a HERO is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.

Watching my little brother this past weekend (who is not so little anymore I must add) made me such a proud sister. He has discovered his true peace and joy in life, something people search a lifetime for. When we look back, we discover life was never really random. And I must say, life was never random for this child. To be completely honest growing up wasn’t always pleasant or tranquil, it was a rollercoaster full of pain, passion, and love. I love my little brother more than anything and always have. It was always the three amigos, just mom, Ethan and I. We were a team. He just chose to make it a little more difficult than I would have liked to admit. I can say all of this with a smile on my face now because he knows it! He was diagnosed with Bi-polar disorder at a very young age, with a dose of not having a father to beat his rear end made for a tough mix for all of us. He was extremely tough on me, but at the same time would have given his life any second for me and killed anyone who messed with me. It’s amazing I’m not harder than I am because of him. I didn’t need a dad when it came to dating, I had a crazy little brother and all it took was one look! As Ethan grew up, as with any child he faced obstacles in life and chose the road that was a little more difficult. I worried about that child day in and day out, and I was only a teenager trying to find my way in life for myself. Life was scary at points, sometimes the drugs got so bad with him I didn’t even recognize my brother who stood right in front of me and that left my heart in puddles. I remember driving down my street into the cul-de-sac where our house stood and seeing 5 police cars and an ambulance in the driveway having no idea what I was fixing to walk into, and I remember getting the call when I worked at the pharmacy that they had caught Ethan after a 2 month chase where I never knew if he would come out alive or not. I cried tears of joy knowing that he was ok. I clearly remember the sleepless nights praying that the Lord would protect him. I still have all of the letters that he had written to me throughout his stay in jail. I knew how badly he was hurting. He was hurting because he knew how bad he had hurt me and the pain that he had caused the family. He didn’t want to live that life, it was written all over him. He became a person that I didn’t know and was fighting demons that he didn’t know how to get rid of. Not to be sappy about his past, but to make someone comprehend the joy that I now receive after seeing his joy. Life was never easy, but I absolutely adore his story and his adoration for life now. To see someone hit complete rock bottom, and come out stronger and more gentle than anyone would have ever thought. Ethan has a true testimony and a strong one at that. God has a big plan for him. To be completely honest through all of the situations that Ethan was in, he should be dead. God saved him, he saved him from people and from overdoses, and from his own demons. I love how much God loves my little brother and how God saved him. Watching him last weekend still has my heart in awe. I pulled away for a long time because I couldn’t handle the pain of seeing my little brother like that. To have all of the resources for life right in front of him and to choose to take the hard road. But we each have our own destiny, and we all have our own roads to get to our final destination. I watched a sermon last week and he urged mothers to lead, but not to get in the way of their children’s destiny or life paths. Being raised by the same wonderful mother, our plans and destinies were completely different, and that’s the beautiful part of each of our stories. I am proud of him and I am proud of his past and of his life story. He is beautifully and wonderfully made just like God said, and his story is magnificent. He’s more special to me today than he’s ever been. I love to feel his heart now, and to watch his eyes dance with joy, and to watch the love pour out despite the pain that he once endured. I love to watch how gentle he is with life now and how simple he makes things. Sometimes I’m not always good at continual prayer for a certain person or thing, but I always have been good at praying for the heart of this child. I would feel hopeless and discouraged when he kept choosing the other road. I simply wanted him to wake up and to come home. I can full heartedly say he is home, and he has the settled assurance of a peaceful heart of God. Sometimes we stray, but we always come home. We had a long conversation today and he opened up in ways that I have never heard him open up. He told me that he envied me, he wanted to be sensitive and fragile like I am, that he wanted to feel pain like I did because he had become so numb. And the funny thing is I have always wanted that bit of uncontrollable fearlessness that he always had. He told me that in church now he can’t help but cry. Funny thing, I do that all the time. Thank goodness for the power of the Holy Spirit when he overwhelms our soul. I told him that is God breaking his heart and putting it back together the way he wants it. All we can do is to embrace it. You know crying is a way your eyes speak when your mouth can’t explain how broken your heart is. God is healing him, just like he heals each and every one of us because we are all broken. I am beyond proud of this child who I get to call my little brother. I am so thankful that God has answered prayers that I sometimes questioned the outcome of. I grew weary and I grew tired not knowing if he would come home, and oh my sweet Lord he came dancing in stronger than ever. I believe people who have overcome obstacles and tough trials in life have a testimony who can reach the unreachable. Mine isn’t perfect, but it’s what makes me, me. And I wouldn’t trade a single story or life experience to have the testimony that I have now. Life isn’t always beautiful, but God helps us to keep dancing, all the while never letting go of our hands, but just letting us fly. Thank you Lord for bringing Ethan home, and guiding him and protecting him all the way. Thank you for having a plan for him and never giving up on this sweet soul.

My wish for you is that this life becomes all that you’ve ever wanted it to be. I want your dreams to stay big and you to never be scared to chase after them with the settled assurance that you can reach anything that you put your heart and mind to. Life is tough, but so are you. I can’t promise I can solve all of your problems, in fact I know I can’t- But I can promise you I will be right there by your side when you need me. I pray that you continue to search for the joy that only the Lord can give you, and that you never leave that behind for lesser things. I pray that you make God your number one priority. Life will never be at a peace when God isn’t center. Believe me, I know first-hand. I pray that you never grow ashamed of anything in your past, but that you embrace it and share your story to reach the unreachable. Some days the memories will knock the wind out of you, but use that wind to propel you. Sometimes you only get one chance, and I pray that you take advantage of that chance every single time. I pray that you never lose sight of that precious heart that you have always had, using that above all else for love will get you farther than anything in life. I pray that you always stay goofy, and that you will always continue to brighten a room up like you’ve always done. Sometimes people need that piece of light in their day, that light that maybe only you can give to them. At the end of life, what really matters is not what we bought but what we built; not what we got but what we shared; not our competence but our character, and not our success, but our significance. Live a life that matters. Live a life of love.

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through water, I will be with you; when you pass through rivers, they will not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire, you will not be scorched- the flame will not burn you.