Brother Breakfast & Our Daily Bread

This morning my two sons, eighteen months apart by birth but further apart by life circumstances, left for their second “Brother Breakfast.” My youngest announced, “We can go anywhere!” as he walked out the front door with his brother. My oldest took a few selfies and texted them to me.  Last month they went to a local coffeehouse; today it was off to Chick-fil-A. I wonder what they talk about on the drive, at the table, and as one extends his hand to hold the other's as they cross the parking lot.

Outings like "Brother Breakfast" are the most freedom my youngest will have, these times with his brother without either parent. I know that he loves these times together, just the two of them, even if he can’t verbally tell us exactly what it is that brings him joy. He smiles bigger for his brother’s pictures than he usually does for mine, and I am glad to see that difference. 

I shared the pictures my firstborn sent me. I always hope that a glimpse into our lives will be a reminder that we can pray for healing, grieve the differences, and release our expectations of how we thought life was supposed to be while still celebrating all that is good and beautiful.  Autism is hard. Disabilities are difficult. But there are still wonderful moments. There are still days of abundant joy.  So as I prepare to teach a group of high school freshmen, the class which would be my youngest’s if he could go to their school, I know that I must remember the gifts God regularly grants our family. “Give us this day our daily bread,” we pray, and He gives. 

“Be a good brother!” I told each of them as they made their way to the car. And they are.


“For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!”