Oh Brother

Trawling through the archives I discover I can neither have a title that says ‘He Ain’t Heavy‘ because that was taken.  Neither can I have a title ‘He’s My Brother‘ because that’s taken.  I cannot even have a title called ‘Man After God’s Heart‘ because that has been taken as well!!  So for the time being I’m stuck with the exclamation familiar to all those who have a male sibling or who are familiar with wrestling and so refer to their co-combatants in the term, although to be fair that would be ‘brutha’.

Anyhow, with those pleasantries neatly disposed of, herein is this year’s birthday tribute to the only other male my parents gave birth to, the final child of their union, the youngest of their tribe and yet the most powerful – my brother – David Dryden.

A good shout would be that I’ve said everything there is to say about him in those three aforementioned entries and a special tribute I made to him on his 28th birthday (which you can read by clicking here).  Yet the reality is that as there is more to say about someone the more you get to know them – which should be the case in a growing relationship – so there is more to say on reflection and prayerful contemplation of who remains the most important male figure in me life at present.

It is not often I inform people but he was my first choice to be my best man at my wedding.  Although I’m glad for the best man I chose and don’t regret the decision, it is still something that shows the strength of the love that I have for my brother that he was the first person I thought of to do the role.  As it turns out he didn’t need to do it because my wife still thinks he’s the best man now with his domesticity and handy-man skills and general technical expertise.  (Note I didn’t say Best Dryden, I said best man – eh, no capitals there, see, I is still the best Dryden according to me wife, so I can rest easy on that score … with one eye open to ensure David ain’t getting more brownie points informing her how to change a light bulb.)

I still regard my brother in the highest esteem possible for a man and in this year he has displayed commendable traits of humility.  His diligence and persistence with this life business is evidently not anything he does for show.  He doesn’t come across as someone who demands attention or is in anyway self-seeking.  Our conversations and engagements have been drenched with his selflessness and his commitment to his beautiful wife and amazing son.  Everything goes on hold to ensure that they are alright and that quality remains so admirable in him, it’s no wonder my wife hails him up.

I pay tribute to his faithfulness, commitment, devotion and sacrificial quality both to his family and his pursuit of the truth in God.  We don’t agree on that fundamental issue, but that does not stop me applauding his efforts and his willingness to do what it takes to discover and live by the truths he discovers.  It is a quality that I wish I had to that extent.  Such tremendous zeal, passion and courage to live by your convictions is something that people should aspire to in the hope of living life to its full.

As the other posts would indicate there are plenty of other attributes and aspects of David that I could extol at this time of celebrating his birthday.  It remains for me to state for the record once more that I am honoured and delighted to be his brother. To say that I am incredibly blessed by this privilege is an understatement.  God knew from the foundation of the world that a mug like me would need a friend and confidant like him to assist me in this journey and so as ever He gets the praise and glory for such love expressed in a relationship that means so much to me.

My prayer for David is that he should experience ongoing success in his personal and family development and should God spare his life to complete his 34th year on planet earth it will be one filled with reaping the goods from the time of sowing in the seeds of kindness, generosity, wisdom and patience.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd