We had dinner with college friends last week. Friends we hadn’t seen for a while, but who continue to delightfully cross our paths for 40 years. What a sisterhood and brotherhood, these friends are.
Driving home I marveled – how time and distance separate us, yet once together we chat, giggle and share like old times. Immediately we are back on each other’s wavelength listening and caring.
Friendship is priceless. What a miracle!
On my spiritual journey I have learned when a good experience comes along – whether it is of God, in relationships or any life’s uplifting surprises, my best response is taking the time to be grateful and to savor that moment.
Savor means to fully enjoy, relish, cherish. To hold and ponder this wonderful gift. To appreciate.
I value these friendships from all stages of my life:
Chrissy and Wendywho I met in 6th grade and continue to bless me and are the sisters God gave me since I have only brothers in my family.
Herb, Kathy, Don, Margie, Jan, Maryann – all college friends (and their hubbies now too) that I am closer to now than in my 20s.
Elma and Barb – friends from early adulthood that we shared young parenting with and the ins and outs of our early Christian yearnings.
Jim, Nancy, Todd, Joann, – current friends what enrich my life.
Johnnie, Clella, Laura and Karen – Kindred Heart writers friendship that began with a shared love for writing and bloomed into so much more.
Jen, Nancy, Michelle, Mia, Barbie, Colleen, Dolly, Lynn, Michelle, Gabby, Katharine, Jennifer, Desiray, Laura, Amy and so many more I am sure I have left someone out – sisters across the internet that I know through blogging.
Valerie, Katie, Mandy and Kyla – great daughters and granddaughters that deepen my sense of sisterhood across generations
All Sisters. Sisters in Christ.
These next two weeks many bloggers are contemplating and sharing their thoughts on sisterhood. Soli Deo Gloria is a group of women who encourage and love one another. If you want to read more about sisterhood, click here to learn how you can become involved.
As I slowly savor sisterhood in my life I taste some wonderful flavors. Like seasonings, these aspects of friendship enhance, add, and even change me. I find the basic elements of sisterhood to be:
Share – We share memories – both the good times and the challenging ones
Friendship isn’t a big thing – it’s a million little things. ~Author Unknown
Care – These are my “call if you need me, anytime even the middle of the night” sisters.
Friends are like walls. Sometimes you lean on them, and sometimes it’s good just knowing they are there. ~Author Unknown
Rare – These are my honest mirrors who will tell me if I am off base, listen while I whine and pout, cry with me, defend me, tell me what I need to hear, but don’t want to know and just plain accept me as I am and love me anyway.
“A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked.”
~ Bernard Meltzer
Prayer – Our sisterhood is strengthen and built on prayer. I am thankful for all of them and savor, treasure and cherish them.
The glory of friendship is not in the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is in the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
I found this sisterhood blessing to share today:
If you’re alone, I’ll be your shadow.
If you want to cry, I’ll be your shoulder.
If you want a hug, I’ll be your pillow.
If you need to be happy, I’ll be your smile.
But anytime you need a friend, I’ll just be me. ~Author Unknown
What does sisterhood mean to you?
Thanks for your kind words, Jody. The longer I live the more important and valuable friends are. What a marvelous gift from God they are!
Jean I’ve been waiting all week to read this and it was worth the wait! The quotes were great, especially the one about friends being like a wall. Also the friends Care, Share and Prayer words at the end. All so true.
God is so good to give us each other, virtual or ‘IRL’ and I’m glad to have ‘met’ you.
Besides being a sweet idea, Clella, it really got my thinking about the sisters in my life and my heart just exploded with love and thankfulness. You aren’t the mother, you are more the older sister. LOL love ya too.
Isn’t this such a sweet idea? I have so many sisters in the faith-and you my dear are one of them. Please note, I am one of those “older” sisters who sometimes become “mother” when it is necessary. thank you for this…my sisterly love to you Clella
Thanks Lynn. I love the quotes too. This topic made me stop and once again appreciate my sisters, like you! sure would like to meet in person someday.
Thank you, sweet Jean! I treasure your friendship as well. Beautiful post. I love the quotes. Bless you!
Jen honesty is hard because we love that person and don’t want them hurt either BUT a true friend is open and honest. The only way. Like honesty – you DO look 18 haha
Thanks Andrea. This was a fun reflective post to write.
Well, since we will all be friends when I’m 50, I’ll let y’all know. 🙂
It took me several years to realize that honesty is a really good quality for me to have as a friend. I got so caught up in being afraid that people would get angry if I spoke honestly. But, now, I realize, in order to be true to them (and to myself) I must be honest.
I love this tribute to sisterhood, Jean. I love your heart.
This is so beautiful. I love how your sisters care, but also dare to be honest. We can all use that!
I was waiting for one of the hearts to discover they were on my blog today. Perhaps I should have told them…..love ya!
Love your tweet and your comment. You made me laugh out loud. Yes you ARE the Amy! Yes Laura is standing BUT I must tell you the rest of us are short. LOL
And Jen does look that young even in person. She will probably be carded when she is 50!
You’ve made my evening sweet Amy!
Jean, Jean, Jean,
#1 Jen F. looks as if she is 14. For real, I think we have all been tricked, and she is really posing to be a thirty-something when really she isn’t old enough to vote.
#2 Is Laura G. tall or is she sitting? This I must know because I will like her even more than I do if she is tall.
#3 If I am the Amy on your list, I am super excited.
#4 If I’m not the Amy on your list, don’t tell me.
All kidding aside, I appreciate you. You are one of the solid voices in the crazy stream that flows through blog land.
Sisterhood means you, dear Jeanie! I love the unknown author quote and sure wish I had said that. 🙂
Yes yes you are one of my Nancys and even if you look you are in the photo at the top! I said to my hubby about an hour ago how much I feel I really know so many of these bloggers even though we have meet in person. AND then to meet you – so great!
I pray for you and your family each day too.
Nancy thanks for your friendship
I really liked all of these quotes, Nancy. I know people who haven’t kept up with friends over the years and I tell you it is in taking the time to nurture those relationship have added so much to life!
Okay, I’m going to be all full-of-myself and say, “Thank you,” assuming one of the Nancys you listed above was me 🙂 I’ve been reading and mulling these sisterhood posts today, and they have made me truly grateful for the different kinds of sisters God has given me along the way. Who’d have thought I’d make imaginary friends who would become realsisters and friends, some of whom I would pull over for on the Ohio Turnpike? You are a gift, Jean.
‘Love the Ralph W. Emerson quote. He captured the essence of true friendship, didn’t he? Especially with that phrase, “the glory of friendship.” Friendship at its best, characterized by trust, is indeed a splendid and magnificent thing. Thanks for researching and sharing these delightful quotes.