Monday Morning Manna: Siblings
Last week we celebrated National Sibling Day. You say you didn’t know there was such a day. Well unlike Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, Sibling Day is not yet a national holiday and Hallmark has not yet flooded the market with Happy Sibling Day cards, although the Siblings Day Foundation is working to change this. Since 1998, the governors of 39 states have officially issued proclamations to recognize Siblings Day in their state on April 10. I have one sibling, Breakfast Bob, of Nashville, TN. An M.C. was introducing us once and commented that we didn’t look much like brothers. Bob confused him further with one word, “Twins!” I am actually ten years older than Bob. I do confess to scaring his childhood somewhat, by continually telling him he was adopted, when in reality I was present for the entire nine month ordeal. When Hallmark does get around to making multiple card choices for Sibling Day, they might use, “Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble” (1 John 2:10, NIV). In the broader context, the Greek word, adelphos, translated here “brother and sister” refers to a believer, but has application to biological siblings if they too are believers. Or Philippians 4:8, “ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (NIV). If you have a living sibling, and you didn’t wish them a happy day last week, hurry. You still have time.