Oh Brother...

Next week will be my younger brother's  41st Birthday.  I was thinking about him and how much time has flown by since we were little tikes running around the church parsonages we lived in growing up in Texas and Louisiana.  Scott was born in Wharton, TX is 6'2" and has blonde hair and blue eyes.  The complete opposite of me.  We were very different in personalities growing up.  The one thing we did share in common, was church and always having people watch every move you make.  We did a lot of wonderful things, growing up together, but our relationship wasn't without conflict.  I was considered, 'little miss perfect' to him and that met with many arguments and much drama.  Our relationship was quite tumultuous.  I didn't really consider us very close because of our differences.  As time went by and we both moved on with our lives, we worked together at times and then we went our separate ways.  There were moments where we loved each other so much we would hurt anyone who tried to come between us.  Then there were times when we couldn't stand being in the same room together and wouldn't speak for months.  


Our lives have experienced many ups & downs, together, as well as, separately.  I must confess, my roller coaster of emotions with my brother have ranged from anger, hurt, pain, love, compassion and every other feeling that is possibly known to man.  


The one thing that I have learned, as I'm maturing in life, is how to appreciate the GREATNESS of my brother, and not the things that irritate me.  My brother is truly a GREAT Man.  I've seen him with his sons and I've watched how he has been such a wonderful Father to them.  He loves his sons and would do anything for them.  My brother, is a GREAT Son.  He has a special bond with my Mom.  He was the only one in the house that could get away with ANYTHING and didn't get his mouth washed out with soap...lol.  Mom always had a 'sweet spot' for him, and he always knows how to make her laugh and still blush.  Scott's bond with my Dad is also very unique, in that, they can sit and discuss the 'deep' things of the Bible for hours.  My brother has such a keen memory of the past it is eerily scary.  He remembers people, places, events, dates....you name it!  He'll bring up memories from over 25 years ago and just amaze me at his accuracy of  that event.  He is a GREAT uncle.  My kids, love Uncle Scott.  He has irritated them and made them laugh all at the same time.  He never meets a stranger and is never without words.  The unique comic side to him is astounding!  My brother is one of the funniest people I have ever known.  He is handsome, dedicated, comedic, faithful, spiritual, supportive, loving but most of all he is my Brother.  He's defended me so many times, even when I wasn't aware.  


Life has truly been a rough road for him, but the thing I appreciate the most is the fact, he's not given up.  You know, someone you love may not always choose the road you pick for them or live their life the way you think they should.  However, it is their life and not yours.  It is their way!  I've learned to do what the Bible says....'shut up and march'!  God uses different people in different ways.  We may be completely different in a lot of ways, but we share the same blood line and I Love my brother VERY much!  I am proud of his determination to fight for his life!  


Choose today to focus on the positives of loved ones in your life, and not the negatives.  Sometimes we have a tendency to be harder on those that are closer to our lives than we are with those we don't even know.  I don't know why that is, but we should extend the same grace & mercy.  We are not perfect, so we should not expect our loved ones to be perfect.  Embrace the POSITIVE and focus on the GREAT attributes of your loved ones.  Sometimes you are the very key that is needed for their recovery.  I'm guilty of not always being there for my loved ones, but I'm trying to change that in my life now.  I'm not perfect but I'm always trying to be better.  Choose LOVE for those who need you.  If you've pushed family members away because you disagree with their choices in life, make a decision to change.  Life is too short to carry grudges and harbor bad feelings.  You don't have to agree with them, but you do need to love them and extend God's hand of mercy.