Being a sister

I have a really cool guy friend through FOCUS at UMKC. Every time we talk, he calls me "sister". He'll say things like, "You're rockin' the veil again tonight, sister!" (referring to my mantilla, obviously). My boyfriend still refers to me as "sister" sometimes too. Usually at first it's completely counterintuitive to me. But then I realize that it's the truth of what our relationship is, or at least a glimpse of what it should be.

Women want to be admired by men for their beauty; rightly so, being the pinnacle of creation and all that ("Ain't not thaing," as our FOCUS missionary might say). We women have been deceived to think that this admiration must come along with some kind of romantic innuendo. Even when a genuinely kind guy compliments us, sometimes we jump to the conclusion that he must have some motivation behind the though. I'm COMPLETELY guilty of this, if you can't tell. There are occasions upon occasions where I just could not separate in my mind a nice compliment from a romantic connotation.

It's when men refer to me as a sister that I really am allowed to perceive what a jewel I have been made to be by my God. Just thinking to when I receive praise from my brother--and sometimes, that I can be really hard to come by--I can't help but admire his courage in complimenting me in such a way. Then I really attempt to find ways to return the compliment. Same with other men. When men have the courage, not only to talk to me as a sister, but treat me in turn...there's something in my heart of hearts that thrills in that relationship.

What is there about the brother-sister relationship that is so special? Again, I'd have to refer back to the relationship I share with my own older brother. We'd hang out and play games, constantly arguing about who would be the bad guy and who would be the hero.  As we grew older, he'd tell me about his experiences in high school, and subsequently college. He's always been a better conversationalist with me than I with him; he'll tell me about the day-to-day events of life and then interestedly hear about my school work. We might even have a good talk about philosophy or politics. It's a treat when a family member is also a friend. Further, a family relationship between siblings is one that can never be broken. Even if we lose touch, and we often do for months at a time, that family bond will always be there; we are born of the same flesh. That's the key right there. Our spiritual sibling-ship with others results from the fact that we are born of the same God. When the men in my life recognize me as sister, then it is a witness to that relationship we have with each other in Christ. That recognition elevates our relationship to a new dimension. No longer am I slave to thoughts of analyzing my relationships with men. I can now see kind gestures in the light of Christ. These gestures are not a signal of romance by any means, but rather are signs that the men who offer these gestures are truly learning to sacrifice of themselves and learn how to be good brothers to me. And that makes me beyond happy.