Thanks for our brothers...

Several times this week during family prayer, Gracie has said,"Thanks for our brothers". This struck me for a lot of different reason, and I have spent some time pondering about it. One of the things that is interesting to me is that she is not simply saying thank you for MY brother, but our brothers (sorry sisters, no mention of you). I have spent some time this week thinking about our brothers.Why is it that brothers want to tease and play jokes. I have seen first hand that it is innate. They come built that way. Samuel loves nothing better than to tease Gracie (or pull her hair, pinch and hit, but really that's another blog post). I remember my brother chasing us girls around Ann Morrison park with the carcass of a duck. Our screams were not screams of pleasure. I also remember being chased around with fish heads, snakes and any other repulsive thing my brother Adam could find. When My Nieces and nephew were visiting last month, they joyfully told me about the jokes their Daddy (my brother Adam) likes to play on them.

When I returned home from Young Women on Wednesday, Chris and his brother Brandon kept asking me to clean something off. That should have been my first clue, since when do either one of them care about cleanliness? I kept putting them off until Chris went outside to take out the trash and walk Brandon to his car. They got no further than the front of my kitchen window when I went to wash my hands and heard peals of laughter when the sprayer in my kitchen sink, sprayed water all over me (not to mention the rest of the kitchen). They had placed a rubber band around the sprayer so that it would shoot water as soon as the faucet was turned on. I had to laugh as I watched my husband and his brother giggle like small boys outside for several minutes.

My husband speaks fondly of growing up with his brothers and has special memories of the time they spent together. Chris doted on his youngest brother, Adam, and speaks often of how much fun they had. Chris and Brandon talk about all the trouble they got in together (I'm pretty sure I know which brother was responsible).

I have found myself internally expressing gratitude for "our brothers". For the good men they have become. For how hard they work for their families. For how much they care for their children and wives. They are Men of Valor. They are strong, yet can show such compassion and love.

The last night this week that Gracie prayed for "Our brothers," Samuel woke in the middle of the night and went looking for Mommy. He has been ill and not sleeping well and has needed some extra love and comfort. When Mommy was gone in the early morning hours (as mommy always is. Again, that is also another post). Samuel went and found Gracie to sleep next to and comfort him.

Thanks for our brothers.