Despite how different my brother and I are, more and more I can see that we have some similarities. We love people. We have the same gifting of bringing people together and creating a family culture. And it comes from my parents.
This trip to NJ was like a dream come true. My husband could see the beauty of my family fully, and how my family has been a home for others, and how all of my brother's friends are family too. There are always a bunch of his friends at our house. They all live a short distance away -- a few of them even walking distance. Jon got to fully experience my family culture. And we got to participate in it together, encouraging the NJ clan in the triathlon, playing games with them, hanging out, etc.
Our home is like a community center, esp when my brother is at home. Everyone just comes over, and it's super lively.
I know I can't expect community to always feel like what I felt this past week, especially as people grow busy with life/work and "their own family", and as people live farther apart, and as the Church grows bigger.
But regardless, it's the dream. It's my dream to have family wherever I go and to create family wherever I go. Your problems are my problems. And your victories are my victories.
