There were 4 boys and 3 girls in our family. My elder brother went to Heaven when he was a baby. My eldest sister didn’t grow up with us in the same household. There were 5 of us that grew up together in the same house with the same parents. All of us have distinctive personalities. You can see glimpses that resemble my parents as we continued to grow up. None of us “acting” like them, but with physical mannerisms that resemble one parent or another to know that their impact was relevant. My eldest brother, Gregory was always one of my favorite people. I heard stories and experienced his protective nature from as early as I can remember. Greg opened a bank account for me when I was 5 years old. He was proud that he had a little sister and wanted to show how he would protect me. I remember the tutoring of what it meant to have an account - at 5 years old lol. I saw and felt that he was taking time to explain life to me. He was the best teacher and guide. As I grew up, it was Greg who would correct me as a teenager. One time, I was leaving home in short shorts and Greg called me back into the house to change. I was irritated, but I did what he said. Every situation that was brought to him concerning me allowed him to step in as my cheerleader, advocate or caretaker. It was the consistency of his behavior that lead me to feel the most comfortable and loved. When I had decisions that I needed to make, I would go to Greg for counsel. My brother treated me as if I was a gift to him. The relationship that I had with him was priceless. I don’t have the words to explain how precious it was - but the void that I feel without him makes the blessing of time spent with him more sweet. In 2027, Greg had a heart attack while on work assignment in another state. He collapsed and was hospitalized and put on a ventilator.The doctor’s report wasn’t good and the situation looked bleak. I left my family and took my work with me ( as a remote employee) and spent 3 weeks with his wife, Deborah as we prayed for a new report and believed for a miracle.
We got our miracle and Greg completely recovered with a renewed vision to serve God and witness to everyone he came into contact with. The time spent praying and being with Greg was amazing. I was able to invest the time, prayer and wisdom that he taught me everyday he took care of me. In 2020, my brother died as a result of the effects of COVID. He went to Heaven and I miss him everyday. I think of him everyday and I am so grateful that I know what it means to have a brother - someone that considered you a gift. Someone that was willing to believe in you before you know how to believe in yourself. Gregory was not just my brother, he was my friend, my confidant and buddy. I will always be grateful for the laughs, the fun and the wisdom that he shared with me with what he did and didn’t do. I watched his life, loved his kids like my own and got all the lessons that make a difference in my life today. I will see him again and I know that he is proud of who I am. But the question will remain, who can be closer than my brother?
