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. Pass this on

     to all the women who help make your life meaningful.