A Tale of Two Sisters

Sisters are a wonderful blessing from God. Some are our sisters by birth; others are given to us as part of our larger family, the Church.

In Matthew 12:48-50 Jesus said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers? … For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” He also told His followers that those who had lost family for His sake would receive a hundred times over in this life “brothers and sisters and mothers and children” (Mark 10:30).

God has given us an extended family whose bond is stronger than flesh and blood.

My sister

My sister and I have a few things in common. We were the only girls growing up with three brothers, we have the same father, and we had a similar relationship with my father’s parents.

However, my sister’s life was filled with travel (my father was in the military), a two-parent household, concerts and name-brand clothes. Although my brothers and I were raised by a single mother, we were not poor. We didn’t travel or wear expensive clothes, but we experienced life differently than my sister and her brothers.

There is a friend who is closer than a sister

My sister and I grew up with one other thing in common, and that is the yearning to build that special bond that can exist between sisters. The times that my sister and I have spoken, our conversations consisted of talking about relationships with friends in our lives, but the deep bond of sisterhood still eluded us.

One of my longtime friends was the only girl in her family, and we have enjoyed sharing the lives of our families as honorary sisters and discussing the sister interactions of our daughters. I hope that my sister has found someone like my friend in her life, and that it is not difficult for her to watch the close interactions of sisters.

I am thankful this is no longer difficult for me. How did this change for me?

My new sisters

God has blessed me with many new sisters. They come in all shapes, ages and backgrounds. They pray with and for me. They comfort me. We share meals and each other’s lives. They have been my shoulders to cry on, they take care of me when I am sick, and they celebrate my accomplishments. They remind me when I am not at my best, and they encourage me when times are difficult.

I see some of these sisters weekly and others less frequently. I still have some whom I have not met yet, and I am looking forward to meeting them. These sisters of mine share the same goal and vision. This is a blessing that I am receiving as I strive to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, the prophets, apostles and others who have gone before me down this path of newness of life. I am thankful for my sisters in the Church of God.

How good and how pleasant for sisters to dwell in unity

God gave us a commandment to love one another as He has loved us. We are the children of God and coheirs with Christ. We are bound by the Spirit of God that connects us with God and each other and makes us a family.

A time is coming when all mankind will experience the bonds of family that we enjoy now. I pray for the day when I can share with my physical sister that special relationship that I have with my sisters in Christ. God speed that day!

For more about the Church family God has given us, see the section on “The Church” on the Life, Hope & Truth website.

Chant’a Collier and her husband, Rodney, attend the Atlanta, Georgia, congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association.