colleagues forget favours.

Careers end.

——————————————————-

BUT………

“Sisters” are there, no matter how much time

and how many miles are between you.

A girlfriend is never farther away

than needing her can reach

When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you

have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life

will be on the valley’s rim, cheering you on,

praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on

your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the

valley’s end.

——————————————————–

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk

beside you… or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, grand daughters,

daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers,

Grand mothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended

family, all bless our life!

——————————————————–

The world wouldn’t be the same without women, and

neither would I. When we began this adventure called

womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or

sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we

would need each other.

——————————————————–

Happy days!