February 26, 2007

• A straight flush might be the top hand in poker, but when it comes to my family, you can't beat four-of-a-kind.
  Back in the old days when I was a kid, five wasn't an unusual number of children for a family to have.
  I was born first, then my sister Mary Katherine, or "Cissy," just 13 months later. Five years after Cissy came Marie ("Re.")
  We
  thought having three girls was great fun, so when we found out Mama was
  going to have another baby, Cissy and I prayed that our new baby would
  be another sister. I remember us screaming with joy when Holly was born.
  Four of a kind. Just like in one of my favorite books, Little Women.
  Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy.
  Celia, Cissy, Re and Holly.
  And like a poker hand, there was one more card - our brother Jay came along to finish out the hand when I was 14.
  My
  three little sisters have been a lifelong gift to me, and next to my
  husband, are my dearest friends. I deeply love my brother, too, but
  today I want to write about my sisters.
  Like the four suits, each
  one of us is different, with our unique personalities and gifts - and
  faults - but together, we make a pretty good hand of cards.
  Cissy
  was my childhood playmate, 15-year-roommate, confidante, chief rival,
  and sometimes protector. She could run faster and jump higher than I
  could, and could almost always beat me at any kind of game. A tomboy
  who loved to climb trees, she still dearly loved her dolls. She
  challenged me to work harder in school, so my little sister's report
  card wouldn't outshine mine, and encouraged me to put my books down and
  play outside with her.
  Cissy is a elementary school librarian by
  trade, much loved by her students. She's also a devoted mother, a
  faithful teacher in her church, a prayer warrior, a sailor, a scuba
  diver, a reader, an adventurer, and a wise mother to two remarkable
  young women.
  She's the one I turn to when I need sage advice, an
  expert listening ear, encouragement, and when I need a cheerleader.
  She's also the one I turn to when I need someone to storm Heaven's
  gates for me. She prays for me, believes in me, and loves me no matter
  what.
  Cissy's always been my favorite sister. I don't know what I'd do without her.
  Marie,
  or "Re" as she's been ever since she was a baby toddling around holding
  onto my finger, was my little student. I helped teach her to walk, talk
  and tie her shoes, and always felt very protective toward my spirited
  little sister. Now, she's a "retired" high-powered executive currently
  on sabbatical at home, lovingly taking care of her four-year-old son
  and our mother.
  Re's a devoted mother to her three boys, a gourmet
  cook, a wonderful organizer, and a natural leader. She's the one I turn
  to when I need a careful listener and a logical problem-solver. She's
  got an analytical mind that can break problems down into manageable
  bites. Deeply compassionate, she's the one I've called in years past at
  2 a.m. when I just needed a shoulder to cry on. She prays for me,
  believes in me, and loves me no matter what.
  Re's always been my favorite sister. I don't know what I'd do without her.
  Holly,
  or "Hozzie" as she was nicknamed somewhere along the way, is the Baby
  Sister. Because I was 10 when she was born, my love for this beautiful
  little sister has always had a strong maternal streak. She shares my
  love for books and nature - in fact, when we couldn't find her when she
  was a little girl, we'd often discover Holly settled comfortably in her
  favorite tree, reading a book. From the time she was tiny, we knew she
  was gifted, because she always had a different way of looking at the
  world.
  She's a nurse, a business owner, a sharp businesswoman, and a
  loving mother to her daughter and son. She's a mountain biker, a
  runner, an explorer, a reader, and an adventurer, and she helps Re take
  tender care of our Mama.
  Hozzie's the one I turn to when I need a
  unique take on a problem, when I need to laugh until I cry, and when I
  need a big sweet dose of love. She prays for me, believes in me, and
  loves me no matter what.
  Hollys always been my favorite sister. I don't know what I'd do without her.
  Each
  of my sisters has our mother's beauty, our Daddy's wide warm smile, and
  the deep springs of love that come only from walking in the Lord's
  green pastures. All my life, He's poured out His love for me through
  these three precious sisters.
  I'm real grateful He saw fit to deal us four-of-a-kind.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  • 8:53 pm
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