Sisters

Bud called me to the kitchen the other night and handed me a writing piece that Abby had done for one of her classes. I don't think it was quite finished but it was too precious not to record and share.

One of the most special gifts in life is siblings, especially sisters. Friends are okay but, siblings are better. You can share life with them. My name is Abigail and I have 2 sisters but today I am going to talk about my younger sister. She is special in our own way so let's take a journey to see why.

My little sister is a pretty 7 year old. Her name is Madeline (Maddie for short). My little sister is special because she is the youngest and most athletic of my family. She plays basketball and soccer. I have a story for you about how my dad learned that Maddie has been born into the world. It was a bright, sunny monring and my mom had gone into labor and was about to give birth to her second beautiful baby girl. Beforhand my mom had made a shirt for me that said I'm a big sister as as soon as my dad saw me in my tiny little shirt he knew he had gotten a gift from God too, and now he had 2 loverly daughters.

Oh how I love that they love each other. For every moment they fight, there are moments like these.

Sisters and Friends

I had a moment yesterday that took my breath away. We were at soccer practice and Maddie was taking a water break. All three girls were clustered around me talking at once with me and with each other. There was chaos and confusion and love and warmth. They were teasing each other and smiling and laughing and loving.

I think every parent has moments where they wonder if they are doing it right? Am I doing what is best for my kids or are they going to need years of therapy later? Some days I am convinced we should just set aside the therapy money now. But then in moments like today, I think we did something right. They genuinely love each other.

There are of course, those moments when I have to separate them before their words wound each other (thankfully, they rarely if ever get physical with each other). But for the most part, left to their own devices they play well together and laugh often. Maddie and Abby played in the pouring down rain last week, stomping through puddles and sliding in the mud. Destiny and Abby bond through the shared chore of the dreaded dishes and it does my heart good to hear encouraging words come out of their mouths toward each other. Maddie and Destiny share a room (well, sort of) and share the same messy tendencies and hear the same lectures from me on putting their things away.

It’s different for me because while I have stepbrothers and stepsisters, we didn’t grow up in the same house. I don’t always get people’s bonds with their siblings and the stuff that they are willing to put up with. The stories that my co-worker’s tell about their siblings and the relationships make me go, “Really?’ On the other hand, when I see a tight bond and an obvious love between siblings then I think “Ah, that’s what I want for my kids.” To consider each other as their own best friends, to know that there is always someone that is rooting for them, someone who has their back and loves them no matter what.

Sisters

Today at the football game Abby was given a goodie bag from the opposing team's cheerleader's. It contained a melted Reece's, a grape Charm pop and a small box of Nerds. She pulled the goodies out of the bag and after perusing them she handed her little sister the grape Charm pop to eat.

Yesterday afternoon while Abby was crying about not making Student Council, Destiny quietly slipped into the room and wrapped her arms around Abby and said, "I'm sorry, I know how you feel," and indeed she did, because two weeks earlier she wasn't selected for the chorus at her school even though she was trying out for the second time.

Maddie, our resident crabby kid, graciously allowed her sister to share the top bunk last night since Abby's room smells of paint. She scooted over and made room for her sister and even let her share the fan.

Many days I have doubts that they will make it to adulthood without one of them killing the other but this week has shown me that maybe Bud and I are doing something right. I hope that if I instill anything in them it will be, first and foremost, the love and grace of God, and second that sisters are forever and they will always be your best friend.