My brother
My brother was hurt... and I think that I finally understand the meaning of family.
I used to think that family were people who hurt you.
Abused you.
Left you in the cold, all so they could feel better about themselves by gluing the broken pieces of you back together.
But I called him, it was the best I could do.
I realized that I couldn't define family by my family's definitions.
I realized that to understand family truly, I had to understand it from the perspective of one who had actually experienced the "true" meaning of family.
People who care about how you feel, and care about what you do; not just because it interests them, but because they care about you, and what you care about.
So let me talk about something I have never known...
Not family.
Not brotherhood.
Not friendship.
Let me talk about a phrase I've heard from many of my family members in the service of our country.
I've heard it in many movies, and I'm sure you have as well.
The phrase is "Life's honor."
It has been my life's honor to know such a man, let alone be called brother by him.
I am as worthy as they come, so please don't think that I'll go that route.
None have stood the line with me as he has.
None have shown me the candor, the honesty, and the patience he has.
None have so welcomed my psychotic ass into their life the way he has.
He has been my shield when I had naught to defend myself. When I was stripped bare of all feeling and reason. when I was broken into pieces so small they were almost invisible to the naked eye.
He has been my strength of arms when I was too weak to strike. He is the reason now that I refuse to yield to anyone or anything.
He has with great patience helped me to rebuild myself, each time, closer to my castle.
Every time there has been a point where I could turn my back on what I truly want from life.
Every time There was a valid reason to just become a weapon, instead of a person.
Every time I could have just divorced myself of the things that make me human...
He has been there. For me; not himself.
So when I say that knowing him, and being his brother, is my life's honor...
understand that my life would hold no honor, no love, no respect... were it not for him.
When I was weak and wandering, he brought me to the path of strength, helped me take those two important steps that set my path aright.
The first and the last.
Through accident alone has he caused me harm, and I know in my heart... that for the good he has done, I could forgive him anything.
I am no phoenix, because a phoenix rises from its ashes unaided... I have had help each time.
I have had my brother.
I assure you, each time I shake charred feathers from my shoulders, they are not those of a phoenix.
And each time it happens, I swear that I will be a better man than the one I have been.
Thank you Greg, with everything I am.
-Gideon
I used to think that family were people who hurt you.
Abused you.
Left you in the cold, all so they could feel better about themselves by gluing the broken pieces of you back together.
But I called him, it was the best I could do.
I realized that I couldn't define family by my family's definitions.
I realized that to understand family truly, I had to understand it from the perspective of one who had actually experienced the "true" meaning of family.
People who care about how you feel, and care about what you do; not just because it interests them, but because they care about you, and what you care about.
So let me talk about something I have never known...
Not family.
Not brotherhood.
Not friendship.
Let me talk about a phrase I've heard from many of my family members in the service of our country.
I've heard it in many movies, and I'm sure you have as well.
The phrase is "Life's honor."
It has been my life's honor to know such a man, let alone be called brother by him.
I am as worthy as they come, so please don't think that I'll go that route.
None have stood the line with me as he has.
None have shown me the candor, the honesty, and the patience he has.
None have so welcomed my psychotic ass into their life the way he has.
He has been my shield when I had naught to defend myself. When I was stripped bare of all feeling and reason. when I was broken into pieces so small they were almost invisible to the naked eye.
He has been my strength of arms when I was too weak to strike. He is the reason now that I refuse to yield to anyone or anything.
He has with great patience helped me to rebuild myself, each time, closer to my castle.
Every time there has been a point where I could turn my back on what I truly want from life.
Every time There was a valid reason to just become a weapon, instead of a person.
Every time I could have just divorced myself of the things that make me human...
He has been there. For me; not himself.
So when I say that knowing him, and being his brother, is my life's honor...
understand that my life would hold no honor, no love, no respect... were it not for him.
When I was weak and wandering, he brought me to the path of strength, helped me take those two important steps that set my path aright.
The first and the last.
Through accident alone has he caused me harm, and I know in my heart... that for the good he has done, I could forgive him anything.
I am no phoenix, because a phoenix rises from its ashes unaided... I have had help each time.
I have had my brother.
I assure you, each time I shake charred feathers from my shoulders, they are not those of a phoenix.
And each time it happens, I swear that I will be a better man than the one I have been.
Thank you Greg, with everything I am.
-Gideon