Hot Pink Hair

My sister dyed her hair hot pink today.  I guess technically it's blonde ombre to hot pink.  Regardless, it's awesome and it reminds me of Barbie...although I didn't share that comment openly when I told her I loved it.  But I do love it.  I also love the fact that my mom didn't realize it was hot pink when she posted the picture.  Gotta love mom, too.

My sister and I are as different from each other as the desert is the sea.  She is a tattoo artist.  I am a nurse.  She played softball.  I was a ballerina.  She loved to catch bugs and lizards.  I adopted a cat last week...just to kill lizards.  She has three adorable kids.  I have only a brown dog.  We are different.  And have never been particularly close.  But over the last six months, I have felt a connection with her like never before.  And I found an adoration and admiration for her that I never truly appreciated until now.  She is the strongest woman I have ever known.  Her strength goes beyond measure.  The best depiction of this strength is demonstrated through a broke down car on the side of 595.  One time my sister's car broke down on the side of 595...she had a baby with her (I can't exactly remember if it was one kid or two) and a dog.  Well she packed up the crew and walked over a quarter of a mile alongside 595 to the nearest telephone.  And do you know not a single person stopped to lend a hand.  Amazing.  I am almost certain if my car broke down and I was alone...I would have remained there until some serial killer came up alongside me to offer 'help'.  She exemplifies strength and independence.  More than I could imagine.

Proverbs 31:25
She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. 

But I have learned over the last six months, that we share similar struggles.
And we have perspective on our lives that no one understands because no one has walked in our past.  She understands my outlook and feelings and struggles like no one else.  For all the ways we are different, I think we are equally the same.  And I thank God I have her to bounce my struggles off of because she makes me feel a little more normal. 

So when you look around and only see difference around you...remember there may be commonalities, strength, and friendship in these differences.  As you get to know someone, you might realize you share similar scars, joys, love, heartbreak, struggles...that you would never appreciate on the surface.  These commonalities disguised as differences make me incredibly thankful for the last six months;  for they have allowed me to know my sister in a way like never before. 

Hot pink hair, broke down cars and commonalities,

Ashley Lucille

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