For the past 10 years of my adult life, I’ve lived in 6 different cities in 4 different states. The hardest part about moving has been making new friends. I remember when I moved to Atlanta in 2019… I was hopeful I would make new friends. I was off to a good start because I was introduced to Toni by a mutual friend we shared. Toni is warm and very friendly; she quickly included me in her friend circle and invited me to her birthday party. It was there that I met Marla.
Marla wore her hair in an afro puff and had on a blue dress. She sat right across from me, and we chatted about work and life. Marla mentioned that she was working at a camp for the summer. Part of her 9-to-5 job included working at a summer camp, and she had driven 2 hours just to celebrate Toni. I quickly realized Marla was a loyal friend.
After chatting for the whole party, we exchanged numbers. The next day Marla reached out, “Hey, it was great to meet you yesterday. If you ever need anything or want to hang out, let me know. I understand how hard it can be moving to a new city and making new friends.” I was so touched by her kindness. I told Marla I would definitely take her up on her offer.
As time went on, we hung out again, and again, and again. We forged a friendship even though we lived an hour away from each other. I remember visiting Marla’s town and grabbing coffee and ice cream from a few of her favorite places. It was so cool to share that experience with her and her sister, Mariah. Marla was always willing to make the hour-long drive to hang out with me, too. She even went out of her way to water my plants when I was out of town for a while. And when it was time for me to leave Atlanta, Marla was often at my apartment—helping me pack and organize my things. I knew early on that I had made a lifelong friend. Marla’s love and care were truly unconditional. Most times, I never wanted to ask for help, but she showed up anyway.
God used Marla to remind me that life was never meant to be lived alone. Marla’s friendship was crucial for me in a time when I needed community and a sense of belonging.
I never knew my life would be sustained by sisterhood, but sisters are essential to our personal growth. Everyone needs sisters who push you to dream beyond yourself. In tragedy, I call my sisters. When I need support, I call my sisters. When I need to talk about my mistakes, I call my sisters. Sisters have a way of helping you find your way back home—back to yourself when you’ve gotten lost along the way.
My Black sisters in particular have been healing for me. These are women who see me and know me, women who understand the struggle of simply existing in America. Women who are so resilient and who, in the face of evil and injustice, are committed to pressing on anyhow.
As I ponder on the beauty of sisterhood, I’ve discovered this is what my sisters mean to me:
Sisters are—
the home for your weary soul.
The love your heart needs.
The fuel to keep you going.
In sisterhood, you are always welcome.
There is always a place for you—
a place for you to show up
and feel seen and dance.
I now live in Maryland, and Marla is still in Georgia, but we are still close. We text, FaceTime, and visit each other when one another is in town. Once when Marla came to visit my husband and me in the DMV area and she needed to go to her uncle’s house an hour and a half away, she had planned to Uber. But my husband insisted we drive her ourselves—that’s community. Marla and I keep showing up for each other even though we live far away. It takes work to build friendships, and we have realized how important it is to sustain ours.
Who are your sisters? How do they challenge you and show up for you?
Leave a Comment
Kitwanda Reeves says
My Sisters have become my mirrored accountability as I support and honor the crowns we deserve to wear.
Ruth said to Naomi, “Entreat Me Not To Leave Or Return From Following After Thee. Thy People Shall Be My God. Thy God Is My God.”
I Am My Sister’s Mirror.
Honoring The Crown Of A Queen.
Veronica says
I sent this story to my Sister/Soror Sonia we have been in one another’s life and corner since October 1987! I will love her forever!
💗💚
Faitth Brooks says
I love this! We all need our sisters
Nancy says
I enjoyed reading the heartwarming story of sisterhood with Marla.
I am grateful for my sisters, it’s not blood that makes us sisters it’s our bond. These women keep showing up for me and I do my best to be the best friend for my sisters as well💓
Faitth Brooks says
Hi Nancy, thanks for commenting. I am glad this article resonated with you!
Faitth Brooks says
Hi Nancy, thanks for commenting. I am glad this article resonated with you! I believe life is better with solid sister-friends to lean on.
Tracey Barber says
Thanks you for sharing this amazing story, it is so important for us as women to have a sisterhood such as this, I too have a group of phenomenal women who are just like yours, they are and have been all that you mentioned and more. We are that one to another and I pray that every woman has the opportunity to experience this same type of Sisterhood in their lifetime. Again, I thank you for sharing
Suzanne Haley says
Beautiful and true!
Priscilla says
Thank you to my sisters…Cynthia my biological sissy, Lisa, my sister/cousin, Shelvy, who is ALWAYS here for me, Joyce, whom God sent back after 50 years, Bettye, Lillian, Mary, Rhonda, Barbara, Cordelia..I love you guys. What would I do without you? Thank you Heavenly Father for these blessings. These 73 years have been filled with so much joy, so much pain. My sisters have been here to share it all. God bless them.
Linda Ursery-Fleming says
Everything you said is true? Sustaining relationships requires effort for all involved and I’m glad you and Marla put in the work.
Linda says
This is a wonderful story. I will share this with a few friends that I feel are my sisters. One, in particular, is my childhood friend, Elaine. She’s always been there for me through the good times and the bad. I can talk to her about anything, and she always has an encouraging word. I think this site is so needed for us sisters! Thank you!
Monica says
Awww, so heartfelt. Makes me think of my Babes, Tamera,, my Sister in Christ. We are carbon copies of each other. I met her several years ago at church. We automatically connected, and gained an unbreakable bond. We laugh, dance, cry and pray together. She’s my bestie, yet in 2020, I moved to the West Coast. She’s in Maryland, and baby we don’t miss a beat. She’s my Yen, and gets me through here all alone. Yay, Sister’s rock, regardless of home you are united. I loved her down
Kareemah says
This really touched me and reminded me that I have a beautiful tribe of sisters that distance couldn’t break. Thank you!
Patricia Taylor says
This was a wonderful article that reminded me how grateful I am to have my sister friends . Last Sunday my sister friends and I celebrated my great accomplishment of completing my MBA degree from LSUS. The ferocious conversations and love we share at the brunch table for each other was evident. I felt proud and I felt loved. I need my sister friends and you are correct 100% that God did not create us to be by ourselves. So I treasure my sister friends deeply . Thank you for sharing Queen.