> 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 Mom 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 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.>> Every day, we need each other still. Pass this on to all the women who > help> make your life meaningful. I just did. Short and very sweet: >> There are more than twenty angels in this world.> Ten are peacefully sleeping on clouds. Nine are playing. And one is > reading> her email at this moment.