Learning to See Your Siblings as Best Friends

Hello! Today I am swapping blogs with Hannah, a fellow member of the Young Writer’s Workshop and the blogger at His Priceless Daughters. That means that I’m posting something she wrote on my blog, and she’s posting something that I wrote on her blog.

Without further ado, here is Hannah’s article:

“Learning to See Your Siblings as Best Friends”

If you have a handful of siblings, I’m sure you’ve become used to being interrupted from what you’re doing to wipe a little one’s sticky fingers or read them a book. You’re probably used to their mischievous acts, like when they drew with marker all over your pillow or accidentally spilled juice on your homework.

Having siblings can be hard at times. Because we are around our siblings a lot of the time, it’s so easy to get quickly irritated by even the little things they do. However, I believe God intended more for our relationships with our siblings than for it to be at a surviving level. I want us to be able to get to know our siblings as friends, maybe even best friends.

Start Interacting With More Patience

Having siblings, we know all of their mistakes and annoying quirks. We can easily get caught up in what frustrates us about them that we quickly get set off by something little they do. However, as siblings, we have this wonderful opportunity to draw our siblings towards Christ. This can begin in our interactions with them. We can’t set a loving example of Christ to them if we are constantly snapping at them in frustration or interacting with impatience.

In a letter Paul writes to Timothy he says, “ But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:16-17)

I love this verse! When we let God reveal His patience through us, we are creating a wonderful opportunity for our siblings to see Christ in us.

Colossians 3:12-14 says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Isn’t this a beautiful reminder! We can learn to forgive our siblings and show them kindness because our Lord has done the same to us.

I know it will be challenging to be patient and kind to your siblings when they frustrate you, but remember that you have a wonderful opportunity to show Christ to them through your words and interactions. After all, if you aren’t kind to them, what basis are you setting for your friendship?

Purposefully Get to Know Your Siblings

This is really important. If you don’t set time aside to hang out with your siblings, how are you going to get anywhere in your relationship? Just like you have to be intentional with your friends, you need to be intentional with your siblings. As much as you put into your relationship with them you are going to take out.

How do you go about this? Well, begin by setting time aside maybe once a week that you are going to spend with them. Make sure you don’t have any other activities going on then, and plan it ahead of time with them that way you know they have extra time that day too. It may sound silly to plan to spend time with each other, but if you don’t go ahead and set time aside it can easily get pushed down.

Next, pick an activity that they enjoy doing, and do it with them. Maybe that means you end up building puzzles or playing basketball with them. Here is a list of ideas I compiled of things you may enjoy doing with them:

Inside:

• Build a puzzle while listening to music and drinking cocoa.

• Play a card game or board game with them.

• If they’re younger you can read them stories.

• Make a collage of funny memes you find on the internet.

• Get one of those indoor basketball hoops and throw some balls.

• Make a little racetrack for their matchbox cars and play with them.

Outdoors:

• Go for a bike ride.

• Play a sport like football.

• Go swimming.

• Take a walk at a local park.

• If they’re older walk around downtown and window shop.

Whenever you find yourself getting annoyed with your siblings remind yourself that your siblings are a wonderful opportunity for you to show Christ to the world. And when you feel like giving up in frustration remember Christ Who never gave up on you, but chose to die for you instead. Isn’t your friendship with your sibling worth it?

~

(Eliana here!) Thank you for the lovely post, Hannah! Those are good tips!

Hannah also posted my article, “Vulnerability: A Pillar of Lasting Friendships with Other Daughters of the King,” on her blog. Here’s a link!

https://hispricelessdaughters.wordpress.com/2020/01/25/blog-swap-with-eliana/

What do you think?

What do you think of Hannah’s post? How do you like to spend time with your siblings?