Why Sisterhood Matters: Unlocking the Power of Christian Community

We all have beautiful souls in our lives. They are the people who love us and encourage us in all of our endeavors. They are the people who bless us with their friendship and make memories with us. They are the people who open up their hearts when we are sorrowful and suffering. They are the people whom God has placed in our lives to show us a glimpse of Heaven on earth. But the only way we will ever encounter God's beautiful souls on this earth is by opening ourselves in faith to Christian community. This is not as easy as it seems! Relationships, of any kind, are difficult to maintain. They require an endless cycle of giving: sharing of each other's time, offering prayers of love and support, sending a text message or e-mail just to say "I'm thinking of you". Sometimes, I must admit, I simply find it easier to just stay home and avoid people entirely, because making plans and going out with friends is too much work! But time and again I have found that the more I close out the people around me, the more I close out Christ and encounters with His love. Simply put: the less I give of myself, the less I receive from others. Relationships take time and effort, but they are always worth it when we consider the value of the person (or persons) we are spending time with. If dating relationships or marriages were "easy", without any effort on the part of the couple, they would quickly turn into relationships of utility and would, in time, grow unhealthy. If friends never took the time to get together and share in conversation with one another, would there even BE a relationship? We must remember that Christ put us together on this earth for a reason... To be in community with one another and to share of our time and gifts! About a week ago, I was reading a devotional that was recently released by Catholic speaker and musician, Emily Wilson. Her book, entitled I Choose The Sky, is the story of 17 beautiful women from Scripture and shows how young women today can learn from their example. As I was reading, the magnitude of what this book could do for young women met me head on. I recognized the need to share this with the countless beautiful souls in my own life and by opening myself up to the power of Christian community, God began to work in the most amazing way possible. Following a moment of spiritual insight, I took to Facebook and organized a book study for young women in my community of friends. I sent text messages inviting people from all walks of life, whether they be high school students, college students, Lutherans, or Catholics. I made copies of the introduction to the book and marked points of interest to read and discuss together. The result? Nearly 10 BEAUTIFUL SOULS met with me for an entire hour, sharing their faith, their ideas, and their thoughtful reflections on this book. I came away feeling such incredible joy... There are no words to describe the power of a group of faithful young people meeting in the name of Christ. Friends, I share this so that you, too, can know the joy and the power of Christian community. All it takes is a little time, a little effort, and a whole lot of Jesus to build relationships and open ourselves up to community in Christ. I can assure you, there is no force more powerful than a community of people who love Christ.

#community #sistersinChrist #love #gratefulheart #femininedignity #femininegenius