Let's Hear It For the Ladies

I love men.

As a matter of fact, I have been blessed to have some truly exceptional men in my life.

My husband, my father, my grandfather...

and let me not forget the two little men in training I have who are currently beating the snot out of each other with their respective light sabers.

Yes, men are awesome.

But then there's women.

Mothers, sisters, friends.

What is it that connects us on such a spiritual level?

What is it that intuitively knows when a "sistah" is in trouble and needs...

a shoulder to cry on?

someone to talk to at 2 AM, no questions asked?

a good bottle of wine and a chick flick?

an ally, a comrade in arms, a cheerleader, a champion?

I don't know where it comes from, this magical power of female friendship.

I don't know why it is,

I'm just so glad it is.

With that in mind, a good friend emailed me the following and I thought I'd share.


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 tealeaves 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 will 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 am 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!

Nevertheless, 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 have 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 onyour 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.