It was hard for me to understand my sister. We had the same up-bringing her and I yet we both approached life so differently. I saw a lot of heartache in my sister's life and I wished so much that it would stop. Admittedly, I wondered why she didn't do things as I did or would. Clearly I was with out such heartache...so my ways were better!...or were they?
Truth be told, I've struggled with pride and I can be such a fool!! "My way" came with a slough of heartache, it just took a long time for it to all catch up with me. Many times I sat beside my sister in her heartache and failed to understand any of it. This didn't keep me from being by her side but it kept me from looking into her eyes and fully empathizing with her.
Empathizing with another human being is special. It connects us, it unites us, it reminds us that we are not alone, and I think it has the capacity to remind us that God's eyes are on the situation, that God sees you. Oh how I love this! I hope not to withhold the fullness of it from anyone.
After the flood gates of pain opened up in my own life, I sat in what felt like a giant puddle of hurt. There in that puddle my little sister began to make sense to me. I finally understood! I more fully empathized! I couldn't wait to share this with her. We met up as soon as we could and over a cup of tea I got to tell her how sorry I was for failing to understand her.
I can't say I always like "different" but I do like my sister even though she is different from me. I respect her more now that I understand her better. I love her more completely now that I know her deeper. This is what it looks like when pain produces beauty.
Sibling relationships can be complex. I can't say ours was horrible but I think it was lacking. Lacking what God would desire for it. I hope for others, what I feel I have with my sister now, a more loving relationship.
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