As I drove to my parents' house to say goodbye to my brother in January, I realized that documenting more than six years of my brother’s commitment to the United States Navy would be harder than I thought. I wanted to show what enlistment is like -- not just for the recruit, but also their families.

As we were in Chicago in December for his boot camp graduation, I only had so much time to shove a camera in his unwilling face, and I didn’t dare take photos of my parents’ heartbreak as we drove away from the airport. My father never cries, but he was worse than my mom, and I was worse than him. I now wish that I could’ve captured those raw moments of complete sadness. It probably didn’t help our emotional state that we only had two hours of sleep the night before. We went to sit with him in the airport as he waited to board the plane for his next step in training. We took advantage of every second with him for those 36 hours between his graduation and his flight. We didn’t know when we would see him again.

Even my brother wasn’t sure if he would be back in Philly for Christmas until two days before he got on the plane. When my parents, who always just walk in, knocked on our door 45 minutes later than expected, I knew he was here. I ran straight through the door that my husband opened and cried into my younger and taller brother’s chest. He was home. He surprised the whole family with his presence for Christmas. It was the best gift.

After visiting our cousins, he came back over to the Christmas party we were having that night. We hung out most days, making memories. We went with our cousins’ kids to see the light shows in center city at Macy’s and at the Comcast building. Then we had Chinese food. It was just like what we used to do when we were kids.

He got his first tattoo in remembrance of our Pop Pop. My husband and I were with him just like he was with us for ours. We played games, laughed, ate and welcomed in the new year in the normal fashion with family friends and Pictionary. We continued traditions and talked about his new life.

As we talked, I realized he wasn’t home during those two weeks. He was in Philadelphia. His new home was where his brothers are. Where training is. Where school is. Where his new life is. He used phrases like, “Back home…”

We were in Burlington Coat Factory’s parking lot when “home” came out of his mouth so naturally. I instantly lashed back, “No! This is your home!”

It’s not.

His home is there.

His home isn’t there.

His temporary home is.

But then again, my temporary home is here, in Philly. We are all sojourners and pilgrims, traveling through this life the best we can, following the orders of our commander, doing what we are called to do.

My brother’s selflessness and devotion to the Navy is an encouragement. He works out hard every day (sometimes more than twice) to ensure his physical fitness. He cleans the head without complaint. He puts his head down and presses through whatever kind of annoyance the petty officers make that day. He is focused. He will not be swayed by whatever comes his way. What an example.

We should all be devoted, without complaint, faithful to the highest degree, pressing on, solidified in our walk with Christ. We should be focused on Him alone, striving hard after Him and His heart. We should act the way He instructs, love the way He calls us to. We should ever be chiseling off the extra “fat” from our character and spirituality.

We also need to be a team, like he wrote to me while he was in boot camp. The 79 recruits "had each other's backs." They needed each other at times, physically or mentally, to get through the rough season and lesson of boot camp. Christians aren't called to live on an island or in isolation. This culture promotes a "me and Jesus only" kind of relationship, but frankly, that is not the picture of the early Church in Acts.

We need to be vulnerable and accountable. We need to push each other on when one feels weak. We need to encourage each other, point out where we can grow, and pray for/with each other. We need to be an army for Christ. When you sign on to Christianity and the feel-good teachings of Jesus, you also sign on to a battle. You sign on to His sufferings of persecution and hardship. But take heart, dear Christian, he has already overcome the world! We stand from victory. Jehovah Nissi! The Lord is our banner.

To my brother: Thank you for your service and your example. Keep pressing on under His command, as well as the Navy’s. I love and miss you so much! I’m so proud of you.

“Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.” - Mark 10:29-30