As a teenager, I was asked what the greatest trial in my life was. My responds was always the same "my sister". I know some of you have met my sister and think how she can be a trail in my life. Some people have a lot of problems with their siblings it maybe because they may make more money than you or that get to go more places than you or it maybe because you think they are better than you.
My trial with my sister was not because she was beater than me or even because she made more money than I or any other reason like that. It was because whenever I wanted to go anywhere she had to tag along with me she was like my shadow. No matter where I went she was there, whether it was to the beach with friends or just hanging out down in the pit she was always there. If I went skating, she had to go if I went to the shop down the road she had to go as well. She was what I called my trial back when I was a teenager.
Now I count myself very blessed to have a sister who has been a friend as well as a confident. She was there for me when I needed her and still is there for me today when needed. We have grown up with three brothers, which was very interesting. We are not the closest family in the world but we sure are very close to it. I treasure every minute we spend together which is not very often that all of us are together at the same time.
I say all this to let you know that family is a very important part of life and it should not be taken for granted. Life is way to short to be estranged from your family. It is also way to short to have a little disagreement to stand between you and your family.
When I think of siblings who do not forgive each other for things that have happen I always think how sad it must be for them to go through life not having a forgiving heart. Sure, we expect to be forgiving if we have done something wrong but sometimes we forget to forgive the ones that have hurt us.
We can learn from Joseph and his brothers. Years after selling him into slavery, Joseph's brothers get their comeuppance. Joseph was then put in charge of Egypt, dispensing scarce food resources to desperate victims of famine. Joseph's own brothers were among the hungry. The brothers didn’t recognize Joseph when they first come before him, and he did not reveal his identity. The brothers all bowed to him because he was an important person. Just as he dreamed, they would at the beginning.
After a few meetings with his brothers, he could not keep it in any longer and Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father alive?" But his brothers couldn't answer him because they were afraid. Then Joseph said, "Come here. I am your brother, the one you sold! Do not worry, and do not be angry at yourselves for selling me, because God has put me here to save people from starving."
You can read the Story of Joseph in Genesis chapter 37 to chapter 50
Where appropriate, repentance and forgiveness can be a part of building healthy relationships among adult siblings in our own day. When past hurts are real, we must be honest with our brothers and sisters. We may have to do the work of repentance. Forgiving a transgression by a brother or sister may be particularly tough, but may also yield the most rewarding results.
