No (Wo)man is an Island - My Sista's Keeper
In Genesis 4:1-13 out of jealousy Cain killed his brother Abel, and when God asked him “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”
Do you think God did not know where Abel was, or that Cain had killed him? Of course he knew. He was holding Cain accountable, though, and Cain failed, once again, by asking a question that many of us ask ourselves knowingly or unknowingly today - “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
When we as women turn a blind eye to the needs of our sisters, or keep to ourselves and don’t reach out to our sisters, we are asking that same question - “Am I my sister’s keeper?”.
I have six sisters. Yes, same mother and father, blood sisters. I am truly blessed. Here we are in this photo below, taken just over three years ago.
Growing up, my sisters combed my hair and walked with me to school. We shared our belongings, played endless games, and even defended each other. Today, as adults, regardless of where we are in the world, we still share, pray, laugh, and cry with, and support one another. We are still each other’s keepers.
I now have an extended sisterhood which also consists of my mother, daughters, sisters-in-law, church sisters, colleagues, friends, neighbors, my coaches, and many others. Some are part of my sisterhood unknown to them (remotely or through their recorded work), such as Prisilla Shirer, Ruth Sukup, Terri-Savelle Foy, Joyce Meyers, Sarah Jakes-Roberts, and other Christian authors, preachers, speakers, You-Tubers - who all contribute to my life in one form or another. I am truly blessed.
Women need women. Our Sistas!
When things are going great, we need our SISTAS to celebrate with us, or just to share a good laugh with. Like my group of SISTAS who have formed a WhatsApp group called ‘She Can Laugh’ where we just share good laughs.
When we need recipes, housekeeping hacks, or tried and true home remedies for our sick children, we need our SISTAS who will share theirs with us.
When we give birth to our children we need OUR SISTAS to help take care of us and our newborns. Like my mother who came to Jamaica from Trinidad, and my church sisters who took turns to take dinner for my family for an entire week after I returned from the hospital.
When we are heart-broken, hurting, sad, or discouraged and need encouragement or comfort, we need OUR SISTAS to cry with us, pray with us and hug us. Like when one of my sisters crossed the seas to be here with me through a crisis; and another sister went to be with my sister in the United States when she lost one of her twin babies.
When we need to actively apply our faith in our day to day lives, we need our SISTAS to remind us of God’s Word by teaching and mentoring us, sharing their experience with us, and being our role models. Like my mother, sisters (via WhatsApp), and my older … and younger church sisters who have selflessly taken me under their wings and never turn me away when I need a listening ear and solid advice. Like the members of my community bible study small group with whom I discuss the practical application of the scripture, weekly.
When we have lost our way and need vision for our lives, career or business, and practical help, advice and guidance, we need our SISTAS who know how to bring vision to life, to teach, counsel and coach us. Like my success and business Coaches, colleagues and business associates, and even my female bosses who stretched me so I grew.
Sistas, we all need sistas. Don’t try to live life on your own. No (wo)man’s an island.
Be your sisters’ keeper. Be a Sista to a Sista!
Weekend tip: Reach out to a SISTA you have not spoken with in a while and have a good, long chat either face to face or online. If possible, schedule or share a meal, a movie or a show or some games and laughs. How about ‘Sweet Magnolias’, the Netflix series. Watch it and discuss it together.
If you don’t have a small group of SISTAS who “have your back” and whose backs you have, then start one NOW!!!!! This weekend. Call up one or two friends and just start.
If you are fed up of living depleted and defeated and want to be part of a community of like-minded women who are seeking to reclaim, recharge and reset their lives, schedule a call with me here for a free consultation, and to see if my ‘12-week Course and Coaching Programme - Recharge and Reset: Maximize Your Potential, Fulfill Your God-given Purpose’, is for you.
Share in the comments by clicking here ideas for starting a SISTA group, or activities SISTAS can do together.