Big Brother

No not the television show...the real thing! Here he is a few years ago.


I have an older brother and a younger sister. If it weren’t for the ‘middle child syndrome’ I am sometimes ‘tripped’ by, I would say it’s just about perfect. I love my siblings…though I don’t tell them often enough. I’m not sure I’ve ever actually told my brother…if he knew…he might just use it against me, LOL!

My brother was in town all last week as I had shared. He was at my parents for several days alone, and Thursday his wife (my sister-in-law) came and joined him through Sunday.

I can’t think of much that makes my father happier than to spend time with his son…my brother. I know my father loves us all…but he can talk to my brother for hours on end…and my brother appears to sit and listen. It could be because he’s only here once or twice every few years. Whatever the case, it makes my dad’s year, to visit with my brother.

My brother is a ‘life of the party’, conversationalist, intellectual, spiritual, well-read, talented writer, gifted story-teller, sometimes annoying (as a sister), kind of guy. He has never met a stranger and finds himself surrounded by friends (old and new) regularly.

He used some of those gifts this week to remind me why he is a “good brother”. I don’t really need the reminder…I know he’s a good brother, but it was good to hear these ‘never told’ stories.

He shared about ‘beating’ the guy who date-rap*d me in high school and I had heard tales of this but never knew for sure. It made so much more sense why the guy never even looked at me again…because my brother not only beat him, but threatened him.

He also shared a story about our ‘youth group’ at a church I never felt a part of. We went together…because he was old enough to drive. It was a Halloween party and I had made ‘caramel apples’ which apparently looked HORRIBLE! The caramel was all melted around the bottom and stuck to the wax paper and no one was going to eat them. It’s clear my ‘baking/cooking’ skills were a work in progress!

Apparently my mother convinced me they were ‘fine’ and I took them. My brother said since no one was eating them, he ate every single one of them so I wouldn’t be hurt by it. I never knew that. I barely remember the party…and don’t remember the apple-failure humiliation. He remembers and shared that with me.

I’m not sure why he felt the need to remind me of these things, cause I think he’s pretty incredible and he’s always had the honorable ‘older brother’ status for me (but I’d NEVER say that out loud…his head would swell MORE)!

Suffice to say the time of reminiscing and sharing and spending time together was really incredible. I wish we lived closer and could talk more often. I know he has pearls of wisdom I could grow from and clearly I too, have much to offer him in the ways of humbleness and such!

It’s amazing to me this is the same guy I used to have to threaten I’d ‘tell mom’ almost hourly during our youth. It just goes to show…we really do mellow with age…and thank God for selective memory!

I also thank GOD for a brother who, even in the less-than-stellar seasons, was there for me and is one of my biggest champions. He is a confidante’, a counselor, and a friend… he is my brother.

May your Tuesday be full of future wonderful memories!