BROTHERLY LOVE

Do you ever wonder how on earth your brothers & sisters came from the same family you did?  I am the baby of 3 – 2 older sisters – and it has always been fascinating to me how the 3 of us have completely different recollections of our childhoods. Last weekend I saw a short film following 4 siblings talking about growing up on the run. They lived in a LOT of different places - not knowing whether dad was alive – mom was in jail for a while – but the thing that was interesting was how each one focused on a different thing. 

THE BABY: She just remembered how dad called her beautiful.

YOUNGEST BOY: He recalled dad’s love of gardens.

NEXT OLDEST: Remembered how much dad loved boxing.

OLDEST: I think he had the hardest time reconciling why dad wasn’t there.  He said he would bury it, dig it up, and bury it again – and every time he did, he ripped out a piece of himself too.

That stunned me, but helped me realize that a lot of times, the oldest siblings carry more of the weight.  I can tell you I had similar struggles in my remembrance of childhood – and my relationship with my dad.  Honestly I always felt a little jealous that my sisters had more time at home when dad was there.

If you’ve have had those kind of struggles, I want you to know God can heal that. He can heal even your memories of what it was like.  I think that’s exactly the kind of thing Paul was talking about in Philippians 4 when he encouraged us to think on whatever is true, right, noble, pure & lovely.

Surrendering all of that to my heavenly Father, saved my relationship with my earthly father.