Meet Julie

Women who have Shaped Me: Meet Julie Shortt

Some people have lifelong friends.

I was blessed with a godly sister.

Our moms were best friends, so I don’t remember a time when Julie wasn’t part of my life. She is ten years older than me, which meant I spent most of my childhood thinking she hung the moon. If Julie was there, I wanted to be there too.

One of my favorite memories is going to Disneyland with her when I was five years old. Looking back now, I can’t imagine taking a little five-year-old on a trip like that, but she helped create memories I’ll carry forever.

I also went through a phase where I was convinced I was Sandy from Grease. I begged Julie to curl my hair just like hers and dance with me while she played Danny. She never made me feel silly. She simply joined my little world.

By fourth grade, I’d get so excited when I found out I was spending the day with Julie. In my mind, we were about to have the adventure of a lifetime.

Instead she’d smile and say, “First we’re going to lay out… then we’re taking a nap.”

A nap? Julie! I’m nine!

At the time I thought she was absolutely crazy. Now I completely understand.

She was always looking out for me, even when I didn’t appreciate it. In middle school she took me to a modeling camp. My parents already knew it was a scam, but Julie knew sometimes the best lessons are the ones you learn yourself.

She also stood beside me when I begged my mom to stop making me get perms. To this day I can still hear my mom saying, “Your hair is so stringy.” Julie quietly reminded me that my natural hair was beautiful long before I believed it myself.

And yes… when I snuck out in high school, she absolutely ratted me out.

I was furious.

She was right.

That’s what someone who loves you does. They protect you, even when it costs them being the favorite person in the room.

My mom also passed down our love of Dr Pepper. These days, one of my favorite traditions is grabbing a Swig with Julie and catching up on life. We still love going to musicals and plays together. She’s proudly OSU. I’m proudly OU. Some debates are simply never meant to be settled.

I was there when she was initiated into Kappa Kappa Gamma, but the truth is, she had been my sister long before she ever joined one.

Recently I asked her, “You’ve known me through every season of life. What’s something you’ve always seen in me that I may not have seen in myself?”

She told me she has always seen strength, courage, and resilience. That even when life breaks my heart, I grieve, I pray, I adapt, and I keep going.

Her words made me cry because sometimes the people who have watched you grow from a little girl into a woman can see God’s fingerprints on your life more clearly than you can.

Julie has celebrated my victories, loved me through my hardest seasons, laughed with me until we cried, prayed for me when I couldn’t find the words, and never stopped believing in me.

Julie, thank you for being my godly sister.

Thank you for Disneyland, Grease dance parties, pageants, naps I didn’t appreciate until adulthood, Dr Pepper runs, musicals, honest conversations, and even for ratting me out.

Thank you for helping shape the woman I am today.

I love you. ❤️