Sooooooooooooooooooooo, my son had his second sleep over this year, last night, and it was tons of fun (well for them), for me it was tons of juice passing and cookie crumb sweeping but anything to make them happy right? lol!
They played all night and in the morning they woke up playing. My oldest son was the one that had the sleep over but my middle son follows everything that he sees his brother do so of course he was a participant in this fiesta. A few times he came to me crying because my oldest left him out or would not include him in some of the things that they were playing with. That annoyed me more than I wanted to admit for various reasons so at the last "Mommy, they don't want to play with me," I called him (the older son) into my room for a talk. I let him know that his younger brother was HIS responsibility and he had a responsibility to make him feel like he was his brother and he could play with anyone that he played with. He was to treat him the same, if not, BETTER, when he is around his friends because no one should ever have the opportunity to see him mistreat him because that would make them comfortable in doing that to his brother as well. His friends owed his brother nothing but to respect him because they should know that this is your brother and no matter what you would keep him safe at all times. He nodded in agreement but I knew that he understood but didn't quite understand.
Then it happened again.............
This time I called everyone to the living room and I said basically the same thing again but this time in front of all of them together: The accuser, the victim and the audience. (The accuser - the older brother, The victim - the younger brother and The audience - his friend).
See I had to make it plain to him in front of his friend that he was going to show his brother love and kindness no matter where they are or who he's with. That pertains to every aspect of their lives. I may not be able to be there all of their lives but for the time that I am there, I will teach them the best way that I can and I will show them the foundational principles of a successful life. Family is all that we have.
I was an only child growing up and so was their father. We both never had to share or went through sibling rivalry, etc, however, we both stand firm on the belief that they will grow close and stick together. Now, don't get me wrong, of course they have little sibling rivalry but they love each other but I also see that my oldest is coming into his own and they are 5 years apart so there are things that they will not be able to do together. The one thing that they will always have is EACH OTHER and they have to know that.
Its like what Christ taught us, to be there for our brothers and sisters, NO MATTER WHAT! No matter if we agree with them or not, or if they are wrong or right. Correct them behind closed doors but protect them at all cost. When He died on the cross for our sins, we were IN SIN and facing death but He took the "L"for us so that we might have life and that more abundantly. He kept us and He saved us. When your brother is down, do you build him up? Even if you cannot physically do it, do you pray for him? When your sister is being mocked or better yet lets talk about modern day stuff, when your sister is in the midst of the latest gossip, do you engage in the conversation or do you take a stand and walk away?? Do you tell them that you will not partake in this and cover her or do you laugh at whats being said? *Let that sink in*
If you've answered yes to any of that then its time to check your love walk, its time to practice not only what you may have preached but practice what you have been taught. Its time to take a stand for whats right and who's right. My oldest son may not fully understand right now why he has to do this but the next time he feels like mistreating his brother or even allowing someone else to do that he will remember my words and stand firm on them and show that no matter what happens, I will always be my brother's keeper!!!!
This is a True Story..................
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