by Rachel Crosswhite (16)
Oldest of Seven Children

As a big sister to five of the most wonderful brothers and one precious sister, I have plenty of opportunities to encourage my siblings. Each day the Lord gives me with my family is a priceless gift – and I thank him for both.

Here are some practical ways sisters can encourage their siblings. There are so many avenues you can travel down, but I hope these ideas and thoughts will only be a starting point for you.

-Memorize Scripture with your siblings. Encourage them in personal Bible reading. I know many of you are already doing that. One way my siblings and I like to get into God’s Word together is by participating in the National Bible Bee.

-Praise them! “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11). Words are so powerful – we can’t take them back after they have been spoken – why not say words that will build them up?!

-For siblings of younger ages, tell them stories or read to them. My 2 year old brother, Micah, loves to cuddle in my lap have me read a story to him. Sometimes even my siblings that are older will gather round to hear also! You can also play with them. Micah loves for me to build him big train tracks or chase him in a game of tag. It’s also fun to sing together.

-Have a party, just because! Invite them to a special time together – it could be one-on-one or all together. Have a special snack and drink, maybe play a game they enjoy.

-Take an interest in their activities. A building project with the brothers, a little bread loaf your sister made or even a simple drawing your 2 or 3 year old sibling made are opportunities to praise them!

-Including them in your activities is another wonderful way to build relationships. They will be thrilled to be doing “big people things”. If you’re washing windows, get them a rag and let them help! Letting a little sibling help you with a baking project would make them so happy.

-Give them little letters and notes. I like to write little notes with scripture or a word of encouragement or praise to them. Put them somewhere where they’ll be surprised – like on their pillow.

-Do a special project or activity together. For brothers, this might mean playing baseball or Frisbee with them, building towers together with Popsicle sticks and hot glue, going with them on hikes or ATV rides in the woods… And for sisters, you could do a baking project together, card making or do her hair a special way. If you do not sleep in the same room, let her “camp out” on your floor once in a while.

-Give them hugs and tell them “I love you” often. You never know how much more time you have with them – treasure the moments! It’s so precious to have them return the smiles and hugs.

There are many, many more ways to encourage and bless our siblings. Branch out and find new ideas and activities and make lasting memories with them. May Jesus bless you abundantly – press on, sisters!  ♥

_________________________________________ This month, KBR is hosting an “Encourage Your Siblings Challenge.” Throughout April, we are posting one article each week by big sisters, who will share encouragement and ideas for how to bless the younger siblings in our lives. We would love to hear your ideas as well – feel free to comment. _________________________________________

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By Amanda Silvey (20)
Second oldest of seven children 

The time we spend investing in the lives of our brothers and sisters is so important. Our younger siblings look up to us and, many times, we don’t realize how much they watch us. We can have a great impact through our example that we show them.

It’s very easy, especially with our younger siblings, to always be pointing out their faults. However this doesn’t help, but only hurts our relationship. We should rather seek to be building them up with words of encouragement and be patient with them (even after they’ve bothered us for the hundredth time). There’ve been many times that I have not been patient and I got frustrated and responded in anger. When I feel this way, I try to get alone and pray, asking the Lord to change my attitude. What we say and how we say it are so important. When we praise our siblings or tell them ‘great job!’ when they’ve completed a task, this will encourage them and brighten up their day.

Another way to encourage your siblings is to let the younger ones help you in things that you do. I’ve come to realize the importance of this and have seen the impact it can give. I’m somewhat of a perfectionist when it comes to baking in the kitchen, and it is sometimes hard for me to let my younger siblings help. I’d think ‘They’ll mess up everything’ or ‘she won’t know how to do it right…it’d just be easier if I did it myself.’ I’ve come to see that it’s okay if the pancake batter is a little lumpy or you have an extra mess to clean up – the memories you’ll make are worth far more than having everything ‘just so’.

Here are some things that I enjoy doing with my siblings:

• Teach them how to play an instrument. Last year I started to teach my three younger siblings how to play the piano. It has been such a rewarding experience and I’ve enjoyed watching how fast they learn! My youngest sister purchased a violin recently and she has picked up on it very quickly as well as the others. In the morning, we have a time where we practice our instruments and we enjoy getting together and playing duets and other songs together.
• On a nice day, take a blanket outside and have a picnic or just enjoy relaxing together. My two younger sisters love doing this and sometimes we’ll take out a book to read or something we’re working on.
• Make a dessert together. Some days when Dad and my brothers have been out working hard, we girls will surprise them by making a dessert for dinner that night. The boys especially like that.

Last of all, I want to encourage you to follow Jesus’ example that He patterned for us in how He humbled Himself in serving others:

“…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for many.”
{Matthew 20:28}

If we seek to do this we will be unified in our family and bring glory to God in our relationships. May the Lord richly bless you as you seek to invest in the lives of your siblings! ♥

“Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded
one toward another according to Christ Jesus: that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God,
even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
{Romans 15:5,6}

_________________________________________ This month, KBR is hosting an “Encourage Your Siblings Challenge.” Throughout April, we are posting one article each week by big sisters, who will share encouragement and ideas for how to bless the younger siblings in our lives. We would love to hear your ideas as well – feel free to comment. Feel free to tell your friends about this challenge and encourage them to join you as you “Encourage Your Siblings”! _________________________________________

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By Hope Schmidt (19)

“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without,
redeeming the time.”
{Colossians 4:5}

I have eight younger siblings, from Joy, who is two years younger than myself and my closest confident, to five energetic brothers; sensitive, five-year-old Liberty; and the baby, Grace, who is almost two.

I love them all, and wouldn’t trade my place in my family for any other position, but I also enjoy writing lists of things to do and then getting everything done. Only with so many younger siblings it is rare to get even a straight half hour of quiet without someone wanting help, wanting to tell me something, wanting to show me a picture…. Sometimes I would help my younger siblings, trying to sound cheerful even as frustration at the interruption mounted internally. More often I would, in a kind voice, tell them I was working and couldn’t come right then.

I knew my attitude was selfish, and I tried to do better and not to get irritated at interruptions, but I felt I was missing something important; that I should be doing more when it came to my younger brothers and sisters…doing more of something.

Then one day we heard a story. In it, the main characters’ world is drastically altered, and one girl mentions the fact that everything she has worked for up until then has vanished into a future that could never come to pass.

That got me thinking. If I lost all earthly possessions, what would still matter? What could I spend time on that would never be lost or destroyed? One answer stood out bold in my mind. The time I invested in my siblings and family; my relationship with them. Those minutes and hours could have eternal value as few other things could.

This is only one circumstance in a series of events which steadily rooted conviction into my soul. I began to realize my siblings were far too important to ignore in favor of my own activities. The time I invest and spend with them each day will build relationships and character that will last long after I forget how long it took me to finish me list or whether I got my book finished or not.

I am not perfect by a long stretch, but I’ve learn much in the past few months and am discovering new ways to spend time with my siblings. The four youngest siblings love to help me in the kitchen, so I make it a point of inviting one of them to help me bake. They dictate stories for me to write down or sometimes I look up pictures for them.

Then there is all of the little things. Looking at the picture my brother colored, listening to the excited but long description of a new game someone has discovered, or letting Liberty sit on my lap during Bible time instead of knitting.

Spending time with our siblings does take time, but it is time that will never be wasted. We only have twenty-four hours each day. Let’s make sure we invest our time in what really matters. ♥

_________________________________________ This month, KBR is hosting an “Encourage Your Siblings Challenge.” Throughout April, we are posting one article each week by big sisters, who will share encouragement and ideas for how to bless the younger siblings in our lives. We would love to hear your ideas as well – feel free to comment. Feel free to tell your friends about this challenge and encourage them to join you as you “Encourage Your Siblings”! _________________________________________

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By Belle Hignight (10)

Being a big sister can be a wonderful thing, if you look for all the blessings in it! I have been so blessed lately by my baby sister, Charlotte-Grace Redemption. My three sisters and I prayed that God would give us another baby. He did! When I first met her, I was so overwhelmed with joy. She was so perfect. She is now 7 months old and loves to play peek-a-boo. She loves her toes, and laughs when we read her stories. She has a basket full of toys and she knows what’s inside. She tips it over and grabs whatever toy she wants. It’s adorable!

She has two teeth now, but she likes milk a whole lot better than food. It reminds me of this verse and how we are supposed to desire God’s word. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). It has been so wonderful to watch her learn and grow. “Lo, children are a heritage from the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward” (Psalm 127:3). She now reaches out her arms when I walk by. I often wonder what she will do when she gets older and what she will like. Will she like animals like our sister Gabby or will she like crafts like me? Will she like to be home like our sister Lily or will she be lively and love to share like our sister Juliet? I guess we’ll have to find out.

I like this verse a lot: “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.” (Psalm 8:2) Charlotte has been such a blessing to our family.  ♥

What are some fun games you enjoy playing with your little siblings? Leave a comment below to share with us!

_________________________________________ This month, KBR is hosting an “Encourage Your Siblings Challenge.” Throughout April, we are posting one article each week by big sisters, who will share encouragement and ideas for how to bless the younger siblings in our lives. We would love to hear your ideas as well – feel free to comment. Feel free to tell your friends about this challenge and encourage them to join you as you “Encourage Your Siblings”! _________________________________________

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by Beth Thompson

“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love;
in honour preferring one another.”
{Romans 12:10}

What precious gifts the LORD has given us in our siblings! I thank GOD daily for these family friendships that He has blessed me with; relationships that are used as teaching tools by the LORD to grow and mature me into the woman that He desires me to be.

I am often reminded of how fleeting these years with our siblings are, and how important it is to be making the most of each moment that the LORD gives us as older sisters. What memories do I desire to have when I look back at this season as a daughter and sister at home? Memories of being too busy with my list and schedule to play music duets with my brother? Or that I took the time to step out of the whirlwind of the things that need to be done, and into the world of a child? I want to remember laughing, playing, and rejoicing with my siblings.

What are some practical ways that we can invest in our brothers and sisters? Our siblings need to know that we love them, not just “in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18) The verbal “I love you,” before bed each night is not enough. Our brothers and sisters must know that we enjoy being with them, and that we delight in being their older sisters.

We must include them in our lives, even when it is sometimes more work to make bread with my little sisters than simply to do it by myself. The shining faces over the supper table, when two delighted little girls declare, “We helped bake this bread,” more than make up for the extra time and effort it took to include them in the task.

Some other ways we can love our siblings are:

• Giving them lots of hugs.
• Greet them with smiles.
• Ask them to spend time with you, instead of the other way around. Younger siblings are usually the ones to ask the older sister (or brother) for some attention. Would it not bless them if their sister came to invite them to join her on a walk, take part in a science experiment, or have a mini tea party?
• Spend time talking with them and listen to what they share with you; what they tell you is meaningful to them.
• Look for ways to make their day special. A sweet note or a cup of tea can brighten anyone’s day!
• Be quick to praise them, and slow to criticize or grow frustrated.
• Pray with them and for them. This is incredibly strengthening in our friendships, and faith building to see the LORD answer pray so faithfully.

That is truly what we desire most in our sibling relationships: to seek the LORD together. ♥

_________________________________________ This month, KBR is hosting an “Encourage Your Siblings Challenge.” Throughout April, we are posting one article each week by big sisters, who will share encouragement and ideas for how to bless the younger siblings in our lives. We would love to hear your ideas as well – feel free to comment. Feel free to tell your friends about this challenge and encourage them to join you as you “Encourage Your Siblings”! _________________________________________

This Month’s Desktop Wallpaper