If you asked me about my brother, now, I would tell you that he is one awesome guy...He's funny, caring, and has a great heart...He loves God, he strives to do what God is leading him to do, although he struggles with "what" exactly it is. He is the type of guy that would give you the shirt off of his back if you needed it and I know that he's helped a lot of people out money-wise, even when he might have been needing the money himself. I'm not seeking praises for my brother, just super proud that he's grown into a giving and selfless person.
He has gone through a divorce this year and through this, I have seen him grow and mature in ways that I never imagined. What doesn't kill us only makes us stronger, I have always heard. I know that he still struggles with all that happened, but I do think that he's come out of it a stronger person. It is amazing to see how God is working in his life...he's going on a mission trip to Haiti soon and I am super excited to see how this experience shapes him, because I know it will!!!
The past few months, I have talked to my brother more than I probably have the past few years. We have talked about our childhood, our fears, our future, our hopes, and everything else it seems like! I treasure the conversations we have had and have learned so much about him. My brother is a pretty good writer. He has read me some poems and some things out of his journals that I would have never thought would have come from the boy that I used to chase around the house with a broom! He is a very deep thinker and is a lot like me in the fact that he always tries to seek the deeper meaning in things.
The other day, he told me that I was "the new Granny," which almost made me cry. Our Granny was his confidant, his friend, and the one and only person that he always knew he could turn to, who would pray for him, talk to him, and encourage him, without passing judgement on him. I know that I am a long ways away from having her Biblical knowledge and from being half the woman she was, but that, honestly, was one of the best compliments I could ever receive. It would be nice if more people could be like my Granny - encourage and support - without being judgmental or biased. Sometimes, the people that "should" be the ones who encourage are the ones that we feel like are constantly beating us down and discouraging us.
I remember a day that I would rather pull out my fingernails, one by one, with a pair of pliers before I would say that I loved my brother, but now, I am proud to say that I do love him...He's a great guy and I am blessed and thankful to have him as my little brother!!!
