I WILL BE MY BROTHERS KEEPER

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=m5Npnsag5nQ

 

I love my siblings, thankyou for all that you have always done for me. You are bricks in my foundation. .:)

I was blessed in this life with 3 brothers, 2 are older than me and 1 have one that is younger. My parents had 5 children the eldest being my sister and then us four guys. I was 3rd out of 4 boys.

My second brother and I are Irish twins and are separated by only 9 months.

We as younger brothers had our typical stuff we rumbled, wrestled  and whacked each other. We  took the house apart as we raced the hallway skidding and tackling one another. It was liked the wild west early on. My mom and dad did what they needed to and got the reigns on all of us very early on.. My mom was not a shrinking violet. She was as smart as a whip and had a true second sense. She knew and felt anything regarding her entire family. She would often say, I don’t know, I have a funny feeling. One night my brother went out and  when he returned early in the am around 2 ish  my brother no sooner quietly came in the rear door but my mom said S. Are you okay what happened? She had woken up and knew he had an accident with her car. She just always knew stuff.

At times it was difficult to be her kid because she was so darn intuitive. 🙂 thank God for my mom .

My brothers and I are All different and yet we are all the same. God’s design for families is perfect despite our imperfections. You know, It is said that you can pick your friends but you cannot pick your family.

I do not think that this  is a sentiment that applies to my brothers and sister or for yours either. Sure there were times in my younger days that I may of felt that way  to a certain degree. They are as imperfect as I am  so why should there not be a little conflict?

As we get older and hopefully wiser we grow and get more comfortable in our own skin at that point sibling rivalry can find a back seat to the true sibling relationship.

You know young guys so often wear masks. We cover up our feelings and act cool even though inside we are filled with fear, doubts and insecurity. As 1 out of 4 boys in my home in that day, we were all different with different likes and abilities. So at times one boy out shined the others. In time each one of us boys had our own moments in the sun as we learned what it was that we excelled at.

All the while my mom and dads support and guidance would keep us in check. They demanded for us to respect and not to degrade one another. They had zero tolerance for that nonsense.

My parents complimented us when it was justified but did not give false praise. My mom and dad knew that we could not all get the same awards and trophy. Some made the honor roll some did not. My mom and dad did not apologize for celebrating one siblings award if we too did not receive it. That’s was life. We had to deal with that.

You know that type of upbringing was very healthy. As we got older the true green monster of jealousy and competition between us stayed in a very healthy place. My brothers and I were all involved at one point in a family business that the four of us purchased and we had  many good years together in. The best part of that business though not perfect was creating a start up with my brothers. my parents hard work paid off as they watched their boys work in unison to make a dream come true. It was in that moment that each one of used our different strengths and combined them to make 1 very beautiful,professional , and consumer satisfaction based family business.

John Lennon

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=oxphDGam5Rw

Each one shined with their own gifts. We all lined up and ego and competition did not rule the day. These are moments that I will always cherish.

Over the years my younger brother decided that he had realized another dream for himself and he moved on from the business, we had grown substantially and he frankly was tired of doing his daily job.

The bottom line is this, families need to support one another. I know its hard when your younger to see and appreciate this fact  but if you can it will make the adult years together all the better. And, as you then have the next generation of family members they too can learn lessons from watching how you relate to your siblings.

LEAN ON ME.

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=N5jlPL1tNDY

When I became ill with cancer it was a true shocker here  in this house and all of my families home too. I was absolutely a massive doer.My feet and hands never stopped. I was everywhere doing stuff for everybody. I would hit the bed and fall asleep and would awake in the morning with no alarm and get out of bed with a song in my heart to start the day.

When, I could no longer be me 3 years ago, my song and life  lost its beat and my family and friends became my new song.

My brothers and my sister who I will write about soon just started a new song for me one of love, compassion and understanding. They knew Danny the sibling well because they had been part of my personal psalm #139 . They are part of the fabric of my life.

There has been nothing that they have not done here at my home from huge amounts of yard work, painting,  repairs, cleaning etc. They know how I lived and how things bother me. My dad’s very fussy even at the age of 87 . I am the same as my dad in that regard.

My family has driven me hundreds if not thousands of miles for treatments, mystery rides to get me/us out. If I looked kind of ratty or they thought it would perk me up they shopped with their coupons and got me things that they thought would make things nice. My sister was doing shopping at stores for all natural foods for me to have to build my immune system up.

My sister in law called and she showed up to remove my hair that was falling out from the treatment. I never asked, I was just cleaning the hair strainer in the shower and cleaning the hair up off of the bathroom floor . But, she thought it would be better and N was right. By us removing the hair it took the power of that side effect away. It became my choice.

I will continue with this soon.

I WILL BE THERE

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=Xg2vMrDzoXM