Once Upon a Time...

...there was this little boy who dreamed of being a big brother. With eager anticipation, the thought bubble above his head contained images of wrestling matches in the yard, endless touch football games and Transformer-inspired battles with plastic figurines. In the little boy's mind, a brother evened the score...providing an additional man for his team in the child versus parent arena. Clad in matching jerseys they would present a united front when tackling the tough issues like bedtime, brushing of teeth and trying suspicious foods.

And the day finally came when a little brother was placed in his arms and, although the little boy was elated, those thought-bubble images seemed out of reach. "This small person cannot do anything for himself," he thought. "How can we be a team? he can't even hold his head up." Although he'd never admit it, a thin wave of disappointment washed over his mind. It would be a long, long time before he truly got to be a big brother.

Or so he thought.

Day by day, he helped his Mom and Dad take care of this littlest of people that had entered their lives. Whether fetching the diapers or speaking softly to the baby in the sweetest of tones, his role suddenly became clear. "I don't have to be able to play with him in order for us to be brothers," he mused. It was then that he realized that he could be a big helper and, along the way, show him love that only a big brother can show.

And so it happened. Little by little, a bond was being formed. The little boy who dreamed of being a big brother was doing a fine job in his new role and the admiration in the big blue eyes of his little brother grew more evident with each smile and each coo he uttered in return.

One night at dinner, the big brother was eating his meal and heard the cry of the little brother in the adjoining room. Without hesitation, he dropped his fork and ran in and gently replaced the pacifier that had fallen from the baby's lips. The crying ceased and, with uplifted shoulders and a sense of accomplishment, the big brother returned.

"That's what big brothers are for, Mom," he proudly declared.

And his Mom smiled a great big smile as one happy tear rolled down her cheek.


Whoever loves his brother lives in the light,
and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.
~1 John 2:10