Big brother, big lessons on faith and family

When I had gotten off the phone with the doctor, I told my older brother Michael that our mother needed to come home from the party she was at. Then I told him the doctors in Boston had received an organ donor that matched our mother's blood type, and that there was a healthy liver for her. Then I cried in his arms.

Some people say that having brothers is a pain, that they are always bothering you, picking on you, or getting you in trouble. We must be the exception to the rule.

Throughout my life, my brother has been my best friend. He's always had so much patience with me. Never has he been mean or cruel to me. He is always showing me the ropes and setting the best example he can for me. Everything he does seems to be for me! With a brother like that, how can anyone complain?

It was during my mother's illness that my brother really became an essential to my faith. He has taught me things that one must understand in order to live life to its fullest. When my mom was diagnosed with a rare auto-immune disease, Michael was there to show me that faith is what keeps us going. He said, without faith, you wouldn't trust that God will make everything turn out all right.

After my mother's liver transplant, he was there to point out that God does everything for a reason and that what does not conquer us makes us stronger. Most importantly, Michael has made faith a belief for me, even without tangible proof.

Michael practices faith in quiet ways. Going to church every Sunday is important to him, but not a big deal. He always obeys our parents, whether he wants to or not. He has always been respected by his peers. For me, this proved the golden rule: Do under others as they would do unto you. By giving his respect to them, they returned their own.

All his actions have played a big part in the discovery of my own faith and determined what my own actions will be.

The eight years of wisdom that Michael has over me have been shared very unselfishly. All of the little life lessons my brother has given me have stayed in my mind and in my heart.

(11-05-98) [[In-content Ad]]