Sisterhood

I didn't grow up with any sisters...I had two older brothers. So, I suppose I never quite understood the bond that holds sisters together...or the issues that can tear them apart. Until, of course, I had two girls of my own.

I look back on the years they've had together and stand in amazement at how far they've come. When Abby was born, Brittany was four months shy of turning five years old. I'll never forget the story that Chris shared with me when he walked down the hallway of the hospital to tell Brittany that Abby was born. She said, "I never had a baby sister before!" To say she was excited is an understatement. Of course, once she came home, that excitement soon faded into something else. She experienced jealousy, envy, pure annoyance...every emotion that often goes hand-in-hand with bringing a new baby into the home.

They had times, many times, when they loved each other's company and couldn't get enough of spending time together. They were BEST FRIENDS in every sense of the word. Oh, they'd fight and fuss, but they'd always make up...forgive and forget.

Now, they're reached somewhat of a crossroad in their relationship. Brittany is on that verge of becoming an adult (just 7 months away!), yet Abby still craves that one-on-one time with her. The problem is that Brittany has a boyfriend, as well as many friends who take up a lot of her time. Oh, and not to mention the whole running thing. Dare we forget her attachment to her cell phone and texting? Brittany has places to go, things to do, and people to see! Such is the life of a teenager. What she doesn't quite understand is that Abby needs her big sister to still be an integral part of her life. I don't know, as I've said before, maybe God is trying to prepare our hearts for the day that Brittany heads off to college to begin her own life.

My greatest hope is that my girls never lose sight of how important FAMILY is and how much they mean to one another. My prayer is that, regardless of time, distance, and circumstance, they will be always be able to find their way back to each other.

"Sisters annoy, interfere, criticize. Indulge in monumental sulks, in huffs, in snide remarks. Borrow. Break. Monopolize the bathroom. Are always underfoot. But if catastrophe should strike, sisters are there. Defending you against all comers."~Pam Brown