So, I know you all probably THINK you know the story behind Graham, but a lot of you probably don't. My brother was so much MORE than a brother to me, he was truly my BEST FRIEND. We were 22 months apart, and before he got "too cool to hang out with family" we did everything together. My brother was my bodyguard. I remember one morning in First grade, I was terrified to walk to school because I KNEW that the kids would be waiting for me to tease and bully me. Graham looked straight at me and said, "If they want to get to you, they've gotta go through me." He spent the rest of the time it took to walk to school that day assuring me that they were just jealous, that they were just trying to get to me, and I was better than that. When we got to school, there was a "gang" of 7 year olds waiting for me, and my brother took my hand and told me, "I'll take care of this." And that he did. Everyday after that, they didn't DARE bother me. One day though, Graham was home sick. I was so mortified walking to school that day, but do you know what happened? Graham's BEST FRIEND stood up for me. Apparently Graham had been talking about this all year and his friend could see, Graham wasn't there that day, so he took it upon himself to make sure I felt safe. THAT is the kind of guy my brother was.
My brother and I were very similar, in one way in particular, we both had the unquenchable thirst for music. I cannot tell you how many times I would have a bad day at school, or he would have a bad day at school, or either one of us were stressed, and he'd pick up his guitar, walk out to the firepit in our back yard and say, "Hey, let's sing about it, OK?" My brother(unlike many other brothers and they younger sisters) enjoyed spending time with me as we both got older, he enjoyed our deep and philosophical talks as we would drive home from youth group in high school. Most importantly, he supported me. He supported me when I didn't believe in myself, my parents didn't believe in me, and my teachers didn't believe in me. I remember one night when I was in sixth grade, my Mom had let it slip that they had told me I could get a phone if I got straight A's, and Graham(who didn't have a phone yet) was shocked. To prevent a fight, my Dad quickly added, "But that will never happen." I watched the expression on Graham's face instantly turn from shock to ANGER. I was bawling, and Graham put his hand on me and said, "He didn't mean it.", looked at my Dad and said, "How DARE you!", took my hand and led me out of the room. THAT is the kind of guy that he was. The kind of guy that, even when his OWN gain was at stake, would stick up for me.
My brother is the REASON I have Jesus today. He is the one that told me about Jesus when I was 4 years old(yes, that meant he was 6...but he was a VERY philosophical 6 year old!), and helped me pray and ask Jesus into my heart. If it wasn't for him, I don't know if I would even be a Christian today, odds are I probably would be, but there is no way I could tell. As we both entered high school, my brother pushed and pushed me to "dig deeper" into my faith, but I resisted. Partly, it was because I just felt like the bible was so above what I could understand, that it would be useless to even try, and also because at the time, I was in 9th grade, he was a Junior, and I honestly felt like, we both have our entire lives ahead of us, what's the rush? Little did I know, he had less than two years.
My brother was more than just a brother, he was a security guard, my supporter, my accompanist in every concert I could have my own, he was my spiritual mentor, but above all, he was my BEST FRIEND. I know that this sort of connection between a brother and a sister so close in age is very rare, and I am so happy to have the brother I had. Even though I didn't get to have him for very long, if I could choose between him and any other older brother in the world, I would choose him again, NO. CONTEST. No matter how hard LOOSING him was, it doesn't even BEGIN to compare to the joy his smile always brought me, the encouraging notes he'd leave in my lunchbox when it finally came time for me to face elementary school without him, and the many songs we've sung together. I love you Grammy, I miss you more that words can describe, but I am SO blessed to have SUCH an outstanding brother, and I know you are in Heaven, smiling down on me tonight. Save me a spot in the choir!
He's always got my back :)
<3 Always,
Rose
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