"I have a sister somewhere in Detroit. She has black hair and small hands."
-Sufjan Steves, "Sister" from Michigan album
I have been thinking about the concept of being a "sister" lately. It has been brought up several times recently in my life. I read "The Cloister Walk" by Kathleen Norris last fall and was reminded of how the sisters and brothers devoted to Christ in the form of a formal vow as a part of a religious order. I was reminded of as I experience separation from my husband this summer as he does an internship in another state and I am challenged in our relationship to relate to Chris, my husband, more in that way as well as other men. It is a good challenge. Also, tragically, I am reminded by a dear friend's suicide and how often it is that I can pass by people and because of busyness without truly acknowledging them and their worth. Yet, loving people as a sister is one of the most important things one can do.
My goal is to love others as a sister or a daughter or a mother. I believe humanity is all related although we may not know it. I want to be someone that respects and loves each a person and follow the Holy Spirit in the way I do it. It seems like in our oversexualized and sometimes impersonal society it has become constant struggle to simply be a sister in another's eyes as well as my own. Yet, if I do this I will be showing others Jesus by my presence. Jesus himself became our "brother" so that many might come to know the Father (God).
Some brother words about Jesus:
28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
-Romans 8:28-39
