Friday, November 4, 2011

Sisters



This story was sent to me this morning via email. I edited it a bit and added a picture. My sister, Kathy, died 6 years ago. I miss her. I'm grateful for all of the women related to me by birth, marriage and circumstance. They enrich my life. Enjoy!
"A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, sipping a cool drink 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 liquid in 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.'
'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. 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 mother 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:
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 favors.
Careers end.
BUT.........
"Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girl friend 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, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, mothers, mothers-in-law, grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, and FRIENDS 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. Every day, we need each other still.
There are more than twenty angels in this world.
Ten are peacefully sleeping on clouds.
Nine are playing.
And one is reading this at this moment."

10 comments:

  1. Absolutely. What a lovely sentiment. I have a very best friend. Doesn't that sentence take you back to school years? Well, we met at school aged 8. A teacher came into the room in a dreadful state, some boys had chucked a football about and it had knocked into her, so the teacher was ranting. The girl at the next desk looked at me and gave a slight smile. I smiled back. Those smiles were all it took. 34 years later we are still friends, separated by a few hundred miles, we both have careers and husbands. My friend has 3 children, all boys, who are full of the fun that their Mum had at that age.

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  2. Julie,
    It's funny isn't it that our oldest friends, those from childhood, are the ones we'll always hold the most dear? That's how it is for me. I feel so blessed to have made a lot of women friends. Whenever I visit with them, laughing and listening, I'm refreshed and renewed. I laughed at your story. I can picture it!

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  3. Betsy,

    What a beautiful tribute and post ... I so needed this today and sent it on to my sister!

    Bless you and bless your sister Betsy!

    Thank you ...

    Elena

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  4. You are one of those women to me Elena! Thank you so much.

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  5. It was 2005 Betsy? Six years - same as Mom's passing. My mom's anniversary is the 25th. When is your sister's anniversary? I'll hold you in my thoughts.
    Lori

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  6. August 23rd. It doesn't seem like that long ago! Thanks Lori!

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  7. Betsy,

    This is a very nice post. My wife has always been extremely close with her sister. But she is one of those cool sister-in-laws. She always calls me her favorite brother :)

    But, I'm not crazy about this line …

    "Men don't do what they're supposed to do."

    Hey, wait a minute! :) What the heck.

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  8. I know Craig! But I didn't write it!! When I read that line I thought, "Okay. I get it. Someone had a really bad day, week, year, marriage...something!!" You make me laugh.

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  9. Betsy, aloha. This is one of my favorite stories that travels the internet. it is saved both on my computer and in a Treasures file because I love its message.

    What a beautiful story you wrote about Kathy. Thank you for sharing that deeply personal story.

    Wishing you a fantastic week. Until next time, aloha. Janet

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  10. You, too, Janet! See you tomorrow.

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