When Brethren Dwell Together in Unity

Psalm 133

Brothers and sisters often fight "like puppies in a box," as my brother once said about his boys. I've never known any that didn't. But how good and pleasant it is, as the Psalmist said, when they learn to live in unity!

By the time I was 8 I was the oldest of 5 brothers and sisters, living in the midst of a storm, huddling together trying to protect ourselves from the anger and violence that raged over our heads. Quarreling was the only language we knew, the language we spoke. It wasn't pleasant.

I married early to escape the chaos and moved to the Bay area, where my siblings came to find refuge and, as my sister said recently, to "finish adulting." Away from the noise we began to discover each other as the interesting, creative and loving people we were meant to be. Eventually, spouses and children widened the circle of love and appreciation. When our parents could no longer care for themselves we were able, in loving harmony, to do the things that were needed to care for them until they passed.

Now in old age, by the grace of God, we still have one another. Each of us has infirmities; we understand that we won't live forever. As often as we can we gather together. When one needs help, the rest of us are there for them. My relationship with my brother and sisters and their families is now so deep and sweet it truly is like "precious oil," like "the dew of Mt. Hermon." How I long for all siblings to experience the same blessings.