Sister-Friends

[Guest guest]

SISTER-FRIENDS A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, 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."Don't forget your Sisters," she advised, swirling the tea leaves tothe 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. Rememberto go places with them now and then; do things with them. And rememberthat 'Sisters" also means your girlfriends, your daughters, and other women relatives too. You'll need other women. Women always do." 'What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman

thought. 'Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined thecouple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup. Surely myhusband and the family we may start will all I will need to make my lifeworthwhile!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 Mom really knewwhat 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 almost 50 years of living in this world, here is what I've learned: Times passes. Life happens. Distance separates. Children grow up. Love waxes and wanes. Hearts break. Careers end. Jobs come and go. Parents die. Colleagues forget favors. Men don't call when they say they

will. BUT ....Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many milesare between you. A Sister is never farther away than needing her can reach. When you have to walk that lonesome valley, and you have to walk itfor yourself, your Sisters will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, andwaiting with open arms at the valley's end. Sometimes, they will even breakthe rules and walk beside you. Or come in and carry you out.My mother, sister, mother-in-law,sister-in-laws, and "girlfriends"bless my life! The world wouldn't be the same without them, and neitherwould I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea ofthe incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other. Every day, we need each other still. Pass this on to the women who

help make your lifework. I just did.

for Good - Make a difference this year.