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....

Songbird, thanks for posting this at BWS!

I'd never posted in a forum prior to launching BWS. I had no idea what a blessing these forums would bring to others and me.

I am most grateful to the couple who originally designed this site. While spending many hours discussing site content, the young man thought forums would lend themselves to my purpose for BWS. He hit the nail on the head.

I feel fortunate because all I've done is trust and follow God's guidance. We're dancing, and continue to dance through this project.

Bluebird, I'm glad you count your daughter among your sisters. That's so neat.

Number5, I hope you stick around and continue to give and receive advice in our online neighborhood.

"How rare and wonderful is that flash of a moment when we realize we have discovered a friend."
I have my moments. I have my days. I have my weeks. And now I have found my place among my new friends. Thank you.
"Friends, you and me....you brought another friend....and then there were three..we started our group....our circle of friends....There is no beginning or end...."

Dotsie: I'm sure many of us, it not all, will agree that the Lord led you to do this. This is my first forum experience also and I have no regrets- only that I don't have enough time to participate in all the threads!

Beautiful thoughts on friendship, Kidogo! I truly enjoy them. Thanks!

Friends are heaven sent and a special subject close to my heart. I've been blessed with friends and when I write about friendship it just warms my heart to think of my friends.

Dotsie, wow, I know in my heart that this forum was blessed from the get-go. When I first saw this forum I immediately felt "comfy", like it was meant to be. Thank you so very much for this site!

The pleasure is all mine.

Those of you who have been around know this is a ministry that has all come about through prayer and silence.

Newleaf, I'm right there with ya. However, I've always known there are women out there who are like you and me. It's just been hard to find them. And of course God, he has had me on an 'alone' plateau for years now. Just this year, he is beginning to allow friends in. So I guess I've learned what I was supposed to learn. Thank God!

Janine

As time goes by, I can value even more the special place sisters and friends have in my life. May we enjoy true friendship and bless others with our caring and sharing!

Right on Songbird, thats the ticket!!!

I never thought I'd be one to have 'online' friends. This is the only place I frequent. It covers all I need...Women my own age who can relate to anything I come up against in my daily life or all I have experienced to date. The whole kit n kaboodle...someone on here has related to it all. I tell ya, this place can keep you sane.
Thank you again, Dotsie and Thank You Sisters for being there for ol chick.
luv
chick

What tugs at my heartstrings is when someone who posts regularily stops posting, emails fly around asking if anyone knows what is going on and if the missing person is alright. The genuiness and amount of concern is really amazing. Heck my own family and friends aren't that concerned about me when they don't hear from me for awhile. But my Boomer sisters are. Have any of you felt that way about when someone goes AWOL for awhile on our site, I know I have. I believe we are a unique group of women, all sincerely caring about one another, eager to help in any way we can if necessary. As Tiny Tim said; God Bless Us All!

That was a wonderful email - thanks for sharing!
DOnna

Oh yes, Chatty Lady. I was worried about you last week. You weren't posting there for a few days, and I told myself; one more day and I'll mail her!

What makes something special is not just what you have to gain, but what you feel there is to lose.
Andre Agassi, on "Charlie Rose"

Same here...I was wondering where our "Daisygirl" was! I'm so glad to see she's back. Yuhooooo Daisy!

And wasn't it nice to see DJ back in here? Wuhooo!

JJ

Thanks Hannelore for missing me. I am so busy I barely have time to breathe. I had an appointment for ghost writing Tuesday and that lasted all day, then today I got an email from a woman in New Jersey looking for information on editing. I am meeting a man tomorrow for lunch who says he needs a ghost writer and that manuscript from Europe should arrive the end of the week hopefully. It takes forever from Europe now....I have tried to keep Friday and Saturday open for Boomer sister Sherri who is here for a pool tournamnet so the first free time she has one of those days we can get together. I mentioned in another post sometime ago that before quitting the phone sex job I prayed very hard, it was my income you know, and told God its up to you to help me now. Since he as become my employer so to speak I am the busiest I have ever been, and he is the best boss a person could ask for. He is kind, compassionate, and the pay (blessings)is not to be equalled anywhere. I trusted in myself at this late age, and trusted in my God, and WOW!!!!

Oh Chatty, it's so good to hear that joy in your voice! You go, girl! When God blesses you, the ripples just keep on blessing everyone in your path...alleluia, there comes one now...whoo-eeee! Amen to that WOW!