Serendipity

I am a man who holds but a few precious possessions in my life. It is the comfort that I grew to understand in my late teens and early 20s. It is not a matter that should be looked at with sadness. Yes, it was a hard time, and circumstances were not favorable, but it taught me a great deal about myself. I spent my teen years figuring out what I wanted and chasing financial and status gain to make up for what I felt I lacked. In doing so, the failures I faced became hardwired into who I would become—the fears, traumas, and even love.

Those close to me understand one thing about me: I would find redemption in my life. I would make a change that even to them seemed so sudden. A selfish boy would learn to love and sacrifice. I attribute this change to my wife and her sisters. What started as nothing but a relationship turned into a course of action that, through ripples, created something incredible.

There will be those who do not understand, and those who will understand only what they decide to take away. I understand simply what I’ve come to love and why this love became my driving force through my 20s. I became their superhero—someone they could lean on, someone who would be there for them no matter what. I finally understood what it meant to truly love someone and sacrifice so they would smile. I understood very quickly this wasn’t just a girlfriend and her sister, but this was going to be my wife and my sisters. For as long as I can remember, my wife’s sisters have always called me their older brother. This is a title I wear proudly. I wear it with a badge of honor, and with that badge also came being their superhero. The responsibility I held was to make sure they too would have a fair opportunity at life.

It was because of this relationship that I found it in myself to reflect upon past actions and fix what I had avoided for too long. How could I be their superhero if I could see a darker villain who had hurt others? Through time and patience, I mended relationships that were important and learned to be a better son, brother, and friend so that for those who see me as their superhero, I would at least know in my heart, for them, I try.

You will never know the impact you had on my life. The three of you became my pride and joy, my anchor for when I felt like I was drifting away. What you gave me was another chance to be a decent human—a superhero who could at least try to make those I love smile. I am far from perfect and will even faulter at times, but I will never forget why I am where I am. Because I am your husband, because I am your older brother, you also gave me the chance to be a son and older brother to those who needed me. Thank you.