"Life is lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back through the valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale.” Jill Savage

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Wedneday

As I read the comments from yesterday - asking for the name of the picture - everyone had such great names! Thank you. It made me think of that it could be called Blog Friends Love or Love Knows No Bounds - for as different as we all are - in ages - sizes - interests - opinions - one thing is for sure - we sure do love each other. We are there for one another. We pray for one another. Some of us have made friends with each other - we've met some blog friends personally.

This blogging experience for me - has been put in my grateful journal many times for various reasons.

I mean the truth is - I think - our basic need is to be loved. To be appreciated. To be wanted. I think God loves us - always - although I know sometimes we question it when times get rough - those are the times he loves of most. But I have found lots of love here and I appreciate you all.



"This is a story I received, but I could have written it myself:

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 mother 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 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."

THE END

Now I am adding this - I do have some male blogger friends - and I know you all do too - and I certainly consider them important and my friends. I think the article needs to just say friends these days.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

"This is the miracle that happens every time to those who really love; the more they give, the more they possess." ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

x_31c37fa

42 comments:

Jill said...

This is so wonderful. I really like the manefesto. Life can be so dog. gone. hard. sometimes and I can't imagine it alone. Thanks for being my friend, Sandie.

Remington said...

Great post, my friend!

Sally said...

Not having a sister sibling, I've found that everything in this post is so true; we surely don't have to be related by blood as we are related by heart.

Thanks for sharing!

Have a great day!

TexWisGirl said...

we need that connection to others, don't we?

Shelly said...

This is a great reminder. I'm giving my two sisters a call today~

Marie said...

This is a lovely post Sandie. And I completely agree and I know that you already know that! :) Thank you for being a sister! XXOO!

Southhamsdarling said...

Loved the story about the sisters today. I am an only child, but I have good friends who could be called 'sisters', and they really are so important in my life, and, like you, I do give thanks for my blogging friends. I feel that I really do know them and their families now. Hugs. I know you won't mind if I borrow that Blogging Manifesto for my sidebar!

Stacy said...

Blogging does lead us to great friendships and connections and widens the horizon to include those we'd never have had the chance to know before. Thanks for sharing this.

The Boston Lady said...

Hi Sandie,

I have read that story before and have always taken it to heart, especially since I don't have any "real" sisters. My friends are just so important to me. Family comes first, but if they should fail you, the friends are always there to step in! I'm back home safe and sound and sick! But back home. Ann

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Great words to share :-)

Linda @ A La Carte said...

This is so true and I am blessed to call you sister friend! Love you Sandie!
hugs, Linda

Anonymous said...

What a great post Sandie, I'm so glad to have met you :)You're a great sister :) Enjoy your day!

Cheri said...

I have heard that story before and it is still a good one. I was told today, "God don't make no junk," so true

Sweet Tea said...

So glad I had time to make it by to visit your blog today. What truth! I've been very busy the last few days and am a bit of schedule. I miss my bloggy friends on those occassions.

GrammyK said...

AMEN SISTER!!!!!!!! :-) I know that I'm not the only one who appreciates all that you share to make our days a little brighter. I feel blessed for having stumbled upon your blog when I did. :-)

Just Stuff From a Boomer said...

I fully believe this too. It is so sad that young woman lose so many years being snide and hurtful to each other, in the workplace and in their personal lives. They need to embrace and support each other early on.

I met my group of 5 sisters at work, over 35 years ago. Some I worked with for years but we formed out group after we had all left that business. We have been together for 28 years since. They are precious.

MadSnapper said...

men friends are good but not many of them chat like we do, how many Chatty Carls are there in this world. I am with you all bloggers are friends, male/female/old/young bring on the blog friends.

i i were a man my comment would have been.
Right! or Agree! TEE HEE HEE

Lynn said...

Beautiful post, sister!

My friend Beverly and I say we are Sisters in the Spirit. And I have found that I need my biological sisters more and more the older we get. My neighbor is on the outs with her sister and was grumping that she was just going to put more distance between them - I told her that when all is said and done, that's who you want in your corner. I hope she listened.

xo

Lady Jane said...

Very nice post Chatty. My sister and I were 17 years apart and she passed away several years ago. We were never really close because of our age difference and she was starting her family when I was little. Ihave lost two very close friends to cancer and I must say blogging is such a joy to me. I appreciate all my blogging friends and the sisterhood involved is terrific. Hugs. LJ

Betsy Banks Adams said...

I have so many wonderful 'sister' friends... I have had them all of my life (since I had no 'real' sisters myself)... But--when I started blogging, I found many other great sister friends...

Three of us (me in TN, one in Texas and one in Colorado) consider ourselves sisters... We've met each other --and now the three of us are thinking about having a 'sister' week together somewhere... Wouldn't that be super????

Hugs,
Betsy

Nikki (Sarah) said...

Got to tell you Chatty...the thing that grabbed my eye was that little girl with the camel on your sidebar. Her face with it's joy just grabbed me. I couldn't stop looking at her. And you definitely bring sunshine to all of us.

Ginny Hartzler said...

A good post today and SO true! And I love this manifesto, every blogger should read it!

Tablescapes By Diane said...

Hi love lady.
I also love the story about the Sisters. I do not have a Sister or Brother poor me...I would love to have one of each.Thanks so much for your sweet comments on my new Tablescape and Kitchen. Sister I hope you have a wonderful week with your family.
XXOO Diane

Ann said...

Love that manifesto. I saved a copy of it to my computer.

Jeanie said...

Since I don't have a sister I am very grateful for my friends who have been like sisters to me. Our relationships with the special women in our life are very important indeed.

Anonymous said...

A very lovely post!

Debbie said...

Sandie, I really love that story. I was just having a conversation with my younger daughter about the need to always be open for new friendships. That's NOT to say to subtract old friends but to continually add new ones.

I also loved that manifesto that you printed.

Nancy said...

Sandie, this is a great post.....You have lot of insight and I am glad you share it with us.....

Sisters are definitely a gift.....

By the way, I love your new header...

Whosyergurl said...

I love this.
And, I love you.
Who wouldn't love you, Sandie? You are a giver. You just give and give. And that love comes back to you. Pressed down, shaken together and over-flowing.
xo, Cheryl

Belle said...

My mother's best friend in her older years was her older sister. For years they would go on vacations together and visit each other. Her sister is in a nursing home now, but they have wonderful memories.

Shug said...

I have never heard this story before, but it is so true. My sister died at the age of 28...my mother passed away about 5 years ago, and I have no living grandmothers...I truly miss them! I know that I am loved by so many wonderful people, and for this I am so grateful. Friends are wonderful to have in our lives!

Michaele said...

Whew - good catch there with the part about your men friends. Seriously though, this brought a tear to my eye.

jeanlivingsimple said...

Wonderful message!!!

Susan said...

Awwwww, that was a nice post, Sandie. It's really true that our blogs are reflections of our inner selves.

I have met some wonderful, I mean, absolutely wonderful friends in blogland, including YOU.

I feel so BLESSED. Susan

BECKY said...

No Beautiful or more profound words have ever been spoken, or read! Thanks, Sandie...it's all so true!

Sr Crystal Mary Lindsey said...

Thats wise advice. Yes, we ll need our girlfriends and sisters.

Betty Manousos said...

great blog post! your posts are always worth the read.

thanks for the great advice!!

hugs

Nancy said...

Great advice -- now, I just need to take some of it! :)

Catherine said...

Some very wise words here today!
Wishing you a wonderful week!
xo Catherine

Tanna said...

Amen and amen!! I love the blogger manifesto, Sandie!! Love it! thank you! blessings ~ Tanna

Sharon said...

Sister Sandie - AMEN!

Don't know what I'd do without my *girlfriends*!!

xo you!

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Beautiful and I am happy to call you my friend.