My brother

Oddly enough, my brother hasn't really become a role model to me until after high school. I say oddly enough, because I did my salutatorian speech at graduation on being a hero and how he was mine. I think it was heartfelt, for sure, but I think I also lacked many good men in my life. But this is meant to talk about how much he means to me, not how little...this isn't coming out the way I intended.

Even though we weren't particularly close in high school I think we still had a lot in common and while he had vastly different behaviors in high school, I still looked up to him to an incredible degree. I remember visiting him at college and seeing a hypnotist and how he didn't really seem to mind having his little sister tag along with him for a weekend. Pretty cool for an 18 year old guy.

But it was in college, after my brother became a Christian, that he purposefully started to be a role model to me. He's is so intelligent, funny, giving, and yet impossibly demanding of others (and this is ok, because as much as he demands of others, he demands more of himself). He's my sounding board for most things related to Christianity, an encourager, a great source of knowledge, and a great friend.

I remember being in junior high, when my parents got divorced, and I would go to church and youth group by myself in this tiny little town where I guess my mom just felt like she would be judged if she showed her face there. No one ever treated me differently, the only thing I do remember well is an intense desire for my brother to be a Christian. He was at the top of all my prayer lists, and I feel like God truly does answer prayer, even years later.

So after knowing my brother for 25 years now (perhaps less, can you really know someone when you are a year old?), I can say that I've never been more in awe of him. Not only is he extremely intelligent, very funny, and talented athletically, but he is very giving with his talents. He has a great passion for learning, for teaching, and for bringing others to Christ.