My little brother says: “Sis, it is not true that bad things happen to bad people and good things to good people. There is no formula, there is no pattern, it is haphazard yet it all happens to all of us at some point”. So, I unconsciously stare at him dismayed but I quickly take my focus away from his gaze – hiding my teary eyes because I am the one who always say to him “tigers don’t cry”. However when a little sweet soul utters words as potent as these one’s heart doesn’t just break, it hardens like a brick with anger yet floats in humility.
What I admire most about my brother is that he is able to effortlessly lighten any painful experience, lifting up the spirit to a sophisticated abode where it finds comfort. He says things with the most charmingly open heart. There is never either an ounce of anger in his voice or a grain of bitterness in his tone.
He always says it as it is; and then moves on.
We lost our dad through an awful car accident when he was three years old (and it was just the two of them when it all happened, so he witnessed the complete tragedy) and when I replayed the whole ordeal in my heart at the time, the pessimist in me thought “oh no, what an angry person this little lad is going to grow up to be”.
Yet today, he is the one who in the midst of bitterness and in the highest levels of disappointment he finds soothing humour and calming wisdom. It is him who, a few days ago when I found out that a large amount of money had been withdrawn from my account without my knowledge, on accompanying me to the bank to resolve the matter, he said: “now we know that money is safer in the house under a mattress than it is in a bank, had that money been under my mattress it would still be there right now. Don’t you want me to be your banker, with no fee?”
What I admire most about my brother is that he is able to effortlessly lighten any painful experience, lifting up the spirit to a sophisticated abode where it finds comfort. He says things with the most charmingly open heart. There is never either an ounce of anger in his voice or a grain of bitterness in his tone.
He always says it as it is; and then moves on.
We lost our dad through an awful car accident when he was three years old (and it was just the two of them when it all happened, so he witnessed the complete tragedy) and when I replayed the whole ordeal in my heart at the time, the pessimist in me thought “oh no, what an angry person this little lad is going to grow up to be”.Yet today, he is the one who in the midst of bitterness and in the highest levels of disappointment he finds soothing humour and calming wisdom. It is him who, a few days ago when I found out that a large amount of money had been withdrawn from my account without my knowledge, on accompanying me to the bank to resolve the matter, he said: “now we know that money is safer in the house under a mattress than it is in a bank, had that money been under my mattress it would still be there right now. Don’t you want me to be your banker, with no fee?”
With an innocent giggle he looked straight into my eyes probing for a response.
At moments like these I just look at him and smile acknowledging the truth of the matter without overlooking the obscure lesson: this tough little dude has an unbelievable ability to extract valuable lessons out of painful experiences….don’t we all have?
Be very careful then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
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