She didn’t have to do the dishes. She was there to give us a break while my husband and I went out for our monthly date night and my birthday dinner. The dishes weren’t a part of that deal, but she did them anyway.
That’s the beauty of sisters. They know just when to step in and step up so you don’t completely lose your mind. They can see it on your face when life catches up to you and you’re close to breaking down. They know when you’re drowning, and without a thought, they dive in to save you.
She didn’t have to do the dishes, but she did them because she knows even though I have a supportive and helpful husband, we’re both going through the same whirlwind adventure of raising an autistic son while still being first-time parents. She knows I never stop and rarely get to relax, and while that’s a part of life, she doesn’t want to let me struggle just because I chose this life.
She didn’t have to do the dishes. She has her own life, but she remembers me. She doesn’t allow me to go through things alone and is ready to do whatever is necessary to help me keep my head above water. She gives us the desperately needed time together as a couple and doesn’t hesitate to take my son the moment we get out of the car if she knows I’m having a bad day.
She didn’t have to do the dishes. And while the dishes may seem insignificant to her, they meant the world to me. It reminded me that I need to allow others to care for me sometimes. The biggest gifts are in the smallest actions, and they don’t go unnoticed, especially when you’re in the pricker bushes of life right now. She didn’t have to do the dishes, but I’m so thankful she did.
by Vicki Bahr 
by Jennifer Toscano 
by Adrian Collins 
