My Best Friend

Growing up with a big sister is not always fun but it is always rewarding! My sister Shannon is a great woman, mother, and to me she has always been my best friend. She mothered me from birth, or so I have been told. Many times when we were young she thought that it was her responsibility to punish me; but I lived through it and there were no scares of any kind. Shannon and I have shared so much. Our parents were really good about making sure we respected and supported one another. Shannon was always the girlie girl and I think that it drove her nuts because I was a tomboy for the biggest portion of my childhood. She always had to make sure that my socks were just right and my pants pegged with just the right fold (I know crazy fashion fad but it was the cool thing to do) When boys came into the picture for me she was the mother hen. She kept the bad ones way out of reach, who am I kidding she did not want any of them to get near me; but I love her for that. She was protecting me. Hey once she even tried to help out and give me a hair cut. I was 4 and she was 6 and lets just say it did not work out so well. Mom had to call in the family to pray for me because I was so devastated. Needless to say Shannon is not a beautician. But in all seriousness there is no one that knows what life has dealt to you like a sister or brother. Shannon and I were the closest. We went through dad being on strike and going to the Salvation Army for groceries, to staying late at Mallory Grade School while mom worked as a janitor and many times calling on us to help out. Shannon was there when I burnt myself with gravy at KFC and had to go to therapy for weeks. I remember laying in the back of our Bronco II as Shannon held me on the way home. She always took care of me. We attended church together even when our parents failed to go. I was there when the emergency gas valve kicked in on the Escort as Shannon went over the railroad tracks on the way to church. Boy is that a good memory. No one could share in my pain like Shannon as we witnessed our parents marriage fall apart. Pain like that is never easy to endure but when you can connect with someone and that person can share your pain that is better than any level of counseling you can receive. We prayed for and visited Dad as he went through the harsh news of cancer and the complications of surgery. She has always been there and she always made me stronger. Shannon was my maid of honor. She stood beside me as I made one of the biggest decisions of my life. She has listened to me cry, laugh, complain, and brag and she has always been a supporting best friend. She rejoiced as I bought a house and helped out many hours to make it a home. She cared for my children and cried with me when they were taken. She has prayed for me and encouraged me along my road of recovery and discovery. When it was time for her to become a momma I stood with her every step of the way, reassuring her that God had opened this door for her to walk through. Because that is what best friends do! She really is a great woman of God. I imagine that we will share many adventures, tears, joys, and memories together as life continues on its merry way, I pray that each day she finds the peace, hope, love, grace, understanding, wisdom, and blessings of God.  I love her very much and I can't imagine my life with out my best friend!