Love of Sisters

Love.  Truthfully the topic scares me. My computer screen remains blank as I try to determine exactly what best describes love in my life. I love lots of things and people.  Oh how I love a good Crossfit WOD or a nice long run. I love my job. I love my friends.  I love my husband and children.  I love a mighty and powerful God.  All of these are worthy of the definition of love (some obviously more than others). However, if we are being honest, there is one love that I witness every single second of every single day. This love triumphs almost anything I have ever witnessed- the love between two sisters. 

If you know me well, you know I have always wanted one thing. Here we go with that honesty- I have always wanted a little boy. Always. Yet, I was never disappointed when the ultrasound revealed a girl because I will never forget a sweet three year old saying all I want is a sister.  A sister she got.  An amazing bond.  The definition of love. 

Her first request in life was to be a sister.  She has conquered sister and moved to the all-star level of sisterhood. 

The Look of Love

This look rarely leaves Mollye’s face when you mention Mal, and Mal has the exact same look when Mollye is present.  They are each other’s world. I feel most would agree that a sister is a wonderful thing. Someone to share clothes, make-up, secrets, and all the fun stuff of life.  However, Mollye’s sisterhood is much opposite of this yet even more rewarding.  While I could talk about their love for days, I am going to try to narrow it down to a top 10 list.  

Ten ways Mollye loves her sister.  

1. A protector she has always been.  

From the first day we brought Mallory home, Mollye has made it her goal to protect her sister. When Mallory would fall, Mollye would run to grab an ice pack.  When Mallory could stand, Mollye was always behind her in case she would fall. When Mallory was learning to walk, Mollye was holding her hand every step of the way. 

  2. Always including.

Not one time can I remember Mollye not including Mallory in an event or a game. Better yet she wants her sister to be part of everything.  Just this year she completed her first science fair project.  You know the kind the one in which you have to step on the bottle to blast off the rocket.  Most, including myself, would not think to let Mallory participate.  Not Mollye. She had Mallory second in line.  She was determined her sister would shoot the rocket just like everyone else.  

3. Forgiver

Yes, Mallory has been in trouble once in her life.  What did she do? She bit her sister.  Mallory cried as we punished her.  Mollye cried because we were punishing Mallory.  I will never forget Mollye crying saying, “It’s ok, I forgive her. I love her.” 

4. Teacher of the important things in life.

The mom in me tends to focus on the therapy and needs of Mallory.  Mollye is always there to remind me to let her enjoy the important things in life.  What’s more important than licking the bowl when you finish baking a cake?!? Love is giving her the first lick. 

5.  True love is sharing your food (even if Mal refuses to share)

Mollye is still very “love is blind” when it comes to Mallory’s regression.  However, she will often talk about memories from when Mal could do more.  If you ask her what her favorite memory is, she will tell you “the time I gave her my extra peanut butter in the car!” It was a disaster, but oh how would I clean that mess up a 1,000 times over if she could still eat peanut butter. Now, Mallory on the other side has never been one to share her food! That girl loves you but she will not give up food. 

6. Love is giving up control of the remote. 

Enough said. 

7. A friend. A playmate. 

Just yesterday they were playing pirates.  How do you play pirates with a non-mobile, non-verbal child?  Just ask Mollye.  She loves her sister and sees no reason for why she can’t play with her. They are sisters, but they are truly best friends. 

8. Therapist and designer of equipment.

Mollye spends hours each week at therapy.  Yet, she has never complained.  She does it because she loves Mallory and wants her to have help.  She also does it because she loves to help be Mal’s therapist.  Mollye has always watched closely to what the pt/ot/speech therapists do, and then when we get home the girls play “therapy.” Also, Mollye designs all of Mal’s medical equipment.  She does it with love.  She does not pick what she wants or likes, but she picks based on Mallory’s interests.  The last design was full of butterflies because she believes that Mallory would love to fly and feel the wind.  

9. Brave for her sister 

Never would I have imagined that Mollye would have happily hopped in a chair to have her blood drawn.  But at the mere mention that it is to help Mal, she jumped right up and was so very brave.  Brave she has to be because she loves her sister.  We fear the medical changes in Mallory’s life.  Mollye sees them as a way to help Mallory and quickly learns.  She now can feed Mal all by herself.  Brave and strong because she loves her sister! 

10. The perfect cuddle. 

Mollye’s love language is touch.  She loves a hug and a cuddle.  She can’t get enough of cuddle time with Mallory.  She begs- put her in my lap.  Every morning she rushes to Mal’s room, crawls in the crib, sits Mal up, and reads her books all while cuddling.  It’s their way to start the day off full of love! 

If you have ever questioned what love truly is, I invite you to come watch these two interact. They do not play or interact like typical siblings, but they exhibit love more than anything I have ever witnessed.  My heart will always be full because of the sisters that remind me daily that love can conquer the world.

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