Become A Big Sister

I have a dear friend who is a single mother, a home owner, likes to travel and who has an extremely stressful and busy job.

Every minute of her day is accounted for, she barely sleeps, she worries constantly about her clients and her office colleagues.

I always thought of her as someone who went home at night and just “vegged” out or went shopping…like me.

No.

Recently, I had dinner with her and asked how she’d spent her holidays. She mentioned the usual — dinners, gifts and business parties. (yawn, right?)

But then she caught me completely off guard by telling me that she’d spent a full weekend with her Little Sister.

Stupidly, I said “I didn’t know you had a younger sister.” (duh-uh).

She explained that she was a Big Sister, To A Little Sister, a young girl whose family is so disadvantaged that they probably wouldn’t have had a holiday celebration.

Beyond the holidays, they spend a weekend together a couple of times a month.

I was so moved by her human compassion and her ability to recognize this girl’s dignity.

I know there are so many of you out there, including myself who have such busy lives…but spending some time with a young person who needs it, can only enrich us.

Big things really do come from little moments.