The princess and her knight: Happy 30th, Josh!

Today marks my oldest brother’s 30th birthday! I figure that such a momentous birthday milestone should warrant a Josh appreciation blog post of its own.

My brother and I are 7 years apart. We haven’t always been close, but I have always looked up to him (both figuratively and literally. I’m short, he’s tall).

I consider him to be a knight in my family-tale, not just because he looks out for me, but because he has a heart of gold when it comes to protecting the lost and broken in this world. Not a day goes by without him thinking of someone else and how he can help them.

He’s always been fiercely protective of others. His heart has reached out to so many people and animals that it can get hard to keep track of who we include in our family.

One time, when he was about 12, he invited a 49-year-old homeless man to come live with us. That man became Uncle Wayne for many years.

Josh’s love of strangers is something I admire about him. There isn’t a more Christ-like attribute that I can think of than loving the poor and downtrodden and yearning to improve their lives.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from him, it’s that people are more than their pasts and their misgivings. Its up to us to see passed those things to the essence of who they are—children of God.

Personally, I know that if I needed anything, he’d run to my aid. He protects his people.

So it is with a happy heart that I wish Joshua, my big brother, a Happy 30th Birthday! May he continue to bless this world with his love for humanity and continue to inspire the good in those around him.