A Tribute

I come away from my recent trip with a keen awareness of a supernatural blessing on my life. I have been given a gift that few ever realize…a brother and a sister who share my dreams, accept my shortcomings, forgive my failures, love me without condition, and encourage me to be all that God created me to be. Our time together was a realization of a new phase in our lives. Gone are the labels of “older, middle, and younger, and in their place simply brothers and sister. This is significant because the labels come with expectations and baggage. I’ll never forget a Sunday night talk recently between the three of us that I believe will be the catalyst for an intimacy that exists between few siblings. God has given us something special. It has not been easy nor has it come naturally because the three of us have had to get crazy honest about our stuff with each other. There were lots and lots of tears and through it a kind of healing is emerging. This is a place that few families go. Things instead are left unsaid or just ignored. God has called us to something special…He gets the credit and we get the blessing. Kristin (I call her Kris) and Buddy are many things to many people but to me they are just my incredible siblings. How blessed am I?

Kristin is one of the bravest women I have ever known. Courage isn’t the absence of fear but instead moving forward in spite of your fear. She is a great daughter, wife, and mother but to me, she is first and foremost a great sister. She has a love for people (especially kids) that is unmatched. She battles fear and physical challenges…literally goes to war against them to be what God has called her to be. She blesses me like crazy. It’s almost embarrassing how proud she is of Buddy and me (but I still like it). Kris is a discerner. God has given her the gift to see through the facades that people project and see the truth. Most of all she is in love with Jesus. One of the things I admire most about her is the tender heart she has. With her “people radar” it would be easy to become cynical and jaded but she remains a “believer” that God’s best for you is still to come…I love you Sis.

Buddy is my brother. I get the privilege to know him like few others. He also is a great son, husband, and father but he was born to be a brother. He makes me believe in myself like no other person on this planet. He is so much to so many people, but to me he is just my bro. He continues to sharpen me and call me to be ALL that God created me to be. To think of how I would have just “settled” had God not created Buddy. My biggest dreams in life have taken shape out of long conversations with Bud. Buddy is the funniest member of our sibling trio. He keeps us all laughing. He is a gift to Kris and me. Buddy is a capital “L” leader, has a flare for the dramatic and is at his best when he is in “dreaming mode” (see Ephesians 3:20). With all the pain and betrayal that comes from running point at such a furious pace, Buddy continues to open his heart and life to others. I admire that. He is a daring innovator and a master communicator…I love you Bro.
For the rest of you let me ask you this…Do you work at the relationships you have with your siblings? Do you invest in them? Are you painfully honest with them? Don’t just settle for ordinary when extraordinary is possible.