>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 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:
>
>
>
>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, 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.
>
>
>
>Every day, we need each other still. Pass this on
>
>to all the women who help make your life meaningful.
>
>I just did. Short and very sweet:
>
>
>
>There are more than twenty angels in this world.
>
>Ten are peacefully sleeping on clouds. Nine are
>
>playing. And one is reading her email at this
>
>moment.
>
>
>
>Send this message to ten of your friends including
>
>me. If you get 5 replies, someone you love will
>
>surprise you.
>
>
>
>
>Happy days!
Jan28