If you haven’t read the parable of the Prodigal Son, you should. Check out Luke 15:11-32 in any version of the Bible.
Am I an older son? No. I am an only child, but recently I realized that I suffer from what I like to call “Older Brother Syndrome,” which has nothing to do with the fact of whether or not you have siblings. It has everything to do with the older brother in the story of the Prodigal Son.
Basically, the older brother was faithful to his father and continued to work for him while the Prodigal Son squandered his inheritance and basically ended up as a bum, before humbly returning back to his father. When he returned, his father welcomed him back with open hours, but the older brother was miffed about all the attention his brother received. Basically the father says, “get over it, because your brother – who was lost – is now found.”
I feel like the older brother sometimes, and I don’t like that. Not that anyone has come back or anything, but I often find myself comparing myself to other people I know – friends, family, etc., and I get mad because I feel like I try to live what I think is a good Christian life, and when I see people – especially those who know better – doing the opposite, it really upsets me. Especially when things seem to be going well and easy for them, and it seems like I’m facing constant struggles.
As a wise person reminded me last night, “life isn’t always fair.” And, unfortunately, that is true. I do however feel bad, because I have let a sense of pride cloud my vision / judgment. For that, I apologize to the people I have felt that way about. You may not know that I did or not, but I do apologize.
I hope to be more of an understanding “older brother” in the future and not get hung up on the whole me vs. them mentality.