Tell Your Family You Love Them

Sibling rivalry is nothing new.  From Cain and Abel to Joseph and his brothers, jealousy and brothers go hand in hand. It’s no surprise to see the Pierson brothers be jealous of each other. This is displayed between the brothers as early as eight years of age.  The first glimpse we get is when Randall and Kevin get off the bus to go to school. The kids call Randall “Webster” and Kevin has to make a choice between defending his brother and being accepted by his friends. He chooses to join in, wounding his brother and driving a wedge between them. This continues as they fight over having their own space and spills over into their adult lives where Randall has never seen an episode of his brother’s comedy and Kevin can’t tell Randall what he does for a living. They barely speak and when they do it is to help Kevin in a crisis. This all comes to a head when Kevin sees that a black actor has replaced him on his TV show. “Replaced by another black guy,” he says. Another fight ensues where words turn into fists, culminating in a scene where they are both sitting in the car. Randall says to Kevin, ““You are right. Mom did favor me. She showered me with attention and took my side more times than not and I ate every bit of it up. I ate it up like Kevin. You want to know why? Because the one person that I wanted to hear from it the most…”
Just like Cain and Abel were fighting over God’s love and approval, so Randall and Kevin were still fighting first for their parents’ approval and then each other’s approval. Little did they know that Randall and Kevin already had their father (and earthly fathers approval.) They didn’t have to do anything to earn it.
 
Are you fighting for a family member’s approval? Perhaps you are still struggling to find you role within your family dynamic. Maybe the roots of sibling rivalry have made their way into your family. Whatever the case, you don’t have to live that way anymore.
Your heavenly father loves you the way you are. You don’t have to do anything to earn His approval. His approval came when He created you in His son’s image.