I just received this and want to share it with you. May it be a blessing!

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 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.

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 further 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, aunts, 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.

I just did.
--- I can say this is true of BWS! You are the best!---

Thank you for this, Songbird. It took me 46 years to understand the value of women in my life and I agree 100% with this. I never had sisters, but I love and respect my sisters in law. The friends I have made in the last year, have touched me so immensely. One of my daughters is a woman and so often is like a sister to me.

Songbird,

That was beautiful. Thank you for making me feel so special. My women friends are all a blessing in my life.

I think all the women here should read this before posting subjects that serve no purpose but to instigaste, aggitate and insult others here. Wonderful post Songbird. I personally could not survive one single day without my women friends/sisters....I make more and more women friends and feel so lucky to be able to intertwine there lives with mine in some small way....

[ January 23, 2006, 07:13 PM: Message edited by: chatty lady ]

I really liked this Songbird. thanks for sharing. It is so TRUE!

I'm just starting to see the merit in having female friends besides my three daughters and my mother. Typically all my friends outside the females in my own family have been men. I have been a mobile agent for MOPAC railroad, a truck driver and a construction worker though petite and ultra feminine. I was abused by my own mother and have since completely forgiven her and she and I have a great relatiionship.
It is risky because it has been my experience throughout life that women can turn on you and tear you to shreds without giving it a second thought. They will steal your husband and smile at you while stabbing you in the back. They will talk about you behind your back and criticize the things you do.
Trust of women is a huge issue for me. I was just starting to think I could be wrong or maybe was expecting too much of women. This very nice lady, Dotsie, seems to be a real caring person who perhaps one can trust.
Forgive me if I haven't yet reached the place that Songbird and some of you have. It is tough for me, but be patient and perhaps I can show myself a friend and an asset to BWS.

I breathed a song into the air, it fell to earth I know not where....And the song, from beginning to end, I found again in the heart of a friend.
LONGFELLOW

Songbird, that was wonderful. Precious!

Thanks for posting this Songbird...it's so true..and something for each one of us to absorb and realize...I love the sisters I have come to know and love on BWS...God bless you all....