Snooping...but not really

I have to admit, I don't write in my blog half as much as I read other people's blogs. Most of the blogs that I read are tied to Mindy's blog. I was catching up last night and wow- there's a lot of stuff going on! Stuff that I don't know about, and that's very OK. But from what I can tell, there were some stresses on friendship happening. Well, when I got to work this morning, I got an email. I've seen it before, and almost deleted it, when I thought back to last night's readings, and thought that I should put it on my blog. Not as a life lesson or teaching moment, but just as a reminder as to what the girls in our life should be about. Here's the email:

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. And remember that "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 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 Ineed 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 almost 50 years of living in this world, here is what I've learned: Times passes. Life happens. Distance separates. Children grow up. Careers end. Jobs come and go. Parents die. Colleagues forget favors. BUT, "Sisters" are there! No matter how much time and how many miles are 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 it for yourself, your Sisters 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.

My girlfriends bless my life! The world wouldn't be the same without them, 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.

Thank you, Sisters, for being there when I needed a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, a smile, a laugh and a hug. I love you! Hopefully this post encourages you today to treasure the friends that you have. It's easy to take them for granted. :)