Growing up with an older brother has definitely proved to come with its challenges, and by no means have we always gotten along with one another (my mom used to fear that my brother would throw me in the trash as a baby). However, we somehow made it past all the bickering and fighting, and now I truly do not know how I could possibly express all the gratitude I have for him. But, here’s my attempt:

For starters, thank you for not throwing me in the trash when we were little… I really appreciate that one.

Thank you for the constant rides for those two years.

Even though I know this wasn’t necessarily your choice (Mom and Dad’s orders), I still appreciate the many rides to and from school, friends’ houses, practices, etc.

Thank you for sitting through multiple recitals.

Again, this may not have necessarily been your choice, but I still greatly appreciate you sitting through countless dance/showchoir/voice/piano recitals with little to no complaining. I know these are (shockingly) not always the most thrilling events to attend.

Thank you for making me a tougher girl.

Yes, you pestered me to D E A T H as a little girl. However––I can’t believe I’m saying this––I am actually thankful for your constant harassing. My thick skin can be accredited to my ability to put up with an annoying older brother.

Thank you for always testing the waters for me.

I know being the older sibling is not always the easiest since you have to go through everything first and, therefore, blindly. So, thanks for testing things in life out first so that I can attempt to prepare myself as much as possible.

Thank you for constantly providing me with comic relief.

You truly always know how to make me laugh like no one else, and it’s for this reason that I go to you whenever I feel down (which happens a lot in college, as you know). I don’t know what I would’ve done without your funny, sarcastic comments, even when you say them at inappropriate times.

Thank you for offering me your advice and comfort.

Along with me going to you for comic relief, I also value your advice more than anyone else’s, and you always provide me with the comfort I need when life gets tough. Whether it’s boy troubles or friend issues or stress from life in general, I can find you with arms wide open waiting to help me.

Thank you for making family functions more enjoyable.

While I absolutely love the rest of my family and thoroughly enjoy spending time with them, it’s no question that at times they can be a lot to handle, and in this family, functions are synonymous with stress. But I can always count on our never-ending inside jokes to keep me smiling through the stress.

Thank you for being my best friend.

All in all, you have (literally) been through everything with me, so it’s no wonder as to why I call you my best friend. I’m so grateful to always have you to go to in every mood of life.

But most importantly, thank you for showing me an example of the kind of guy I should find for my life.

My honest prayer is that I can someday find a guy who will be as incredibly kind, honest, well-rounded, and pure to heart as you are. You are truly a blessing, and I am beyond thankful that God has blessed me with an older brother like you to help guide me through life.