On Saturday my sister marries her man.
On Saturday, our family welcomes him in, in the same moment
that we let her go one step further away.
On Saturday, I’m supposed to give a speech, which I tried
writing tonight, about them. I’m supposed to talk about how wonderful they are
for each other, and they are. However, while writing, I realized that I have a
lot to say…..and it’s not completely about them. Because she’s been wonderful
for me, too.
Jenny is three years older than me. Unbeknownst to my
parents upon having me, this is an age gap that is HORRIFYING during middle and
high school. My sister and I were complete opposites during that time. We
fought like CRAZY. Preeetttty much any chance we had.
She moved to Georgia when I was starting college, and for
the first time, I realized how much she had been holding me up. Let’s not even
mention the countless times she covered for me when I came home after drinking
in high school, or the few times she blankly stared at the police at the front
door, who were responding to a noise complaint, telling them “no one is here”,
after she shoved all of my friends and I underneath the staircase in the
basement so that they couldn’t see us through the window.
When she was gone, I realized that although I only answered
half the time, I needed those phone calls. Although it drove me NUTS that she
always wanted to know what was going on in my life, I needed those reminders
that someone was thinking of me, worried about me, caring for me.
She has always been within arms reach…..even from across
the ocean. She has either been behind me whispering words of encouragement, or
right in front of me lighting my path. I have absolutely taken this for
granted throughout my life. And I often still do.
We’ve grown a ton. We’ve learned each other’s language. How
to confront each other, talk to each other, support each other, remind each
other when one of us is being a pain in the ass. We still fail at it at
times….but I have truly learned that the base of all of this is an extreme
amount of love and respect. A foundation that I believe is only something one can have in a sister.
Although ours lives have looked so very different at times,
I know that we will always have this common path between our two worlds. We
will always have this place, this bond, where we can meet. She will forever be a few steps ahead of me, but I couldn't be more grateful. I deeply cherish the role model I have in her, and the example she is to me. She has fallen in to holes for me, just to keep me safe. She has warned me of things ahead and prepared me for them with love and grace. She has been everything and more.
Jenn,
No idea how
I’ll get through even 10 seconds of a speech on Saturday. Cheers to that ;) ……I
don’t say it enough, but you are a damn good sister. You are beautiful, kind,
generous, loving, thoughtful, faithful, wonderful, and so incredibly smart. You look
at others through the lens of grace and compassion. I absolutely cannot wait to
watch you continue to grow in your relationship with Josh. I can’t wait for
little Hinds’ to be running around. Can’t wait to take family vacations as
adults, with our own little families merging together. Can’t wait to watch you
continue to grow in your walk with Christ. Your faith has magnified, and you are
a shining light to so many because of it. I truly couldn’t be happier for the
both of you. It’s going to be one hilarious, crazy, messy, and beautiful life
you two will create. Thank you for being my whisperer, my guide, a soft place
to land, and a hard place to stand. And although you successfully give me the
WORST nicknames ever, I love you infinitely. Because of you, I am ‘mai perso’.
Kat
