Sisters

TO ALL MY SISTERS

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 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.

"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 grown-up! 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 Mom 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 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, Grandmothers, Auntie's, 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.

Every day, we need each other still.

Pass this on to all the women who help make your life meaningful.

I just did.

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Got this in my email today. Somehow it has summed up a lot of what I feel. I am fortunate to have a lot of wonderful 'Sisters' in my life. Not forgetting the few precious ones whom I have not seen in person, and yet, I feel so comfortable with them as if I have known them for years. Yes, this includes you Mama Bok, Maygs, Aunty Padmasani (I hope I have not left someone out!) and anyone else who reads my blog and has given me encouragement when I needed it the most.

No one is obliged to sit and read someone's blog, let alone feel for them or have to write them a few words to let them know that they are not alone.

The internet is a really strange place. There are so many bad things about it that its scary. But like a small ray of sunshine, these are the good things that makes the internet a better place. For this, I am thankful!