Bonds That Built Us
I recently came across photos from our chickenpox outbreak—my middle brother and I completely covered. What I remember was that soaking in the tub was our only relief and that, although miserable, I was glad not to be going through it alone. He and I caught it 14 days after our youngest brother, and though I’ll spare you the gruesome pox photos, they made me pause. We’ve been through a lot together. (And yes, I was very thankful that by the time I had kids, a vaccine existed.)
Those chickenpox moments are just a snapshot in a long reel of memories: tennis tournaments and little league games in the summer heat, lemonade stands and lightning bugs, dance routines and trick-or-treating, anticipating Santa’s arrival, and family trips. Lots cheering for the Cubs, and for MacMurray basketball and soccer, and how some inside jokes still hold up decades later. My brothers, although younger, have consistently supported me through some of my life’s transitions—throughout my divorce to navigating home repairs and most recently, to sharing the family decisions around my dad’s declining health.
Siblings see us in ways no one else ever will. They’re the ones who witnessed our awkward phases, heard our dreams before we even had the words, and saw both our tantrums and triumphs. Whether you're still close with your sibling(s) or have drifted apart, that shared beginning shapes so much of who we become.
This week, we watched "The Osbournes: The Basement Tapes" in which the Osbourne family react to old episodes of The Osbournes. Decades later, they’d forgotten so many details, but as they watched, the memories rushed back. It was evident how meaningful it was for them to remember those moments, a snapshot of time, to reconnect over shared experiences. One of the comments that stuck with me was how much they laughed and how simpler life had felt. I saw how deep the bond still is between the Osbourne siblings.
We don’t have years of our lives recorded, but we do have stories. And those stories—especially with our siblings—are worth revisiting. Maybe you’ve lost touch. Maybe your sibling is no longer here, and it’s been hard to go back. But connection lives in the remembering.
Take a moment today to revisit…
When is a time when you felt truly seen or safe with a sibling?
When was the last time you shared a story that made you both laugh until you cried?
What silly games or rituals did you invent together?
And if your sibling is gone, who can you pass that memory on to? A niece or nephew? A family friend? A cousin who also knew them? Sharing stories keeps them close—and it lets others know just how much they mattered.
This week, I invite you to reach out to a sibling—or someone who feels like one—and share a memory that connects you. Gratitude grows when we share it. 💚
If you'd like to read more prompts and ways to reflect and connect with siblings, check out chapter 4 in Gifts of Gratitude.
