Sissy, I love you to the moon and back!

My sis and I

This post will be dedicated to my younger sister, Deanna, who will be a year younger than me tomorrow.

My sister has been my biggest fan from day one.  As soon as she was able to walk and talk she also deemed herself my protector.  The sad thing about this is that I didn’t have sense enough to appreciate it until we were older.  I saw her love, adoration and desire to protect me as an intrusion for many years.  As mom was sewing matching dresses, I was striving to be different and separate, having little recognition of the little redheaded treasure I had by my side.  Without getting too personal, can I say that I failed so many times?   That instead of showing appreciation, companionship and love, I often took the low road and belittled her.  Maybe I am being too personal, but it’s the truth and I think it happens all too often.  Maybe if I share my regret, someone will read and apologize to their sibling or refrain from demeaning them to begin with.

We’ve always been close, but I had created a distance in those early years, that had to be righted.  I’m extremely grateful to be able to say that my sister forgave me for all of my evil ways.  There is nothing broken between us anymore, hasn’t been for years, no hovering darkness, and I praise God for that!  But, I can’t help regret the situations that I could have handled much differently.

If I could give her the birthday gift of my choice, I would take back every unkind word or look that I ever said or gave.  She never deserved anything less than my undying love and support.  My sister isn’t just a wonderful sister, she is a great friend to anyone and everyone who has ever had the privilege of knowing her.  She has this God-given ability to make you feel like the most important person in the world and she has mastered the gift of putting others first.  She is strikingly beautiful inside and out and talented in too many areas to mention.  She is a gift to our family and our community, bringing hope, inspiration, laughter and love to all.  I am so blessed to have the most amazing sister that God ever created and I just want the world to know that I love her so much!

This Christmas season, if you have any words you’ve left unsaid or apologies that need to be given, give yourself the gift of delivering them as soon as you possibly can.  You won’t regret it.

HAPPY, Happy Birthday, Dee –  I love you!