Siblings!!

I have one brother. We are three years apart. When he was born I was so excited. I thought my mom had him just so I could have a live baby doll. As we grew up there were times that he was a royal pain but now we are best friends and I can't imagine not having him as my brother! I am so thankful for his love and concern and prayers. Even though we are 1200 miles apart we keep in touch and I wouldn't trade him for anyone else!

I now have 2 children (the top picture) and they are only 22 months apart. They got along really well when they were little. There were a few trials as we went through the teen years but now that my oldest has been off to college one year it is neat to see how well they get along.

The bottom two pictures are girls from our church that are siblings. I love watching them interact with each other. I know I don't see them 24/7 in their homes and I'm sure there is some rivalry but these sisters love each other and it shows.

This topic came to my mind because of the series that we are going through right now in church on Sunday nights. Our pastor has been preaching on the life of Joseph out of Genesis. He had eleven brothers. His father showed him favor and his brothers hated him.

Genesis 37:3-4

 "Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors.

 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him."

His brothers hated him so much that they threw him in a pit and sold him. He led a very different and difficult life as we read about him working for Potiphar but then ending up in jail.

Genesis 39:1-4, 19-21

And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.

And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.

 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

 But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison."

But even when he was in jail the Lord used him and he eventually became second in command in Egypt and was the one who saved Israel from starvation during the seven year drought. Even through the anger of his brothers the Lord used it all for good in Joseph's life.

Genesis 45:4

"And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt,"

Genesis 50:20

"But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."

Thankfully those brothers were able to reconcile and God used all the circumstances for good in the end.

There are times that if you have siblings they may annoy you but as we live one day at a time we need to love our siblings. We are not promised tomorrow and there may not be time to fix a broken relationship. Some of you may have siblings that you are estranged from or they may not be saved. Pray for them and ask the Lord to open the door for you to talk to them. There is nothing more wonderful in a family then to have siblings that enjoy each other and get along and love each other.

"To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time."

~Clara Ortega