Sisters

“I like the way the trees cast shadows on the water,” I commented as our little kayaking party drifted past one of the best places on the South Llano River at just the right moment before sunset.  My sister, beside me said, “I like the way the light shines through the trees.”  I lifted my eyes.  It was nice.  And I probably wouldn’t have noticed that part of the scenery if she hadn’t pointed it out.  I guess I just assumed that we were seeing the same things as we rowed merrily along. 

Once again, an unexpected viewpoint, from someone I thought I knew so well, had enhanced my life.  One of us enjoys ripples in the water, the other delights in the beauty of a single flower that will last for only a day.  Another finds rest in the sight of a crane lifting gently from the water.  There we were.  Family.  We think we know each other.  But we are constantly surprised when life throws us a glimpse of what it’s like to see the same thing through each other’s eyes.  

It wasn’t the first time I had been pleasantly surprised in what I found in those brats I grew up with.  I guess it was traveling to Mexico with one sister that I noticed it first.  A quality that she had.  I don’t remember what it was now, but I remember thinking, “Hey thats neat.  I never knew that about her.”  And then I discovered a different and equally unique quality in another, and then the other.  And I began to realize that although we think we know each other, we are assuming a lot.  Though we think we are alike, we are so different.  And some of the traits I most desire in my own self, I find in my sisters.

One of us recently posed the question:  “If we weren’t sisters would we like each other?”  That’s a hard question to answer, and it’s one that you wouldn’t ask just anybody.  But since we’re family and we’ll always be that, it’s safe. Of course, it’s something we can speculate on, but probably won’t ever really know.  Would we be attracted to each other as friends?  I can only guess probably not.  I would most likely be intimidated by each one of my sisters, were she not my sister.  The fashionista...how could I relate to someone like her?  The independent...would I ever know she’s not so independent, would I see her unique ways as a treasure?  The capable, do-it-all loving mom...I’m pretty sure I would flail miserably in her light, so I’d probably stay away.  Yet God saw fit to place us in the same family.  We have the same histories, but different outcomes.  I appreciate and value their place and influence in my life.  I need them in order to be who I want to be. It’s almost like if you could take all our weaknesses and all our strengths and throw them in a pot, you’d come out with one complete person.  I wouldn’t be who I am if any one of them were missing.   

We kind of take it for granted that we will make up for each other where we lack.  And we take it for granted that the bond of sisterhood is enough to sustain us through tough times.  Being sisters provides an environment in which we can totally be ourselves, sharing our truest faults, without the risk of losing each other.  Of course, there is some inherent risk in any relationship, but with us, we know it would take a lot to break down those walls completely.

We have tested them little by little over time, and they remain.  We have no way of knowing if these relationships would make it outside of family.  But because there is that bond, our ties have been able to become stronger through each trial that comes along.  If we were gonna give up on each other, we’d have already done it.  Because, hopefully--let’s see what’s the best way to put this--the best is yet to come.  If it isn’t, boy are we in for it!

So would we still like each other if we weren’t sisters?  Chances are we’ll never know.  But it’s sure we would have missed out on a lot.  As it is I’m already pretty good at missing out on a lot of their contributions to my life just because I don’t take notice.  Until days like today.  Good thing God knew.  He planned it just right.  God must have put us together as sisters because He knew we wouldn’t find each other any other way.