Letters to Charles VI - Part III
Charles,
Next to the relationship with you parents is the relationship you have with your siblings – your brothers and sisters. It is difficult for me to write on the subject as I have only one brother and my experience is therefore limited. Still, there are several principles which I believe apply.
It is said that we should always be kind to our siblings – they are the longest lasting link to our homes as children. One day when your parents are gone and there are things you need to understand about your childhood, they are the people most able to help you because they were there, in the same circumstances.
Siblings fight. Since primal times, that has been the case. Just read in your Bible what the first pair of siblings ever recorded did – the one hit the other upside the head with an old piece of rock. The reason? Jealousy.
I think that jealousy is the greatest enemy of relationships between siblings. That, and intolerance. My brother taught me to deal with jealousy. Tolerance only came into the equation later and I think it is more a product of the years. A relationship with a sibling is the first relationship you are likely to have in which you could learn to deal with peers – provided that your sibling and yourself aren’t too far apart in years.
I know how difficult it is to be tolerant of another sibling, especially when said sibling has mastered the art of annoying you. Then, more often than not, it is more tempting to pick up an old piece of rock and… you get the idea. The reward of tolerance is patience. And a rewarding long-term relationship with your sibling/s.
As you can see, your relationship with siblings is much less complex then your relationship with your parents. Your siblings are the first friends (other that yourself) you can have. I suggest that you start as soon as you can to build a friendship relationship with them. It is a relationship likely to last long beyond the time when your other friends are gone.
And they can reminisce with you.
Until next time, be the brother God created you to be.
Mr. v.d. M
Next to the relationship with you parents is the relationship you have with your siblings – your brothers and sisters. It is difficult for me to write on the subject as I have only one brother and my experience is therefore limited. Still, there are several principles which I believe apply.
It is said that we should always be kind to our siblings – they are the longest lasting link to our homes as children. One day when your parents are gone and there are things you need to understand about your childhood, they are the people most able to help you because they were there, in the same circumstances.
Siblings fight. Since primal times, that has been the case. Just read in your Bible what the first pair of siblings ever recorded did – the one hit the other upside the head with an old piece of rock. The reason? Jealousy.
I think that jealousy is the greatest enemy of relationships between siblings. That, and intolerance. My brother taught me to deal with jealousy. Tolerance only came into the equation later and I think it is more a product of the years. A relationship with a sibling is the first relationship you are likely to have in which you could learn to deal with peers – provided that your sibling and yourself aren’t too far apart in years.
I know how difficult it is to be tolerant of another sibling, especially when said sibling has mastered the art of annoying you. Then, more often than not, it is more tempting to pick up an old piece of rock and… you get the idea. The reward of tolerance is patience. And a rewarding long-term relationship with your sibling/s.
As you can see, your relationship with siblings is much less complex then your relationship with your parents. Your siblings are the first friends (other that yourself) you can have. I suggest that you start as soon as you can to build a friendship relationship with them. It is a relationship likely to last long beyond the time when your other friends are gone.
And they can reminisce with you.
Until next time, be the brother God created you to be.
Mr. v.d. M
posted by Nico at 7:59 pm
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