Submit a story

Brotherly Love

It was going to be a great time. Mom and Dad were taking all the kids on a cruise knowing it was likely the last time we’d ever get to do something like that as a family since we were now all grown building lives of our own. My brother had been estranged from the family for some time, involved in drugs and alcohol. He had become an envious and angry man and he treated everyone else there terribly. My brother and I never really knew each other as men. He left home shortly after his eighteenth birthday to pursue a life on the wrong side of most everything.

Now there I am standing next to the rail of the ship looking out over the ocean watching the moonlight play on the water. My brother approaches me and confronts me. I’m not too worried as I’ve been training in hand to hand for many years, but I don’t want to hurt my brother or allow him to hurt me, or even involve security in our last family vacation. “What’s your problem.” What do you mean,” I said? “You have a problem with me?” I said, “Yes, I have a problem with you when you’re drunk. I need you at your best and you’re not at your best when you’re drinking.” He started to move forward and become more belligerent, so I turned to walk away. He grabbed my arm and I turned to face him. He stopped short and said in an acidic tone, “Why do you always look down on me?” I looked him in the eye and said, “How can I look down on you and love you at the same time?” He said in a hesitant voice, “You love me?” I said yes and took him gently in my arms and hugged him with all the love Christ has poured into my life. I place my head on his shoulder and he began to cry. We parted after that.

That night I knew my brother and I had been touched by the tender mercy of Father God. The Devil has had possession of my brother for many years. That night the forces of Heaven stormed the gates of Hell to carry my brother out into the open beyond its walls. I have my brother back, even if it is just for short periods of time and in as limited a way as life permits us. There’s still a lot wrong and a lot of healing to do, but now we are no longer enemies, now we are brothers who share a relationship brought about by the Love of Christ Jesus. As a man trained in the protective arts I knew that revenge is not an option and to follow Christ was to seek the road of reconciliation. All those years my brother was held captive by the Devil, I prayed and wanted him back. My Lord answers prayer in surprising and amazing ways.