It’s a notable day in my house, particularly in my mind. I am sitting next to a vintage Curious George plush toy (aka stuffed animal). It belonged to my brother who would be 49 years old today. He owned several of them as he was such a fan of Curious George. His original went with him when he passed away 5 years ago. That particular George was with him when he had open heart surgery at 5 years old. It was with him during major hospital stays including his final days on earth 5 years ago. They say you can’t take it with you, but Steve was cremated alongside his favorite George. He took that one with him.
Each year on his birthday I strive to do something in remembrance of his life. Since he owned a few different Curious Georges, my sister and I each have one. Neither are of the generation of his original but they are unlike the modern versions. Tonight I sit watching television with family and George. My wife and I along with one of our sons sipped on a beverage known as Monkey Shoulder.
It reminds me that each generation is unique in various ways. My brother, born 5+ years after me was very different to myself in many ways. We enjoyed some of the same hobbies and interests but thought differently. I was born between the boomers and Gen X. Steve was clearly a Gen X’er. I think our older sister is a little more boomer.
The reading in my lenten study for today was from Psalm 77 which is a Psalm of lament. Lament is something I have learned to embrace over the years. Yet it always turns to the truths of God’s goodness. Interestingly it precedes Psalm 78 which speaks of telling the future generations of the glorious things that God has done.
Every generation needs to hear of the goodness of God. Each generation is different in how they hear this truth and how we communicate it to them. Even in our families we deal with different ways of thinking while we may share the same interests. My brother understood the goodness of God and accepted the mystery of why his life was cut short.
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