You know how people usually sit in the same place during their church service. Well, my husband and I have claimed a pew a few rows behind the youth group which sits on the left side of the church, right up front, facing whoever is teaching, This Sunday I could not help but notice that there was a younger boy sitting with the junior high/high school students. What caught my eye was that the younger boy snuggled up to an older one, and once in awhile the younger boy would plant a kiss on his cheek. For this sign of affection the younger boy would receive a slight shove from the older boy’s arm. It wasn’t a deterrent. I concluded that these boys must be brothers and later confirmed that by asking another student.

I think the reason I was distracted was because when I was seventeen I accidentally discovered that I wasn’t an only child. I had an older brother who had been put in an orphanage before I was born. Since then I often wondered what it would have been like to be raised with him, especially since he was only a year older than I. Would he view me as a pest, tease me, try to avoid me or protect me, take an interest in me, perhaps hang out with me.?

In this week’s Bible study I came across a description of the perfect older brother, Jesus Christ. (Revelation 3:14-21)

He is faithful and provides me with a true description of our Father. (v.14) He has known me since birth. (v.14) Actually, He knew me while I was still in my mother’s womb. (Jeremiah 1:5a) He wants to fellowship with me but will not force Himself on me. (v.20) And the most amazing fact is that He is not greedy or jealous. He wants to share the position our Father has given to Him with me. (v.21)

My curiosity is satisfied. I search no longer. I do know what it is like to have the perfect older brother in my life. He was there for many years but I didn’t recognize Him in that role. Now that I do, may I learn to express my love and adoration in the way the younger boy did to his brother in church. One thing is for sure. I’ll never be pushed away.