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JUNE 2019 | My Sister's Keeper
Updated: Aug 4
I’m the youngest of my dad’s ten children, but I grew up with my sister, Cynthia Renee Mills, who passed away on December 7, 1990. I knew my other siblings, but there was a considerable age difference between us, so we didn’t truly connect until I became an adult.
Even though Renee and I were like night and day, I always looked up to her. It was hard for me not to have her; she passed away right before my 21st birthday. I often wondered what our relationship would have been like as adults. I imagined we would have been the best of friends, raising our children together and supporting each other as we cared for our parents in their senior years. I miss my sister with all my heart.
Because God promises never to leave us or forsake us, and because He foresaw my journey, He strategically placed women in my life. These women filled the void left by my sister and every place of emptiness when I needed guidance from a female perspective. Through them, I was also able to renew my relationships with my other siblings and family members.
These relationships have shaped how I view my life as a daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and woman. I have been blessed to have a village of women pour into me values and perspectives from every walk of life—from homemakers, the ’hood, corporate America, and the church. As different as each of them may be, they have all shown me a side of myself that I should embrace and value. Nothing I’ve gone through in life should be viewed as a negative or an embarrassment, but rather as a stepping stone used to elevate me into becoming the best MARIETTA there is. No one can beat me at being me!
As women, we wear so many hats, juggle countless responsibilities, and rarely miss a beat. We often take on these roles at the expense of our own peace and joy, all without complaint. Because of this, we frequently go through things in silence because who has time to complain when so many people are counting on you? Therefore, opportunities to love on one another are so important. No one else can truly understand the pain of giving birth to a child but another woman. No one else can fully understand the physical pain we endure—not only monthly, but while going to work, caring for our homes, helping with homework, and still trying to look our best for our husbands—but another woman.
If you think about creation, man and the animals were formed from the earth (Genesis 2:7; Genesis 2:19), but woman was taken from the rib of man. I understand how this signifies that we are a part of man and were created as a helper to him, but I also want to point out that the rib cage has three critical functions: support, protection, and respiration.
I could go much deeper here, but just know that we are truly unique and special. That is why this photoshoot was so important for me to do.
The women represented in this video and these pictures are just a small representation of the women who have walked with me, cried with me, loved on me, corrected me (sometimes by cursing me out to get me back on track), prayed for me, encouraged me, or inspired me from afar as I watched them live through their pain and struggles openly, yet with elegance and grace. This was my opportunity to simply say, “Thank you.”
I’m genuinely THANKFUL to have each of them—and those who could not attend—in my life. Whether our relationship is from the past or the present, please know that you have played a tremendous role in shaping the woman I am today. Even if we don’t communicate every day, your life, your acts of love, and simply being the AWESOME WOMAN that you are have had a significant impact on mine.
This is just the beginning of this Sisterhood! More information to come!
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