Even though sometimes it may not seem like it, the siblings that God has given us are really and truly a blessing. The older I get, more I realize and am thankful for my brothers and sister.

  Being the oldest of four (soon to be five!) children has given me an opportunity to influence lives that I never would have had otherwise. As sisters, we have such an amazing chance to build up and encourage our siblings in the Lord. As homeschoolers, we are with our siblings much more than “normal” people are. Thus, we have a greater opportunity to influence them for the good.

 So many times in the society that we live in now, brothers and sisters can’t stand to be around each other.  They grow up in the same house, but never really get to know each other. In essence, they are strangers that live together and have the same last name. They don’t know what each other wants out of life, or what matters to them, they are just pesky little people that are in their way.

 I have noticed that self is a large part of the problem. By nature, we further our own interests above others.  As stated many times in the Scripture, this is opposite to God’s plan. We are supposed to place others and other’s best interests above ourselves and serve others wholeheartedly and without a martyr’s attitude.

 Something that I have tried to do is to bless my siblings. Sometimes it is as simple as listening (patiently and interestedly) to a story you may have already heard five times, or helping them with a math problem. Doing little things, listening, helping them, all of these are very big deals to little people. Something that I have tried to bless both of my brothers is before church I ask them if they need something ironed. Usually they do, and it saves my Mom from having to do it. Just letting your siblings know that you care and are interested in their lives will make a big difference.

 I must be blatantly honest with you for a moment.  My relationship with my youngest brother hasn’t been where it needs to be.  I was very impatient with him and “just wished he would act his age.” Then I realized that he was acting his age, and that I should start acting mineJ. I began to pray and ask God to help me with how I dealt with him. I started trying to be more patient with him, not flying off the handle when he was being “precious” and moving to another room if necessary to avoid conflict.

 I started looking for other ways to “win” his heart. For example: one day Mom and the other two kids went to run errands and left little brother #2 and myself alone. He had some school to finish up and I needed to do one or two things. I went to my room after Mom left and left Pat to finish his school at the kitchen table.

  I went to my room and was straightening up, and out of nowhere, the thought dropped in my mind “Do something for Pat.” Now, I know better than to think that thoughts come from nowhere, so I said back “What?”

 Long story short, I ended up slipping a piece of some of my Christmas chocolate by Patric’s school book and told him it was to help him with Math.

 I’m not saying that it has been east to murder self and place my will on the altar. Oh no! Neither am I saying that my relationships with my siblings are where they need to be. Sometimes it is so tempting just give up and snap at my siblings and lose all the ground that I have gained through Christ. Building relationships is something that has to be worked on everyday.

  But I am beginning to reap the rewards of building my relationship with my little brother. Patric has brought me coffee in bed several times and has begun to really strive to open doors for me and let me go first. He is my milking buddy and we are really beginning to enjoy our early morning conversations as we milk.

I have noticed that the more I do for him, the more he does for me. And the more he does for me, the more I enjoy doing for him. 

   It isn't always easy to put someone else before you (especially  if it seems like they delight in aggravating you and getting you riled up), but it is worth it and it will bring us closer together, and closer to God.