Brothers and Sisters

I had planned to share a funny story with you today. However, it is Valentine's Day. I figure some thoughts on love are appropriate.

My older brother, Davey, tells a story about how he used to convince me trade him my dollars for his three quarters. Supposedly, I thought I was really getting a good deal. I just remember learning WWF moves from him and looking for the green eyed ghost he promised lived in the attic of Nanny's house.

I had a bit of an odd sibling situation growing up. I was raised as an only child on and off yet I have one brother and three sisters. I share a mom with two of them and a dad with two of them. Needless to say, none of us have a typical sibling relationship. Here's the crazy thing... sometimes, I am so stinkin' overwhelmed with love for each of them. Something will strike a heart string and all I can do is feel that love. Sometimes, I am moved to tears, sometimes to joy, and sometimes to prayer. All I know is that God has put a crazy love in my heart for them.

Now, I can't really imagine what it is like for those of you who have siblings who were raised together. You guys know each other inside and out. Some of you do the same habits and ticks and talk alike and even look alike. Some of you are so opposite and drive each other crazy. Many of you have gone through great times and hard times together. I'm sure you can't imagine what life would be like without your siblings. I bring all that up because, you must also have a crazy love for your siblings.

Have you ever watched a brother and sister love each other? It is one of the most special things in the world. A few weeks ago, I was in my room rushing to put some makeup on. I had Heath in his high chair. I asked Heidi to give him his bottle while I got ready. Within moments, Heidi began to laugh the purest belly laugh. It was so loud and boisterous... glee. I peaked around the corner to see what was going on. She was laughing at Heath. She said that he was squirting his milk. I went back into my room and just soaked up the beautiful sound of her laughing with her baby brother. The world stopped for a moment. I thought about how they will argue one day and I want to remember that day, the day they made each other so happy. I though about how Heidi has loved her new brother from day one and has chosen to never be jealous of him. She loves him so deeply. And, he stops what he is doing if he hears her voice and heads to find her. When she bounces in the room, he smiles with true delight. He loves her with all the love he has to give. Seeing my children love each other, brings a deep sense of pleasure and joy to my heart.

I have a hunch the sibling relationship is close to the heart of God. I believe He set it up to reflect the way our world is supposed to be... the way He intends us to love each other. We are His children. In John 13:34-35 Jesus says to His followers, "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." God's heart is flooded with joy when we love each other. Ya know, He never askes anything of us that isn't good for us in the long run. If we choose to take Him up on this and love the people around us, we too will find that deep sense of pleasure... the moment when everything in the world is right. So today, let's do some little things to love our "brothers and sisters."

Why Dive?

Isn't diving an incredible feeling? I think of the days when I first learned to dive. Don't you remember smacking your face on the water? Or, crippling with fear right before you went in only to cause you to to a belly flop or some other quirky move? After some practice, you got your head tucked and your arms nicely pointed and leading the way in. I remember how the cold water would always shock my senses and then, I was completely caught up in something other than myself -- surrounded by water. I have always found the water to be a freeing place.

I was on the swim team for years. I can still see the morning sun reflecting on the bottom of the city pool (Which is now torn down. Does that mean I'm getting old?). It totally captivated my attention. I can still imagine watching the wake my hands would make when gliding during breast stroke. And, doing "aquaman" (swimming like a dolphin underwater) to help get the rhythm of butterfly and build endurance... that was the highlight of practice! I still love doing that.

When I'm under the water, I'm in another world. A world where I am not in control of anything around me. I've grown to love rivers and oceans even more than pools. Have you ever swam against the current? We can't make it too far can we? Ya know, in a strong current we can swim as hard as we can and not even move. What about out in the ocean? Have you ever gotten way out there then, get a little freaked out to be carried up the coast a ways? And, fighting it gets you no where. Water is powerful. To be carried by a force that is so much greater than me, a force I can not change, is freeing!

What about when you're at the river or the ocean and you put your goggles on. There's so much more going on underneath that we would never see if we didn't look! I remember seeing a little jellyfish float right under me. Have you seen a school of those small shiny silver fish cutting back and forth following the current? And, one time I found a bed of sand dollars. How could I forget the sunglasses and five dollar bill at the river! Needless to say, every time I put goggles on and look underneath, I see something cool that I would never see from above the water.

I believe everything in life is a parallel, in some way, to our relationship with God. I can think I'm in control but, I really am not. He is. And when I let go, I'm free! Then, when I stop to look deeper at what's going on, I find treasures everywhere.

Just think, none of it happens without the dive. God is good!

Thanks for reading. You're invited back anytime to read some stories and perspective from my life.