Do you ever wish you could take a vacation from being yourself?
I certainly do. And it’s most often when I look into the mirror of the most important people in my life, and see their acute awareness of my shortcomings.
But when the person who knows you best loves you anyway, that’s a pretty clear picture of God’s love, isn’t it?
And while God certainly does use my siblings to show me what’s in my heart, He also uses them to encourage me. As each younger brother and sister grows into adulthood, they develop traits that I look up to.
One sees right through me, and challenges me to be honest with myself; another has cried for me when in moments when I couldn’t cry for myself. I’m spurred by the self-discipline of one, and encouraged by another’s willingness to trust God when He doesn’t seem to make sense.
They out-sing, out-read, out-draw, and yes, out-drive me. (Not to mention suggesting great article ideas like this one).
The Bible says we’re supposed to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” My younger sisters and brothers do it, just by being themselves.
Though the age difference matters less and less these days, I haven’t forgotten the feelings of awe and wonder each time God sent a new person into our family. Though my role as an older sister now consists mostly of lots of listening, peppered with prayer, I still remember when I used to rock them, read to them, and help them learn to read.
I like to think that being an older sibling puts me in the sweet spot between peer and parent, with the best of both worlds: self-forgetful protectiveness on one side, and close companionship on the other.
So when my editor reminded me that Jesus is our elder brother…
I had an idea of just how much we are loved.
Just as the school year is ending, the Spanish broom begins blooming in Jerusalem. All the rest of the year, it looks like a giant pine tassel, but now that it’s summertime, its scrawny branches push out fragrant yellow blossoms all over the place.
Elisabeth Adams 