I have watched my mother’s relationship with her siblings over the years. Despite the fact that they are in their 70s, they still act the same… sibling rivalry. They love each other, fight with each other and then it starts over again.
Spending the week with my brother, Kumar, made me wonder will our relationship ever change? We never really fight. Maybe we are too alike. Maybe we respect our differences. We have never lived in the same town since I left for university. We are also 5 years apart. Maybe all this plays a role.
I love my brother. I enjoy spending time with him. Seeing him as an adult in his different role…husband, father, pastor, is weird at times.
Yet he has turned into a good man despite the odds. I am thankful for his presence in my life.
As I watch my sons interact with each other as brothers, it makes me pray that they will all know that pleasure of friendship with each other.
I pray that they learn to accept the differences in each as well as embrace their similarities. I hope that they will cherish the specialness that can be between brothers.
I do not know a lot of brother to brother relationships that are close and call each other friends. I am sure they are out there and it can happen.
Siblings can be such a special gift. They are the people that can say they have known you all your life… the good, bad and ugly. It isn’t a obligation to like your sibling… sometimes loving them can be even harder.
I am forever encouraging the boys to “love each other” “be kind to each other” “treat your brothers as you would your friend…”
Yet I realize that some people and personalities click while others just can’t pretend to like each other.
I am blessed with a brother, that despite his crazy eccentric self is family that I LIKE and LOVE.