In Romans 1:12, Paul writes that “we be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” God allows us to draw strength from one another. It is a friendship of the soul.
In the Bible, we see many examples of soul sisters across the generations. In the Old Testament, Naomi and Ruth have a special soulful friendship. Their common denominator is God.
In the New Testament, Luke mentions three women with a soul sister connection: Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Susanna (Luke 8:1–3). Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Susanna, along with the 12 disciples, followed Jesus. All three women had been delivered from evil spirits and infirmities.
There is nothing like shared trauma to forge friendships and bond souls! Soul sisters have issues and infirmities. They are not trekking down life’s highway with halos. Their commonality is a kinship of spirit and acceptance of shared imperfections.
In my own life, the more I’ve reached out for soulful sister friendships, the more fortified I’ve become in my female-ness. Now I am encompassed by a great sorority of celestial sisters. Hang in there together, sisters. We may get that halo one day.
This message is excerpted from “We are soul sisters” by Helen Hollingsworth from the June 27, 2016, blog of the Women of the ELCA.
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