Are Those Kids Mine??

I was an only child for fifteen wonderful years. By the time my sister came along I was pretty content at not sharing attention! With that much of an age gap there wasn’t a lot of sibling rivalry between us. I mean really? I was way past the playing with dolls stage and it was very unlikely that we would ever fall in love with the same boy! However, five years later I became a mother myself and my son and sister were the ones who taught me about sibling rivalry.

Even funnier than having a sister fifteen years my junior was the fact that when I married, I inherited a step daughter who was the same age as my sister! I guess you could say I was more of a “mommy figure” to Jamie than I was a sister…something I often regret. We don’t see eye to eye on many issues, but thankfully we have developed our own unique and special bond. I love my one and only sister with all my heart and am very thankful that the Lord brought her into my life. God has been shaping our lives in a way that we will always be connected by more than just shared family members. For instance, her oldest child is only a year and a half younger than my youngest one. My Caleb and her Taylor have grown up as close as brothers. Needless to say, Caleb’s illness hit Jamie’s family almost as hard as it did ours.

My children are all roughly five years apart. I was very blessed that the rivalry between them was kept at a minimal! Yes, they fought (still do!). But the closeness they share is almost scary. I don’t think I have ever had to answer the question “Mommy, who do you love best?” They know that each one of them is so very special to me in their own special way. I don’t remember ever having to break up a fight between Cody and Alana. Now Alana and Caleb…that was a totally different story! Even Cody and Caleb had their moments! I think I am starting to see a pattern with Caleb being the common denominator! Lol! But in the end, Caleb always won because he was the baby. A fact that he NEVER let them forget!

When Caleb became ill, needless to say, it was devastation to our family. Tragedies like this have torn strong Christian families apart. Knowing how close our children were to each other, I really wasn’t sure what to expect. But throughout our long 3 month stay at the hospital, it was Cody and Alana who kept me sane. Cody became a strong pillar of faith that never wavered. Alana held onto her faith with all her might. And even now, when my faith starts to grow weak, one of these two blessed children will do or say something to remind me why we are still standing on God’s Word and His promises.

Yes, I am biased when I say that I have three of the most wonderful, magnificent children in the entire world! And dear Sister, don’t be ashamed to shout at the world how proud you are of your own children! Even on those days when you really don’t want to claim them, listen to that little voice reminding you of the many more times that they have made your heart swell with pride!

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. – Proverbs 22:6

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