Sisters. I have two living, and one who went to heaven long before I was born. I also have two brothers, but today I really want to dwell on the amazing gift of sisters. Let's face it, having brothers may be nice, but borrowing their clothes isn't half as fun (although I admit to poaching a few favorite shirts from my brother - who actually got them from his friends, but hey - possession and nine-tenths and all that - all I know is if it ended up in my laundry - I claimed it!)

My sisters are both older than I am. Being the baby has both its special privileges and frustrations. On the one hand, you usually manage to get whatever you want, on the other - that 'baby' thing gets annoying when you want to be taken seriously. I mean, seriously - at my age - I'm still 'the baby'. Yeah, whatever. The thing I always tell my siblings when they claim I'm spoiled - "Who do you think spoiled me?" It's their own fault.

You can see why I'm grateful that my sisters love me anyway - despite my predilection for self-importance or falling back into my old ways of 'getting what I want'. My oldest sister, Laura, for much of my life was really more of a mother to me than a sister. In fact, we called her 'Little Mama'. She is still nurturing all those around her - children and grandchildren alike. I love it that I was able to have her first. (Uh-oh - again with the spoiled thing!) She's funny and smart and has a way about her that draws you in and makes you feel special. She makes me laugh, and although she is ten years older than I am we have a lot in common and enjoy the opportunities we have to be together.

When I was younger I always thought my sister, Randi, might become President of the United States and run the country. She could do it, too! It's not just her intelligence that I admire, she's creative and caring and has put aside many of her own dreams to support her husband and family. She has a deep tender spirit that reaches out to everyone who enters her home. She's a great hostess and definitely makes you want to come back and visit her often! I sometimes look at myself and wonder how much of my life is a 'copycat' of trying to be just like her. She's a writer and loves the water - it seems all my favorite things I drew from her life.

These are my biological sisters - siblings that I am blessed to call family. They are a gift from God that I thank Him for daily. They have helped to shape me into the person I am today. We are connected through blood, bonded together by shared experience and living and linked by our heritage and deep-rooted love, but we are also spiritual sisters related through our shared relationship in Christ.

God has blessed me with a number of 'spiritual sisters'. In actual fact, there are too many to count because God's Word tells us that we are related to all those who claim Christ as their Savior. I know that I am blessed with those the Lord has drawn around me and allowed into my life. Their daily impact on my life is amazing. They encourage, support, exhort, hold me accountable, and love me well. We are made by our Creator to live in community with one another. To share our joys and sorrows, our trials and challenges of life, to interact with one another in a way that each life enriches the other.

Who are those special women God has brought into your life? They may be family by shared blood or heritage, but even if you don't have that particular gift, look around. God has most certainly placed some special ladies in your life to be a help and support. Bless them with a thank you today. And thank your Heavenly Father for caring for you and for those special friends you call 'sister'. Whether or not you share the same family tree, you share the same spiritual one.

All for Him,

Missy

Labels: Missy