I am worn out’ It is the end of summer and the sibling relationship between my two boys has left me nearly exhausted. The routine of school is coming and none too soon.
They must have set a record this year. Surely they have disagreed more times than ever before. I have refereed, stepped aside and been stepped on enough times to earn some award for patience (and maybe a penalty for occasional impatience).
More than once, I have wondered why our Heavenly Father, who knows us through and through, would have arranged for the believers to be brothers and sisters. Best friends would seem to be a more admirable, workable relationship.
One reason must be because of His relationship with us. We are His children and children in the same family are siblings whether they like it or not.
But look how they behave with each other! It is not always a pretty picture. They often find fault and don’t hesitate going straight at the other with their complaints. Sometimes they hash out their differences with words, but other times it gets physical. Yet, in the next breath they have called a truce and have joined in reasonable harmony.
By the time they reach adulthood, they will hopefully have put childish things behind them and will find real comfort in one another. There can be great comfort in the shelter of a sibling’s love. It is a relationship full of common experiences and common standards instilled by common parents and a common heritage. It is full of knowledge, growth and love — a relationship that accepts and demands more than that of friendship.
Only our Heavenly Father would recognize that a brother-sister love is what we should be seeking. He knows that with time and patience we can grow to put childish things behind us and recognize each other’s strengths and tolerate the weaknesses. He wants us to be more than just friends.
Even as children, brothers and sisters are protective of each other. Even though they severely disagree, they guard each other from dangerous situations, drawing on a great pool of love that exists. We have watched while friends are pushed aside in defense of a sibling.
Keeping these things in mind, let us, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.”
Submitted by M.C.
It is in the order of God that persons of varied temperament should associate together. When this is the case, each member of the household should carefully regard the feelings and the rights of the others. By this means mutual consideration and forbearance will be cultivated, prejudices will be softened, and rough points of character smoothed. Harmony may be secured, and the blending of the varied temperaments may be a benefit to each other.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One