My sister is an extraordinary woman.
Last Wednesday was her birthday, and the Lord impressed upon me that I should celebrate the daughter He has made her to be.
I pray that she will feel honored and that only life will be given through this post; but more importantly, all my interactions with her this coming year.
Emily has always been a friend to me.
We are only two years apart and ended up having a lot of the same friends.
I believe, truly, that most of the friends I had while growing up would not have been if my sister had not first befriended them.
She allowed me to tag along when she and her friends would go out; and she afforded me a level of comfort that made it possible for me, an impossibly shy child, to be myself.
She could have easily said I couldn’t come, that she didn’t want her younger sister tagging along to get in the way.
If she felt that way, she never showed it.
Emily and I shared a room for most of our lives, and a bed for at least half of that time.
Some of my most favorite memories are of the two of us, after we should have been in bed, staying up giggling about the most ridiculous things.
We used to “sneak” into our closet because we thought we could be quieter in there.
We just knew we had achieved success until we would hear our father’s booming voice from downstairs; “Girls, go to bed.
I will not tell you again, I’ll just come up there the next time.”
Even at an early age there was an ease of communication between us.
If we had conflict, let’s be honest, she would force me into dealing with it.
But, most of the time we could resolve issues by just finding something funny between the two of us and laughing till our sides hurt.
She has always been the one to confront things head on.
She never backs down from a fight and she cannot keep silent when she sees injustice.
I used to wonder, and sometimes still do, if anything scares her.
She has the ability to stand in strength before anything that comes her way.
No one intimidates my sister.
She has been a warrior and protector her whole life.
Em was usually protecting me and a lot of times fighting on my behalf.
Even though I am much bolder now, there are still times when she tells me I shouldn’t put up with something.
She is constantly watching my perimeter, watching for the enemy or breaches in the wall.
She watches spiritually as well.
She is consistent in her accountability of me.
I never have to wonder how I’m walking with the Lord because she is quick to call me out when I am not looking like our Father.
She is completely honest.
She loves through gracious, merciful truth.
Most of the time, it hurts to be rebuked by her.
After I get over my hurt feelings and start to allow the Holy Spirit to minister His truth and pride in her obedience, then I am able to come back and really hear what the Lord wants to teach me through her.
Emily has a wisdom that is completely God sent.
She imparts knowledge that surpasses her young years and sometimes, even life experience.
She is the balance to our sometimes unbalanced family.
When we lean too far to the left or the right, she feels it and brings it to light.
Emily is a powerhouse.
She was made for the boardroom, she is the kind of woman that gets deals done.
She has a charisma that draws all kinds of people to her.
She spent years in the power suits and on the commuter train, but God has now taken her into a season of greater responsibility.
He has seen that she has been responsible with little and so now He has entrusted her with much; three little girls.
These three little ladies are absolutely my sister’s heart.
They are still young, but I see so much pride in her when she talks of her girls.
She is a wonderful mother.
She has set aside her desires and aspirations so that she can commit herself to raising God’s children to truly rest in their identity.
Raegan, Reece, and Eliot love their mommy too.
I have seen how they look at her and touch her, with such gentleness and admiration.
She is Jesus with flesh on to those girls.
She and her husband Gavin have not told their kids about their God, they have lived Him in every aspect of their lives.
Those girls already have a foundation of God’s love for them through Gavin and Emily.
They are also being raised to fear God, to be warriors against the forces of darkness in this world, and to be bold in their values of dying to themselves and loving others first.
Because of my sister’s example her children will one day be able to look back, as she and I do, and say thank you God for the generations of women who seek after your heart and nothing else.
Her children will arise and call her blessed.
I believe when God looks at her He already says, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Emily, may you continue to grow in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man.
May you feel so completely loved that it is overwhelming.
I pray that you will have peace in the middle of the chaos that is our house and schedule.
I pray that you will wake up every day and see yourself as our Father sees you.
You are a beautiful, amazing, intelligent, fragile, strong, invaluable daughter of the Most High King and He is proud of you.
I pray that He pour out His tremendous blessings onto the Long household to honor your faithfulness.
You are loved, probably more than I will ever be able to express; just know it okay!
May the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon you and give you peace.
I love you my dear sister!
