He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother

November 19, 2025

From the very beginning of Scripture, Genesis introduces us to stories of brothers in conflict. Cain murders his brother Abel (Genesis 4:1–15). Isaac and Ishmael stand at odds, culminating in Isaac’s mother sending Ishmael and his mother, Hagar, into the desert (Genesis 21:1–21). Jacob and Esau begin their rivalry even in the womb, and it ultimately leads Jacob to deceive their father, Isaac, to take Esau’s birthright (Genesis 25:29–34). Joseph’s brothers, consumed by jealousy, plot against him and sell him into slavery (Genesis 37:18–36). Later, Eliab—overlooked by the prophet Samuel as a future king—treats his brother David with disdain and accuses him of arrogance (1 Samuel 17:28–52).

While Scripture gives us many examples of sibling conflict, my own story with my brother is very different, and today, November 19^th, is my little brother’s 55^th birthday!

Here’s a picture of when we were younger and our dad took us to Dinosaur Land in Virginia…

Here is a more recent photo of us outside Dracula’s Castle in Bran, Romania…

When my brother and I were growing up, we certainly had our share of arguments. I vividly remember one occasion when my dad stepped in, sat us down, and played the Hollies’ “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother.” He talked to us about the importance of loving one another and reminded us that someday we would need each other.

That day came years later, when our father died suddenly at the age of fifty-seven. We had always cared deeply for one another, but from that moment on my brother and I held even tighter—drawing closer, talking more often, sharing life, and remembering together.

Through every season, we have continued to support and encourage each other. Truly, next to my wife, Debbie, my brother Daric is my best friend. It’s no wonder, then, that my heart echoes the psalmist’s words: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity” (Psalm 133:1).

Not only is my brother one of my very best friends, but he is also one of my heroes. For three decades, Daric was a professor at Northern Michigan University, teaching Photography, Digital Cinema, and Computer Art. His impact on students was unmistakable, and throughout his teaching career he touched countless lives through his generosity, compassion, and dedication.

I have watched him care for our mother for years after our father passed away. I have seen his love for his wife and children, and how he has worked to teach them to leave the world a bit better than they found it—one filled with more compassion, understanding, and tolerance. I have seen him confront addiction and emerge victorious. I have melted with pride as he served as a visiting professor in Croatia and Romania. And I am constantly amazed by his art.

Check out my brother’s art, animations, and photography at: dachrist.com

In a world—and even a Bible—full of fractured relationships, I’m reminded that unity among brothers is not something to take for granted. It’s a gift. It’s a grace. And like all graces, it’s something we’re invited to steward with intentionality.

Looking back, I can see how God used both joy and sorrow to knit our hearts together. The laughter of childhood adventures, the lessons from our dad, the grief of losing both him and our mom too soon, and the years of shared life since—each moment has been a thread in the tapestry of our relationship. None of it happened by accident. Unity is something God grows, often through the very experiences that bring us to our knees.

As I celebrate my brother today, I’m also aware that not everyone has a story like ours. Some carry wounds from broken family ties. Some long for reconciliation that hasn’t yet come. Some grieve relationships that ended before healing could take place. If that’s your story, please know this: the God who heals broken hearts can also restore broken relationships. He delights in mending what has been broken, repairing what has been lost, and bringing peace where there has been pain.

And for those who, like me, have been blessed with a sibling—or a friend—who walks faithfully beside them, Psalm 133 is a reminder to treasure that unity and nurture it. We honor God when we choose forgiveness over pride, conversation over distance, and love over indifference. True unity doesn’t just happen; it grows through humility, patience, and grace. We must work at it. Paul tells us, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32) and “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10). Peter writes, “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender hear, and a humble mind” (I Peter 3:8).

Take a moment and consider where you’ve experienced unity as a gift in your own life and how God might be inviting you to nurture it with greater intentionality. Is there a relationship—whether with a brother or sister, a friend, or someone else—that may be longing for forgiveness, conversation, or renewed tenderness? Think about the small or large steps you could take this week to sow peace, humility, or compassion into a relationship that matters to you.

Reflect, too, on how God has used both joy and sorrow to shape your connections with others, and what He may be teaching you through those moments today. And finally, consider who has walked faithfully beside you and how you might honor or encourage them, or, if you carry hurt from a broken relationship, what it might look like to invite God into that pain and ask Him to begin His healing work.

So today, on his 55th birthday, I’m thanking God for the gift of my brother. I’m thanking God for a lifetime of shared memories, for the healing He brought through our grief, and for the bond that has only strengthened with time. And I’m praying that each of us would experience the good and pleasant gift of unity—in our families, in our friendships, and in the family of God.

I love you, little bro!