A Walk with My Brother

One evening after dinner a few winters ago my younger  brother and I went for a walk which we had done frequently since I had moved back home. We would usually stargaze and converse about life and the future. This particular evenings conversation was more of the same and rather unremarkable with the exception of one brief exchange which I will never forget. 

In the course of our walk I asked my brother, Ja’rel who must have been about 15 or 16 at the time, “What is the purpose of life? What’s the point? Ya’ know.” I don’t know what I was expecting him to say, if he even answered at all.

I should probably preface this next bit with a little background on my brother and our relationship. Ja’rel is six years my junior and he is one of my very best friends. He is deeply intelligent and commonly ironic; we are confidants. It is not unusual for me to call him for advice or to get his take on a situation if I am vexed. To say we are close is a gross understatement.

Anyhow, back to the tale at hand, his immediate response to my question was a moment of silence wherein he looked at me as if to determine if I was asking my question in seriousness. I remember his face bearing this look of aggravated disbelief like he was thinking, how could you seriously not know this. Then without a second thought he answered me, “The purpose of life? The purpose of life is to love God and do His will.” I don’t know who was more shocked me at his answer or him at my question. After that bit of dialogue, we moved on to much less profound or at least less memorable conversation. After all what more could be said on that topic.

Today my daily devotion app brought this memory to the forefront of my mind once more. My kid brother was right.

Micah 6:8

⁸ He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Tomorrow is not promised…

Proverbs 27:1 tells us “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

This is one of those scriptures that I like most everybody else can understand from an academic perspective, however we seldom consider the gravity of what this passage really means. I got to experience that very gravity this week. My older brother died Wednesday evening from causes unknown. He was 37 years old.

While my family and I are grieving we are also learning a valuable lesson, one we thought we already knew. Treat people better than you want to be treated, treat them like you may be the last person they ever interact with in this life. Love them and make sure they know that you love them. Make every moment count because it could be your last chance.

The last time I saw my brother was on Saturday we had dinner as a family. We laughed and smiled, joked and enjoyed eachothers company. And when we parted ways we were certain we would see one another again in this life. My family and I are blessed though, because we can take comfort in the promises of God. My brother died a believer and we know we will see him again in paradise.

K.O|

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Hello Readers, Writers and the like!

My name is Krystena and I want to share my self publishing adventures with you! I’ll be posting images from my personal illustration process along with things I learn along the way about the business of self publishing- from highly recommended printing resources, to marketing and distribution strategy.

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K. O|