Encourage Me: Sister, Sister

In the last couple months, I’ve been clearing out an army-green metal container (owned by my late brother, Jimmy) of the cards, letters, and writing (done as a teenager and younger man) that have been collecting for years.

Why leave this for my wife (or daughter) to clear out after I’m gone. (They wouldn’t be able to make clear decisions in a time of grief as to their importance to me during my life.) I’ve found a lot of great articles that I have already revised for inclusion on my blog. (Be on the lookout for these gems from my past).

In this mass of written memorabilia was a, non-enveloped, undated birthday card (by Gibson Greetings) with a stone gray background accented in sparkly silver and sky blue colors. The card was from my sister and brother-in-law. My guess (at best) is that it may have been celebrating my thirtieth (or fortieth) birthday.

The sentiment on the front of the card states, “We haven’t always been as close as we are today. When we were kids, we had our share of squabbles. I guess we were pretty typical for a brother and sister. But, somehow, we got older; we discovered something special about each other.”

Inside the card and above the personal greeting from my sister (that made me smile), was the conclusion of the card’s sentiment. “We discovered that we really cared about each other that we liked being together – that it was fun to share the things we did.

We became friends. And you know what? I like it that way. So on your birthday, I just want to thank you – not only for being a great brother, but for being a friend, and a very important part of my life.”

Below that was this personalization:”Robert, I hope you have a great birthday, you old man! I love you very much!!! Love, Kim & Charlie” If that wasn’t enough to make me cry, also included in the card was a yellow wide-ruled piece of paper in my sister’s handwriting (that was a familiar recognition). Neither she nor I is certain if it was created by her (or someone else).

“Thank you for being my friend. When things are confused, I discuss them with you until they make sense. When something good happens, you are the first person I tell so I can share my happiness.

When I don’t know what to do in a situation, I ask your opinion and weigh it heavily with mine. When I’m lonely, I call you because I never feel alone with you.

When I have a problem, I ask you for help because your [wisdom] helps me to solve it. When I want to have fun, I want to be with you because we have such a great time together. When I want to talk to someone, I always talk to you because you understand me.

When I want the truth about something, I call you because you are so honest. It’s so essential to have you in my life. Thank you for being my friend.”

Proverbs 7:4 of the Easy-to-Read Version Bible (ERV) admits, “Treat wisdom like the woman you love and knowledge like the one dearest to you.”

The International Children’s Bible (ICB) identifies the cherished woman above in their translation of that same verse. “Be good to wisdom as if she were your sister. Make understanding your closest friend.”

It is important to realize that real wisdom should be valued highly (like a treasured person or pet), and never to become insignificant. Matthew 7:6 (MSG) puts a meaningful clarification on the above.

“Don’t be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don’t reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you’re only being cute and inviting sacrilege.”

P.S. In my eyes, a sibling relationship connects to the vow made in a marriage ceremony of “’til death do us part.” Often, I don’t think even death can emotionally sever that friendship. My sister and I will never forget our missing brother. (Neither Kim or I wants to ever fail to remember everything about him either.)