The sisters I forgot...

Woman are catty....right? At least that’s what society has trained us to believe.  Seems like we are always competing with each other. Who has the best hair, the better body, who’s skinnier, who has the most successful husband or boyfriend, whose kids are better behaved, who packs the best school lunches, who is the happiest.  There’s always that competition....or that “ I want what she has” mentality.  Let’s not even forget the insecurities this creates in women.  We always put pressure on ourselves to do better and  to be better. Pressure to raise emotionally stable and successful children. Pressure to keep our husbands satisfied or our boyfriends happy. Pressure to always look our best and to NOT gain one ounce of weight. Pressure to not only BE happy, but to APPEAR happy, even when we are hurting.

Why do women feel better about themselves when another woman puts on a few pounds? Why do we smirk in judgement when someone else’s child screws up? Why do we call acquaintances and gossip when Jane Doe’s marriage falls apart?

Somehow,  for some reason,  God gave me a heart for women. Women in all kinds of situations, all races, sizes and personalities.  However, I still found myself getting caught up in all the emotions and feelings I just listed. But this week....not once, but twice....I received messages from 2 different woman. One who does not know me at all (she lives on the other side of the country) and the other who BARELY knows me (I met her pretty recently through work).

Here are the messages:

“Hey beautiful sister! You radiate his love :)”

“I love your posts they are so uplifting and encouraging.. praise God sister in christ 😊”

“Sister”....both of these women referred to me as her sister.  Here’s the thing...I have a sister...she’s beautiful, loving, kind and perfect in my eyes. She’s my best friend.  Why, within 2 days of each other, would two different women who don’t know me, call me her sister? 

Well, because I apparently needed a reminder that we ARE ALL sisters in Christ. We need to love each other, support each other, encourage each other, lift each other up. God definitely didn’t create us to find joy in each other’s failures.  He didn’t create us to bring each other down or to compete with each other. He wants us to remember that He created us perfectly and wonderfully specifically for His plan.

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”  Psalm 139:14

I just want to remind you.....You are His perfect creation. You don’t have to have it all figured out, He loves you regardless.  I just think we would be so much farther ahead if we came to the realization of what God wants for us as women. Let’s support each other, encourage each other, love each other as SISTERS.

Here’s a little challenge: I dare you to message or text 2 ladies and send them an encouraging message. Refer to them as your “beautiful sister”.  See how it makes you feel, and more importantly how it feels to bring a smile to your sisters face.

I love you, truly, my beautiful sisters.