Spiritual Sisterhood

The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.

“Do you realize we’ve been long-distance friends longer than we’ve ever been close-distance friends?”

My question was met with several beats of silence as Ceena and I digested that reality individually and collectively. We’d met as coworkers and spent a scant eighteen months in the same community before an incredible opportunity beckoned Ceena to the East Coast. The strength of our friendship after years apart and through busy life seasons speaks to the tenacity of our commitment to one another.

We’ve worked hard to stay connected, grabbing moments after everyone else is in bed for chats via FaceTime or video messaging apps. We send each other early morning text prayers before important meetings on hard days. And I can always count on my friend for random silliness sent through our social media accounts to make me snort-laugh at some inopportune moment.

We’ve cried with and for each other, we’ve stormed the gates of heaven in desperate prayer, and we’ve reminded each other of the goodness of God, painstakingly pointing out all the ways he has shown up in the past and repeating his promises to show up in the future. We speak life over each other, and just like today’s verse reminds us, our friendship brings a sweetness akin to a beautiful perfume to our everyday lives that makes even the most challenging seasons a bit easier.

Spiritual sisterhood is one of my favorite parts of belonging to the family of God, and Ceena is a beautiful example of what it means to be a sister and trusted adviser. She and my other spiritual sisters are a precious gift—one that comes with the intentional investment of time, energy, and prayer support. I am the woman I am today because of women who have built into my life, and I strive to do the same for them and others. These special relationships are some of the most important ones we can have, and we cannot take them for granted.

Julie

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Spend time investing in your spiritual sisters, letting them know how precious they are to you. Prayerfully consider who else might need a spiritual sister, and start investing time and prayer in her.