I learned a new word this week – “sistering” – a beautiful, strong word. Sistering is not what you may think, it actually has nothing to do with sisters at all, at least not in the technicality of the term. Sistering is the technique used in carpentry when one reinforces a joist (a corner). When the load on the joist is too heavy causing weakness or a sagging in the structure, the carpenter brings a board to the left of the joist to strengthen and provide support. If one sister board is not enough, he will add another board to the right side. This process is called “sistering” and allows for that joist, that corner, to handle any load that is being placed on it.

Sistering gives the support needed to carry the heaviest of loads.

Yes, yes, yes!!!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

We need our “sisters” – women to come alongside us and carry the heavy loads.

My propensity when I am hurting, when the world is beating me up, when I feel tired and weary from the wear and tear, my propensity is to withdraw, to isolate, to pull back like a turtle finding refuge in her shell,

but we must

STAY

STAND

and

SISTER!

One on the right and one on the left – allowing the “sistering” with our sisters to give us the strength we need to press in and carry the heavy load of a heavy heart.

Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Carpentry tricks to ease a burdened heart, and I am reminded, Jesus was a carpenter…no doubt He thought fondly of us and this wearisome world as strong hands utilized this technique of sistering to reinforce a chair or table leg, He knew we would need each other to come alongside and “sister” each other to our finish lines.

Link arms ladies, we are not each others competition, we are sisters,

and we need each other!