The Heart of a Big Brother

"I don't want kids to make fun of them" is what he muttered through sniffles and watery eyes. Derek busted me working on the paperwork for Russ' testing on Wednesday when he snuck up on me at the table after his nightly 3-miles. He grabbed the paperwork and began mouthing to me "Does Russ have this?” not wanting to alarm his little brother. Equally as quiet, I shrugged my shoulders and hoped his lip reading skills would allow him to understand "We don't know, but it's possible; it’s possible they both do." This began a frantic scanning of the material as he rushed to understand what this might mean and lead to an equally frantic escape to his room where, behind closed doors, he sobbed as hard as he had when we told him my Grandmother was having her leg amputated last year. His heart was broken. I tried to comfort him, but all he could envision was his baby brothers being harassed and made fun of because of their circumstances by uncaring, ruthless peers. I told him, "this is possibly the beginning of their freedom, this is the how they learn to succeed, how to be in control of the situation. This is a good thing Derek." Maybe, I was again reassuring myself as much as I was him, but it is the truth. Derek looks at me, tears steaming down his face, "Mom, Russ does most everything on that paper." There was no argument to be had and any questions or second thoughts that I might have had ten minutes earlier, were eliminated by the words of a heartbroken 14-year-old brother. Russ does struggle with most everything in the pamphlet and this is where we get help. This is where our Lord provides a guardian angel. This is where our journey begins! This is also where you learn the true heart of a big bother!