Erma Bombeck describes a family so well when she says, “The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another’s desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.”
The love of siblings is one that is both hard and easy. Just like Bombeck says we are “inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending…” My two younger brothers and I fight a lot. But when one of us are in trouble the other two are always the first ones there to fix the problem, defend one another, to bring a smile or a good laugh. Out of the two Austin is the easiest to love. We are the closest in age and the farthest apart in personality.
Austin is a peacemaker; I am I fighter. He is problem solver; I am a problem maker. But the characteristic I love most about Austin is that he is selfless; I am selfish. Whenever he has something I want, 90% of the time he will give it to me. The other 10% of the time, he will split it with me.
I remember when we were little; I was about 6 Austin was about 4, there was only one Little Debbie treat left. My mom unwrapped it and gave it to me with instructions that I was to share it with my brother. I sat there and ate bite after bite after bite, not once giving Austin a taste. He sat there quietly, never asking for some, never screaming to my mom that I was not sharing, he just sat there and watched the Little Debbie grow smaller and smaller with each bite I took. I kept eating, I came to the last bite and handed the little piece to Austin, he looked at me and said “thank you sissy”, and that’s when mom walked in. She soon realized that the only bite I had given my brother was that last little bit. She asked Austin if I had shared, Austin looked up at her with that last bite still in his hand and said, “yes mama” and lifted the piece up to show her. She scolded me and I knew that I had not been nice to him. Mom told me that she was going to buy Austin a whole box of treats and I was not going to get one, and I would have to sit next to him and watch him eat them each time. I screamed and cried and pitched the biggest fit. The selfless boy that he is came up to me and said, “It’s ok sissy, and I’ll share with you.” Now, 13 years later that is the same attitude he carries. He does not only have this attitude toward our family but toward every person he meets. He wakes up at 3:30am once a month to go help feed homeless people, while I stay in bed and sleep until the last possible second. He parks the car when it rains and pumps the gas when it’s cold. I have been trying for years to somehow learn this selflessness he carries and I have come nowhere near to perfecting it the way he does. But he is not the only one who looks out for me and my needs and my wants. My youngest brother looks after me too, but in a much different way. Adam plays the part of the protector.
Although he is 4 years younger than I am, Adam acts as if he is the older one. Always looking out for me, always making sure I am going to be ok. He always insists he does things first to make sure its safe for me. Even when I wish I could experience something first I know that he is just looking out for me. I know that he would much rather end up with the broken arm or busted lip that to let me go through those pains. When we built a ramp to ride our bikes over he went first, and came out with a busted mouth, bruised hands, and scrapped knees. When we ride the 4-wheeler; he goes first to make sure it’s running right. When we are eating something new for the first time, he tastes it first to see if I will like it. He is always looking out for me, always putting himself on the front line so I don’t have to.
I remember he was in Kindergarten, I was in 4th grade, and we were walking home from school. A boy from my class who caused all types of trouble rode his bike up right next to us and started poking fun at me. Still walking along Adam looks at this boy and says, “Randy, leave her alone, go home.” As you may guess this caused more poking fun and just provoked Randy to keep talking. Adam walked over to Randy, pushed him over on his bike, and yelled “I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE HER ALONE AND GO HOME!!!” he then looked at me, “SISSY! RUN!” he looked back at Randy on the ground and said, “Don’t ever talk to her again.” He ran by me grabbed my hand and we ran home as fast as we could. Panting as we ran in the house my mom asked what was going on, I started to explain, “Well, you see, Randy was annoying me and,” my brother interjected, “Nothing happened, I took care of her and he won’t talk to her ever again” then he walked off like nothing had happened. From a young age he has been the protector. He, just like I am, is a fighter. He goes looking for fights and arguments. This has caused all of our fights with one another. We rip each other down and say the worst things to one another when we fight. But I know at the end of the day, if someone is mistreating me, Adam will be the first person to put him or her in his or her place. I am not looking forward to the day that a boy really breaks by heart, because I am 100% positive that that boy will have a fun encounter with Adam.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Do you have a minute?
To tell me your still there
Do you have a minute?
To tell me you still care
Do you have a minute?
To tell me you’re proud of what I've done
Do you have a minute?
To tell me you’re amazed at who I’ve become
You have 60 in an hour
You have 1,440 in a day
You have 10,080 in a week
You have 43,829 in a month
You have 525,948 in a year
Do you have a minute?
To pick up your phone
Do you have a minute?
To realize that I feel alone
I had a minute.
I had a lot of minutes
All the minutes it took for me to trust you
All the minutes it took for me to open up to you
All the minutes I talked to you about my hopes, dreams, fears, failures
I had a minute
Do you have a minute?
For me to tell you how mad I am at you
For me to tell you I still love you
For me to tell you how hurt I am because of you
For me to tell you I still trust you.
For me to tell you how unimportant you make me feel
For me to tell you that you may be the best thing that has ever happened to me
Do you have a minute?
Cause that’s all I’m asking for
Do you have a second?
To tell me you love me.
To tell me your still there
Do you have a minute?
To tell me you still care
Do you have a minute?
To tell me you’re proud of what I've done
Do you have a minute?
To tell me you’re amazed at who I’ve become
You have 60 in an hour
You have 1,440 in a day
You have 10,080 in a week
You have 43,829 in a month
You have 525,948 in a year
Do you have a minute?
To pick up your phone
Do you have a minute?
To realize that I feel alone
I had a minute.
I had a lot of minutes
All the minutes it took for me to trust you
All the minutes it took for me to open up to you
All the minutes I talked to you about my hopes, dreams, fears, failures
I had a minute
Do you have a minute?
For me to tell you how mad I am at you
For me to tell you I still love you
For me to tell you how hurt I am because of you
For me to tell you I still trust you.
For me to tell you how unimportant you make me feel
For me to tell you that you may be the best thing that has ever happened to me
Do you have a minute?
Cause that’s all I’m asking for
Do you have a second?
To tell me you love me.
Stop letting love pass you
What if we did what we were called to do? No questions asked. Just did it. No matter the cost. No matter how small or how big. Our lives are so busy its really the only time we have to stop and think is at night laying in bed, which is part of the problem. If we would slow our lives down we could hear HIS calling more often and be more compelled to do something about this calling. But by the time we realize what we were called to do each day the day is gone and we have missed our opportunity. People think that they have to be called to do something great. But what if we are called to help someone change their tire when your running late for a meeting. What if we are called to quit our job so we can go to church on Sundays? What if we are called to go play at the play ground and make friends who are 5 yrs younger than us so that they can have someone to look up to? You know that 20 something yr old girl who just brought you your food? Didn’t she just mention that she works 2 jobs goes to school and has a little girl at home? Why cant you leave her an extra $5 than you normally would and skip your trip for coffee in the morning? And you know that guy sitting outside the train station you walk past every morning on the way to work? You know he is cold. Why not tomorrow morning, bring him that jacket your mother-in-law gave you last Christmas that still has the tags on it, you have not worn it, its sitting in the closet so when she comes to your house she will see it and think you wear it. Put it to good use and give it to someone who might give up a weeks worth of food to have that jacket. Why is it so hard to just slow life down and see the little moments to show love.
The reason so many Christians miss their chance is because they are trying to fit into American mold and to caught up in trying to earn a buck to care, they miss everyday opportunities to show Gods love to people and then complain on Sundays that they don’t know how to spread the Love. OPEN YOUR EYES PEOPLE!
I am sick of going to bed at night and not being able to sleep because I cant get out of my head all the opportunities I missed to show Gods love. How maybe that $5 will give her little girl a new coloring book. But I was selfish. God makes it really clear that we are suppose to love others they way we love ourselves. “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). If I wanted a coloring book I would get me one. That little girl will want one. Why can I not bring myself to give the mother an extra $5 to get it.
Christians need to open their eyes and look around. People need help everyday in little ways. God works in the little things just as he does in the big things. I can’t keep letting the world fly by taking along with it all the chances to show love.
The reason so many Christians miss their chance is because they are trying to fit into American mold and to caught up in trying to earn a buck to care, they miss everyday opportunities to show Gods love to people and then complain on Sundays that they don’t know how to spread the Love. OPEN YOUR EYES PEOPLE!
I am sick of going to bed at night and not being able to sleep because I cant get out of my head all the opportunities I missed to show Gods love. How maybe that $5 will give her little girl a new coloring book. But I was selfish. God makes it really clear that we are suppose to love others they way we love ourselves. “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). If I wanted a coloring book I would get me one. That little girl will want one. Why can I not bring myself to give the mother an extra $5 to get it.
Christians need to open their eyes and look around. People need help everyday in little ways. God works in the little things just as he does in the big things. I can’t keep letting the world fly by taking along with it all the chances to show love.
MS
MS has made my life different than the life most kids experience. MS has made me grow up a lot faster than most kids have to. MS has made our family stronger than it would have been if my dad had not been diagnosed with it. I can’t say that I’m glad that my dad has MS, but I would not be the person I am today if he had not been diagnosed with it. MS has played a huge role in who I am as a person. It has made me stronger than I ever thought I would have to be.
When my dad was diagnosed with MS in May 2000, I was 9 years old. I felt like MS took away my chance of a having a typical relationship with my dad. Because of MS, my dad couldn’t do things such as going to the beach or anywhere that is hot. He also experienced mood changes. He was out of work for two years, which created even more stress. Those two years were the hardest years of my life. Because money was so tight, we had to live our lives very conservatively. We all had to decide to work together as a family and gather up a tremendous amount of patience and commitment to deal with the effects of this disease.
Because of those two years, I went to a different high school. Instead of going to the regular public school, I went to a small private high school at Wheaton Academy. Now, it sounds weird that I got to go to a private high school when money was already tight. However, because our money was so tight, my school was able to give us financial aid so that I could get a better education. Therefore, I was in a better environment surrounded with people who cared about me and my family, and they wanted to see me excel despite the troubles at home. The only reason I got to go to Wheaton Academy is because of MS. MS has taken away some things I wish I had, but I can say without a second thought that it has brought me the best thing that has ever happened to me in allowing me to attend Wheaton Academy.
I never realized how much of a blessing MS was until my sophomore year in high school. I was in bible class, and we were given an assignment where we were asked to share our faith journey. This basically included who we are and how we got here. When I put mine all together, it was your basic story. I was born and my parents took me to church every Sunday. I had to be very sick to skip church. I was saved in middle school, and now I’m living my life for Christ. That was my faith journey that I was going to share with everyone. I was talking to my teacher and going over how I was going to present it to the class a week before the project was due. After I was all finished explaining, my teacher looked me in the eye and told me something I will never forget. She said, “Allison, I know that story is true. I also know that’s not the whole story. You are way to mature of a Christian and person for that to be the whole story. I don’t know what has happened in your life, but I know it’s something big, and I know you’re scared to talk about it. Your story can change lives. Please share the whole story with us.” So that’s what I did. We sat there and I told her about my dad. I told her how scared I was of MS and how I hated talking about it because I didn’t want people to feel sorry for me. She then asked me to share it with the class for my project. I showed up to class a week later scared to death of what I was about to do. She called my name to present and I pulled out a needle that just the night before had medicated my dad, just like it does every week, and I shared my whole story. From that day on I have not been scared of MS. From that day on I realized that my story can change lives, and it can do it in a way with out people feeling sorry for me. I realized that the fact that my dad has MS makes me different, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have a chance to share a story not a lot of people have a chance to share. If it weren’t for my teacher, I don’t think I would have ever talked about it. That is just another way MS has blessed me. It put me in a school where people love me and where my teachers bring me to do what God has been pushing me to do. In that place, I am surrounded by love and not just any love: God’¬s love. If my dad did not have MS, I don’t know that I would have the strength and character that I possess today. For that reason, I’ve decided to look at how MS has blessed me in my life rather than it being something that has been an inconvenience. Through the hardships, I’ve learned that you have to take what is given to you in this life and make something of it. That’s exactly what I did and am still trying to do today.
When my dad was diagnosed with MS in May 2000, I was 9 years old. I felt like MS took away my chance of a having a typical relationship with my dad. Because of MS, my dad couldn’t do things such as going to the beach or anywhere that is hot. He also experienced mood changes. He was out of work for two years, which created even more stress. Those two years were the hardest years of my life. Because money was so tight, we had to live our lives very conservatively. We all had to decide to work together as a family and gather up a tremendous amount of patience and commitment to deal with the effects of this disease.
Because of those two years, I went to a different high school. Instead of going to the regular public school, I went to a small private high school at Wheaton Academy. Now, it sounds weird that I got to go to a private high school when money was already tight. However, because our money was so tight, my school was able to give us financial aid so that I could get a better education. Therefore, I was in a better environment surrounded with people who cared about me and my family, and they wanted to see me excel despite the troubles at home. The only reason I got to go to Wheaton Academy is because of MS. MS has taken away some things I wish I had, but I can say without a second thought that it has brought me the best thing that has ever happened to me in allowing me to attend Wheaton Academy.
I never realized how much of a blessing MS was until my sophomore year in high school. I was in bible class, and we were given an assignment where we were asked to share our faith journey. This basically included who we are and how we got here. When I put mine all together, it was your basic story. I was born and my parents took me to church every Sunday. I had to be very sick to skip church. I was saved in middle school, and now I’m living my life for Christ. That was my faith journey that I was going to share with everyone. I was talking to my teacher and going over how I was going to present it to the class a week before the project was due. After I was all finished explaining, my teacher looked me in the eye and told me something I will never forget. She said, “Allison, I know that story is true. I also know that’s not the whole story. You are way to mature of a Christian and person for that to be the whole story. I don’t know what has happened in your life, but I know it’s something big, and I know you’re scared to talk about it. Your story can change lives. Please share the whole story with us.” So that’s what I did. We sat there and I told her about my dad. I told her how scared I was of MS and how I hated talking about it because I didn’t want people to feel sorry for me. She then asked me to share it with the class for my project. I showed up to class a week later scared to death of what I was about to do. She called my name to present and I pulled out a needle that just the night before had medicated my dad, just like it does every week, and I shared my whole story. From that day on I have not been scared of MS. From that day on I realized that my story can change lives, and it can do it in a way with out people feeling sorry for me. I realized that the fact that my dad has MS makes me different, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have a chance to share a story not a lot of people have a chance to share. If it weren’t for my teacher, I don’t think I would have ever talked about it. That is just another way MS has blessed me. It put me in a school where people love me and where my teachers bring me to do what God has been pushing me to do. In that place, I am surrounded by love and not just any love: God’¬s love. If my dad did not have MS, I don’t know that I would have the strength and character that I possess today. For that reason, I’ve decided to look at how MS has blessed me in my life rather than it being something that has been an inconvenience. Through the hardships, I’ve learned that you have to take what is given to you in this life and make something of it. That’s exactly what I did and am still trying to do today.
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