Nurturing Meaningful Relationships among Christian Women

Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” 

If you are a woman trying to follow Jesus alone, you will not make it. You will get tired and lost. You need your sisters.  You need a community of women who will hold you accountable and keep you encouraged in the Lord. I personally have had and still have women who have shown me what it means to love God and to love my neighbour. Through their guidance, I have been inspired to pursue a godly, wholesome life and do good works. My ability to live out my own calling to love others and grow in holiness is greatly enhanced by their example and support.

Sisterhood is a gift which I believe God wants women to cherish and foster. There is something heavenly when we participate in each other's growth in the Lord. It brings glory to our Father when we embrace each other and love each other unconditionally. Our actions please Him as we fervently pray for one another, just as we desire the same for ourselves.

The truth is that we really and truly need each other. By nature as women, we always are looking for friendship, support and companionship. We know we have so much to learn from each other, but we allow self-imposed barriers to keep us from enjoying connections that could be among the greatest blessings in our lives. 

I know we all carry the wounds of a sisterhood gone wrong. Mean girls at school or at work. Unkind blood sisters, mothers and grandmothers. Friends who betrayed us and friends we have betrayed. Even in churches, some of us have been responsible for destroying communities through gossip, petty squabbles, and power struggles.

But those are not the fruit that the Holy Spirit has deposited in us. He has blessed us with a tender and merciful nature that enables us to show Christ-like love and service to those around us.

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” - Galatians 5:22-23

I'm going to remind you of Mary's relationship with her cousin Elisabeth in the first chapter of Luke. Mary was a young woman when she was informed of her remarkable role as the mother of Jesus. I'm sure it must have seemed to be a heavy responsibility to bear alone for Mary. It was the Lord Himself who provided Mary with someone with whom she could share her burden. Through the message of the angel Gabriel, Mary received the name of a trustworthy and compassionate woman to whom she could turn for support — her cousin Elizabeth.

As this young Mary and older cousin, Elizabeth, shared miraculous pregnancies, I can only imagine how important the time they spent together were for them to be able to converse, empathise, and support each other as they pursued their unique callings. This is a wonderful example of feminine nurturing across generations.

This is sisterhood. This is what we do. We show up, pray and encourage one another. We look beyond our differences in age, culture, and circumstance to nurture and serve one another. That's the God way and it's good. We must realise that we all want to serve the Kingdom of God by using our unique talents and gifts. This is the only way we can enjoy our sisterhood and associations when we serve one another.

Remember, being sisters means that there is an unbreakable bond between us. We care for each other, look out for each other, comfort each other, and are there for each other through thick and thin. We need to stop focusing on our differences and look for our commonalities.