A young woman sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her mother. They talked about life, marriage, and responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood.

“Don’t forget your sisters," she advised, “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. Sisters also include your girl friends Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them.”

"What a funny piece of advice!" the 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. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about.

After more than 50 years of living in this world, here is what I’ve learned:

Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Men don’t call when they say they will.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.

BUT...

Sisters and Girlfriends are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girlfriend 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, your girlfriends 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.