Sunday, November 14, 2010

This Is My Shari:

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Today, I wanted to share a little bit about one of my favorite people ever… my sister, Shari.  We have definitely had our share of sibling rivalry (when we were little we once concocted a plan to smear peanut butter all over the counter to see who mom would blame, so we could subsequently discover which daughter she loved most, the idea being that she wouldn’t blame her favorite daughter, I realize this is a run-on sentence but just go with it), but we are now the best of friends and wish that we didn’t live several states apart from each other.
Aside from being cute and funny and really fun to shop with, Shari is a very kind and giving person.  I hope she won’t mind if I share a story about her. 
Shari and her husband, Mike went out to eat for Shari’s birthday.  They noticed a couple with a baby sitting a few tables over.  The baby had obvious health problems, and it looked as though the family probably spent a lot of time in the hospital.  Shari asked Mike if they could pay for this couple’s meal, as her birthday present.  They asked the waitress if they could cover the couple’s meal anonymously and left before the little family was notified that their meal had been paid for. 
Wow.  I find her sweet act of generosity so inspiring.  That is just how she is. 
When Shari was in elementary school, she was good friends with a little girl with some obvious mental handicaps.  She would play with her on the playground, and help her make sand cakes in the sandbox.  I’m not sure how many other friends this little girl had.  But I do know that Shari reached out to her when may others didn’t.  Shari didn’t care if others viewed her as different, she just wanted to be a friend to someone in need. 
I could go on and on sharing story after story of the times that Shari has been an example to me.  I am so grateful that she is my sister.  I’m pretty lucky to have her in my life, I tell you what.  
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4 comments:

  1. Wow, your sister sounds like a very generous and thoughtful person! My sister and I are very close too.

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  2. Oh Whitney. Thank you so much for this...it could not have come at a better time. Last night I was crying because I was just so tired of being sick...I've averaging about 3 hours of sleep a night because my cough is keeping me awake and as a result everything is stressing me out. Imagine how much better I felt when I went online and saw this. I love you sis-ter.

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  3. Wow. That is so tender. I love that story about paying for the other person's meal. It's such a small thing, but I'm sure made a world of difference to that couple. How awesome.

    I think it is the greatest blessing in the world to have a family member that you consider to be more of a friend.

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  4. So did you ever make the peanut butter plan reality? :)

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