I was recently reminded of a poem that once deeply resonated with me before I forgot about it, and it holds a profound message for women of all ages. I personally found this piece of wisdom to be potent.
The poem is a conversation between a mother and her young daughter, discussing life, marriage, and the cycle of adulthood. With wisdom and a thoughtful gaze, the mother advises her daughter not to forget her ‘sisters’ – all the women in her life. Although the mother’s words initially seem odd to the young daughter, as the years pass and life unfolds unpredictably, she realises the truth and weight of her mother’s advice.
It beautifully highlights the importance of ‘sisters’ – our female friends, relatives, daughters, and women who stand with us through life’s journey. These women cheer for us, pray for us, intervene on our behalf, and are always there with open arms, regardless of time and distance.
After a full and enriching life, I’ve recognised the truth in these words. I’ve realised that while I’ve been navigating my life, there have been moments where I have overlooked the importance of deepening connections in relationships with my ‘sisters’.
This realisation has stirred a desire within my heart to make more effort in my loving relationships. After all, these bonds provide a lifelong source of support, love, and mutual understanding.
I felt a strong urge to share this insight with you because it’s easy to get caught up in the responsibilities of life and forget the importance of nurturing our relationships.
I hope this message inspires you as much as it did me and reminds you to cherish the extraordinary woman in your life and the profound threads that connect us because we all need each other.
Sisters need Sisters – author unknown.
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 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, 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.
