Caleb, our four year old, has not adored Seth like the rest of us, in the way we dote, and coddle, and spoil the littlest family member.
No; Caleb has all but totally ignored little Seth. Sure, he reacts to him. “Mom! He’s chewing it! He’s CHEWING MY TOY!” “SETH! STOP LOOKING OUT MY WINDOW, MOM, SETH IS LOOKING OUT MY WINDOW!” (Seth was all of 8 months old that day when we were driving to town.) “MOM! SETH SAYS HE IS BIG, LIKE ME!” (Caleb somehow knows that every grunt Seth makes toward him is an highly offensive insult). “MOM, COME AND GET SETH AWAY FROM ME!!!!!!!!”
This is the way it has been. Until yesterday.
I was sitting on the couch, writing a letter. Thinking about what to write, enjoying myself. Seth and Caleb were in the room with me when for some reason Caleb woke up to the fact that, “Can you believe it? Seth is walking a lot now!”
So, he got up off the floor, and took Seth’s little hand, and they walked together. It was so cute, I wanted to get up and find my camera, but I sat and just watched. Around they went, around the couch, holding hands. I started to get back to my letter when Caleb said in joyful wonder, “This is starting to make me LIKE HIM!”
That precious little sentence proved to be the sparkling jewel of mama joy, that my heart could meditate on, all day long.
And later on, I did get a few pictures to prove and document the first day of friendship, just a little bit of evidence, you know, for the family history books.
So much usefulness can be done by a pair of loving brothers; so much work, so much serving, so much loving. And to think that it sometimes begins in such a small way, perhaps just by a little walk while holding hands.
I’m thankful for the eyes to see and the heart to hold, these small but important moments in time. I pray wholeheartedly that these brothers develop and grow toward a relationship that is glorifying to God.
We have a framed picture of the boys here in the office, with a Bible reference under it, to remind us of what we want to see in the relationships between our sons.
“He (Andrew) first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah. And he brought him to Jesus.” John 1:41, 42
Good to be Home 
So precious. I so appreciate how you express your thoughts on a given subject. There is a mental picture to enjoy, even without pictures. But, the pictures state so well what you are saying. Bless you today as you enjoy the “little” things in your children’s lives. You inspire me.
This made me want to cry tears of joy!!!!! What a beautiful post. Love the verse!!!!!
Awww to cute! Caleb was the BABY and treated that way for a long time so I am sure its been a Huge adjustment to have cutiepooh Seth around! Glad to see they are friends. Wonder how Grace is going to react to soon not being the one and only Princss in the house LOL ~sissy
How sweet.
absolutely precious~
aww! how sweet is that! it reminds me of my two boys; the older (also named Seth!) has not always taken to his little brother, but as Brent gets bigger, they have so much fun together and actually play together! surely this bond of brotherhood will endure all of time.
This is so precious, Shanda. When we were all children together at home together, our relationships were more adversarial than pleasant alot of the time. My Sweet Mama would sometimes cry and say, “Why can’t my children love each other???” but my daddy would smile and say, “My children have spirit. They are going to go somewhere in this life.” As adults, we are really, really good friends — we are far better friends than I ever could have imagined. And sometimes I wonder why we didn’t get along as children — and I don’t really have any answers to that — except that we were very strong willed, and maybe our parents just let us work it out for ourselves, rather than force something unnatural. Whatever — I know that it is something that pleases a mama like nothing else — when her children love eachother, truly get along and there is peace in the household. And maybe, like yesterday for you, it is even sweeter when it follows the STRUGGLE! As usual, dear friend, you’ve given us a delightful picture story, and there are lots of us out here that identify with the joy in your heart over this development.
Such a sweet post! That is hilarious how Caleb did not want him looking out his window, it made me miss having a little one! So so dear that they are friends now!
Aww… so precious.
So precious to see love grow right before your eyes!! My 2 year old is this way. I thinbk some days she’d like her little sister to just go away. I feel for her!! (both of them actually)
I’m wondering how my youngest will react to the new baby, since she will be almost 5 when the baby comes!
Brotherly love! Thanks for sharing this sweet moment in Caleb and Seth’s lives. I know it must warm your mother-heart to see your boys love each other.
What joy to see love blossom in Caleb’s heart. I pray my two will have the love of Christ and point each other to Him in the future. I loved the song, Shanda. God bless!
The pictures and the story behind them is just so precious it brought tears to my eyes. Absolutely beautiful!
Caleb looks SOO big next to itty bitty little Seth who is really not so itty bitty anymore! I’m glad for them and you that they reached this milestone. What a pair they will be!
I loved taking a peek into your life. Your kids are adorable, your house is cute and you are a cute pregnant mommy. I do not get on Xanga too much anymore, but I really enjoyed your site! Blessings in Christ, Sheila
So sweet! That made me tear up!
Shanda, that was priceless. How adorable to see Caleb open his heart like that to Seth. They were playing trains! That is huge! LOL..
Growing into love….
Beautifully written! Beautiful photos! I love that verse, too! :o) It’s so precious to see that bond forming! Teaching them the truth of God’s word will never return void. You and your husband are doing a fantastic job!
I missed this post before. How wonderful and precious to see that brotherly love growing! So glad. Great verse!