The thing about the race is that In every country we get attached. We get attached and we don’t wanna leave. There’s always somebody (or a lot of somebodies) that have our heart and it hurts to leave. But that’s not actually what this blog is about. Sorta. But not really. This blog is actually about all the boys (men) in my life.
I have 4 brothers. 2 older 2 younger. I’ve always been surrounded by menfolk. And let me tell you, these 4 guys are some of my very favorite humans. They’ve seen it all-the good, the bad, and the dramatic. All of it. And fortunately for me, they haven’t written me off as a crazy woman…yet.
We’ve had our scuffles and hurts, but in the end I know these guys will fight for me always. There aren’t a lot of people that get uncensored Courtney (I’m a lot and I’m aware of that), but they embrace it and accept that I’m just a little wild. We’ve played more games of risk than I could ever count, spent more time discussing lord of the rings and the narnia series than we’d care to admit, and spent enough minutes laughing together to keep us all super young. Also. They are among the few people that I can word spar with and have no fear that they won’t find it funny. Good thing, cause I’m hilarious.
But the thing I love the most about my 4 brothers is how much they love Jesus. We all pursue Him in different ways, but it has been beautiful to watch the love my brothers have for Him grow and become the most important thing in their lives. They inspire me to seek after Him regardless of life circumstances that happen around us.
In Argentina and India I realized how much fun it is for me to invite people into my family, specifically new brothers. Between Argentina and India I added about 14 new little brothers. I love getting to watch them become men, but even more than that, become men of God. Some of them I don’t talk to because of circumstances but I love them just the same. Each of them have incredible gifts, abilities, and beautiful things to bring to the Kingdom. And as a girl surrounded by brothers, I’ve never been happier to add brothers to the flock in every country.
I’ve met the Argentinian male version of me, and I’ve met the Indian male version of me. Both of them are fabulous. But not quite as fabulous as me. Obviously.
My point in all this is that I’m crazy thankful to have so many biological brothers, otherwise I might have missed the blessing of adding brothers to my international family.
Even though I’ve left pieces of my heart with each of them all over the world I don’t regret it. I would/will do it again and again because it’s all worth it. To give them all the love I can muster is worth the heart ache I have to experience to say goodbye.
So to all my international brothers, I’m so glad I got to meet you and I can’t wait to see how God uses you to grow His kingdom.
To my blood brothers, I’m so glad I was blessed to be born into the same family as you. I’m beyond proud of each of you and the things you’ve overcome. You all have powerful voices for His kingdom and my sister heart is bursting to see all you do for the world and for the kingdom.
Here’s to giving even more pieces of my heart to international missions.
