FOUR SIBLINGS, FOUR DIFFERENT PEOPLE

Four siblings, four different people.  All sitting together sharing experiences that touched them differently although they originated from the same source.  Same mother, same father, same extended family, same house.  Parents shared same cultural background, same language, same religion and same socio-economic status.  Range in age from 63 years to nearly 75.  See one another around the same table approximately 1 time per year, all together in the same general geographic area of their upbringing.  They have a great time exchanging stories.  The same stories that siblings all around the world recount when they get together.  Those of you who have siblings and get together with them know what that means.  Most of the time we get together, do what we like to do, eat, drink and be merry, get up, leave and don't reflect on the change that may or may not have occurred during the gathering.  This evening was a little different for me.  When my brothers left and returned to their homes, I was left with my spouse, the lead cook for the affair, my sister, the host of the gathering and my brother-in-law, the long time spouse of my sister who, of course, also hosted the gathering.  Three of us were still sitting around the table, relaxing and participating in some post - postprandial reflections.  My brother-in-law who was working the automatic dish-washing machine said "You four are so different from one another."  Our reaction was "We are?"  His come back was, "You are.  My sister and I are were the only two children in the house.  We are really quite similar in our ways.  You however are outstanding in your differences."
That was an interesting thought.  I never really thought about it.  But I did then.  So we passed it around a bit and decided that there was some truth to the observation.  We did not come to any earth-shattering conclusions, but we will not soon forget the observation nor the meditative conversation that followed.  We also walked away from the table convinced that Brother-in-law was right.  The #1 and the #2 are really quite different in many ways, though they are alike in many ways.  However there is no denying that they have many points of differentiation.  #3 is different from #1 and #2 in that there is a great difference in her personal approach to life.  She communicates more through artistic expression than any of the others.  She also joined the family a little later.  She followed a child who required special needs from our parents.  (This child was #3 in birth order but is no longer with us.)  She was also the "baby of the family" for nearly 5 years.  Then came #4.  He is the gentle giant of us all.  Our father died when #4 was 12 years old.  He also grew up outside of the prolonged, direct influence of the eldest son, #1.  He is gentle and generous and loving.  He is also our token "lefty."  #1 and #2 made him that way.  Give him credit, he has enough gentle love in him to laugh about it with us, even though he says that it made him crazy.
I close this thought with the assurance to you all that these four people are in love with one another.  We wouldn't know what to do without one another.  Well, for a little while anyway.  We all have different life experiences.  Many of these experiences are intense enough to write a book about.  No wonder we are different.  Each one has been honed by life on a different stone.  The reason why we are still comfortable with one another within our souls is that we are comfortable with the life-stone that has honed us and we don't begrudge the other the stone that honed him/her.  In fact, we thank God for giving us the Grace to be comfortable with what we have, including the Grace to be comfortable with our differences.