Today, my family celebrated Thanksgiving a day early. My mom decided to work so she could have the chance to enjoy Christmas with us. Today was so very full of laughter, and I enjoyed every single second of it. Today I was given the privilege to meet my Aunt Leyla’s brother and his family. He has two beautiful sons named Arthur and Reuben. Both of them know how to speak four languages, and Italian was their favorite. Included in those four is French, which I can barely speak, but I was definitely refined by these two. I kept asking them questions, and they loved to answer. They also taught me new words, like how to say, “You farted,” even though I promise I didn’t. It brought me a lot of joy, being around them. Children’s laughs are the most contagious (especially Arthur’s).
But, the reason I’m here is to tell you about my really really close family. If you know any of them, I am so entirely thankful and glad. But if you haven’t, I really hope you get to. Also, I recommend you read this real slow to give it more effect. Just sayin’.
Dad. You are the absolute funniest man I have ever met, and that’s not just because you’re my dad. You have this beautiful ability to make people laugh even when they are in the WORST of moods. I remember the times when, for some reason, I would get mad at you, but a few minutes later, you would have me gasping for life for some joke only I thought was funny. You love with no regard for one’s condition. No matter where I’m at, or where anyone else is at, you radiate safety. You have made it known to my heart that you are trustworthy. With the way you hold even the smallest of things to make sure they don’t get broken, to the power you hold over a room when you speak. You are so important to me. You have always sacrificed self-preference over a chance for teaching, and you know so much about what Jesus says. You never fail to comfort me with Truth. I have never even thought that you would ever turn your back on me. Your passionate pursuit for my love brings me closer to the Father through exemplification of how He does the same. I want to be like you so much, I even told people my name was Corey. I hope you know that your failure has never ever made me doubt who you are.
You have shown me what grace looks like.
Mom. My lovely momma. I always knew I was your favorite (whatever age I was) year-old. You always brought me so much value and confidence in who I have been made to be. Not once did you question my heart, because you knew it was good before I did. I would like to think that I love you far more than you love me, but you would probably punch me if I said that to your face (good thing I have this now). You are the absolute strongest woman I have ever met. You can probably still run further than me and beat me in every single insanity workout you do. I yet haven’t figured out how that works. You bear the burden, so I don’t have to. Mom, when I say you’re strong, I also don’t mean that you aren’t ever weak. Paul talks a lot about weakness and how the Lord uses it to show his mighty, mighty power. I think that He does that the most with you. You have shown me your weakness, even though you hate it. And because of that, I know you are authentic. Because real strong people tend to have a bunch of soft spots too. Mom, you care for people in a completely different way than I have ever seen before. You never want credit, but you strive to make others comfortable. You have given me the chance to meet some of the most wonderful people in this house of mine. You never lost sight of who I was, no matter how many times I broke your heart. You always made sure mine was all healed back up.
You have shown me how important roots are.
Jackson. You freakin’ cutie you. You have this drive in you that I absolutely do not have. You are so very unique, and I really hope you know that. Just by being Jackson. I am really sorry that I broke your star wars AT-ST walker when we were little. I didn’t mean to, I swear. You have this pull toward you that I could never resist. No matter what, I wanted to be around you. Whatever you did, I wanted to do it too. I thought and still think you are far cooler than me. You bring balance to both the good and the bad, and you have this cool ability to find joy in the unknown. I can always come to you with anything. You have shown me time and time again that everyone needs forgiveness. You brought me so much comfort when you let me ask you anything that was on my mind. You never ever judged me, you just led me back on track when I fell away. You are my friend. And my big brother. You are actually my FAVORITE big brother. You always embraced my whack mind and encouraged my creativity. You never wanted me to be like you, but you wanted me to be like me. I could always find friendship with you when I couldn’t find a friend anywhere else. Oh, and never ever stop sending me memes.
You have shown me what acceptance is.
Alyssa. Your ability to listen brings other people a chance to process and speak when they have no other way to. You love your time with people, and you love your time alone. You are one of the kindest women I have ever met. You meet people with intention, and you have a child’s heart. Even though sometimes you sound like your ninety-nine and a half years old. You have wisdom because your heart is open to the Father, and He really likes to tell you things. He knows you will care for what He gives you very well. You care for people so much, and you are not afraid to tell someone when they are failing to care for someone as well as they could be. Your love for learning new ways to carry out your ideas is so fun to me. Your art is captivating. You are so confident in what the Father says about you. I remember when you weren’t, and I’m so at peace knowing you are now. Oh, that’s another thing you do. You bring peace. When I’m around you, I want to tell you everything about me, and I have no desire to tell anyone anything about me. You evoke vulnerability out of people like you’re a wizard or something (i guess that’s invoke, but whatever). Your thoughts are those of the Father, and they hold so much value to those willing to listen.
You have shown me what intention feels like.
Emily. Lil’ Em. I will never EVER stop squeezing your nose. Just know that for the future. I don’t care if you’re eighty-two. Still happening. To be completely honest, you scare the living crap out of me. I never really know what’s going on inside your head, but I know it’s probably far more sophisticated than what is going on inside of mine. You are wicked smart, but also wicked humble. I don’t even think everybody knows you have already devised a plan to rule the world by Christmas. You always keep other’s needs in mind when you carry out your day. No matter how you feel, how other people feel holds first place in your heart. You gently care for me, and it is really, really cool. I wish I could sit still enough to not annoy you when we hang out. You never seek to burden other people with what you need. But I promise that they aren’t a burden. You are quite funny and VERY sassy. You always keep me in check when I get a little out of hand. You bring me back down when my head is in the clouds and always push me to fulfill who I am. If you didn’t wake up early and make me breakfast every. Single. Morning, I would definitely be dead. You love being in the know, so I really hope you know I love you with all my heart.
You have shown me what humility looks like.
PARKS. I capitalized that on purpose. Because you’re my favorite (don’t tell anyone else, though). You have so much energy, and I adore it. I don’t think I will ever get bored of watching your pretty green eyes light up every time you see something fun to do. You are the most whimsical little boy I have ever met. I will never get tired of shooting baskets with make-shift duct tape balls in your room when we have nothing else to do. You, little brother, are so very tenderhearted. You never want to hurt anybody. You are really big and scary on the outside, but I know for sure your heart is kind. You don’t care for resources, and you never worry about having enough. You just want to enjoy this beautiful life we get to live. If there was a chance for you to meet every single person in this entire world, I think it would only take five minutes. I definitely suck sometimes. But thanks for always giving me another chance to make up for it. You never hold grudges, and the only thing on your mind is being friends and doing stuff with extravagance.
You have reminded me what it’s like to be a kid.
I hope you guys know I love you. A –phileo kind of love. You all are my people to come back to when everything else fails. You all have shown me the steadfast companionship of the Father. I might get mad or happy or sad. But I know that where ever you guys are, and whenever I think of you, THAT is when I will be giving all of the thanks.
-Elijah
