Miss sparring verbally with my brother!
Miss midnight tête-à-têtes with my sisters!
However, think Reconciliation Day just won’t ever visit me within my lifetime. Guess those familial wounds are far too deep to overcome and animosity is much too wide to bridge.
Remain crestfallen because the white flag that I had always waved for decades has been tragically ignored.
So, coming to terms that my search for a harmonious amnesty or Christian healing just won’t avail itself to me. Accepted my fate and realize that my valiant efforts are a washed in the proverbial toilet!
Pitiful!
Watch with tormented sadness and sometimes with a tinge of envy when I observe my BFF (Wesley) frolicking with his brother. Left in quizzical wonderment as to how they were able to maintain nearly 60 years of respectful camaraderie without acrimony?
Left in wonderment if their brotherly relationship has ever had acidic moments that jeopardized their kinship? Left in wonderment if given the same set of circumstances that I experienced could Wesley’s and Chuck’s kumbaya have survived?
Left in wonderment if they would ever allow petty misunderstandings to fester and irretrievably torch their family’s unity to the point that their relationship would become encrust in muck, mire, and in quick-sand as it did to my family?
Left in wonderment if these brothers would “air” their malarkey publicly?
Just wondering!
As for wishful thinking….
Wished that Wesley’s mom and dad could have replaced my deadbeat parents. Marvel over the fact that his mom and dad taught them that “blood is thicker than water” and that no ill-will should ever jar the family’s continuity and love nor should bitterness sour relationships permanently.
Sometimes my wishful thinking did not end with the Burkett family.
Frequently wished that I had been biologically supplanted into the lives of Martin III, Yolanda, Dexter, and Bernice. Similarly to Wesley, these iconic kids seemed to have had everything that I ever wished, wanted, prayed, and coveted for—- pedigreed parents who sincerely epitomized agape love and who constantly modeled and practiced the Christian doctrine of forgiveness.
Then I learned….
Read with disdain that the mortal sin that often plagues families has, regrettably, visited the King children, as well.
In essence, a relational warfare exists between sister and brothers over their dad’s (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) Nobel Peace Prize medal and his Bible.
Frankly, smell a hint of money, greed, and a host of serpents disguised as high-priced lawyers!
Speaking from experience, fear and foresee hardened malice, maligned reputations, hatred, and a probability that ongoing acrimonious disagreements could fragment all possibilities of reunification.
Suggest some shuttle diplomacy!
Take it from me. Do you really want to permanently ravage the love that you have for one another simply because of some mementoes and artifacts?
Give me a break, folks!
Take it from me. Would personally forfeit any tangible good that I possess in exchange for the loving embrace from each of my siblings.
Take it from me. Without hesitation, would gladly give my left arm and right leg just to have an opportunity to glance at and engage with my brother and sisters one more time.
Take it from me. Would empty my bank accounts just to have another festive moment with my siblings during the upcoming Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving holidays.
Take it from me. Would run a marathon if I could arrange for my siblings to meet, for the first time, my beautiful daughter who is their only niece.
Take it from me. Would instantly trade my wretched position with Dr. King’s children. Just name the day, the place, and the time!
And, take it from me. No amount of riches could ever replace a treasured bond with family members!
Although no family is immune to drama, evil, and disputes, let’s remain prayerful that the defiant infighting and wrong-headed battles that currently exist within my family, the King family or even maybe your family quickly ceases because no matter who wins, invariably, the relationship loses!
