Who Do I Appreciate?

My big brother, that's who. All right...all my brothers are my big brother. I'm the baby. And they will get their turn. But today I'm sending out a "I love you" to my brother, Kevin.

See how thrilled he was to pose with his little sis?!

The poor guy was eight when I came along and took over the house. Until then he had been the cute one with the little round face and big black glasses...so adorable. Then I crashed the party. But he repaid me by giving me my very first present...a lovely case of the chicken pox. I was only fourteen days old. Thanks A Lot, bro.


He taught me a lot too...like how to avoid a rubber band shooting straight at one's head, how to wash mud out of an eye when suffering a direct hit by a mud ball, the most effective method of capturing Grandma's attention when stuck in a room where the doorknob has conveniently gone missing, and how to lay very still so someone eight years older than you can ride his bike over your stomach area.


But in his defense, he did hand me down his prized Batman costume. I finally gave it back this past year, hard to let go of. I loved that costume! He took me to my first movie. He was my defender when a boy broke my heart. And he invited me over for meals during my college years.


But why write this touching tribute now? It's not even his birthday. It's because Friday he gave me another very special gift...security. He reached over and held my hand during my Aunt's funeral. How did he know I needed human touch? How did he know that his strong hand covering mine would give me such strength? That's just the kind of big brother he is. And that's why I appreciate my brother today.


What about you? Who do has been there for you lately?