“Blood sisters?” my cousin asked when I suggested we prick our fingers with a sewing needle.

Our Blood

“You wanna?” I asked.

“I don’t know.” Her green eyes were like mine but full of uncertainty. “Will it hurt?”

“Nah. We’re first cousins. We can be blood sisters, too.”

I pressured her to allow me to prick the tip of her finger with the needle. 

“You go first.” She pulled her finger back and waited for me to do it first.

Fearless, I plunged the needle into my pointer finger. Blood made its way to the surface. I squeezed until a little pool made a perfect circle on my fingertip.

“Your turn.” I turned the needle over to her.

She slowly pricked the tip of her finger, and a small amount of blood revealed itself. She squeezed her finger, trying to get more blood from the puncture wound. Then we took our bloody fingertips, rubbed them together, and said, “Blood sisters.”

This would not be a wise thing to do these days. But in the early seventies, it was a thing. I’m not sure where I learned it. But my cousin and I became blood sisters, and we remember it well.

Jesus’ Blood

In the little church where I grew up, referring to other members as brother and sister was customary. If I spoke to an older lady, I called her Sister Velva or Sister Judy. We referred to the men similarly: Brother Pete or Brother Gary.

I wish this practice were still common in church. It’s a great reminder that we are brothers and sisters in Christ, which means we are blood-related. But we didn’t shed the blood; Jesus did.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

~Ephesians 1:4-6 NIV

Through His blood, Christ unites us into one beautiful (far from perfect) family—children of the living God.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.

~Ephesians 1:7-8 NIV

No finger pricking is needed to enter God’s family. Make sure you are a part, and, if you are, thank Christ for shedding His blood.  

Heavenly Father, thank You for my brothers and sisters in Christ. In Jesus’ powerful name, amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2025: Blood Sisters: Melinda Cooper: All Rights Reserved