Brotherly Love

In I John 4:20-21 the scriptures reads, " If someone says, "I Love God" and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him; that he who loves God must love his brother also."
This part of scripture is used to direct us to love each other and doesn't apply specifically to the biological relationship between two or more brothers. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ, yet I am reminded of this scripture when I think of two of my favorite students Wade and Walt Hill.
Wade and Walt are brothers, one in the 7th grade the other in the 8th grade. They are participants in our 7th and 8th grade spring league. Despite demands on their time including school work, and baseball they have yet to miss one of the 6 week, Tuesday night basketball clinics. When Wade and Walt enter the gym it is always a joy. It will lift me up just a little. Walt will always greet me with an emphatic, " Hey Coach!" All the older kids that coach laugh and I laugh.
These two guys are an example of brotherly love. Usually at their age you witness a lot of sibling rivalry or what I like to call, "One Upism." More times than not in the typical sibling rivalry, one would work hard to see the other one fail, rather than concentrating on succeeding themselves; but not Wade and Walt.
In spring league we pick teams and play two games. I try to always separate siblings if I can. Two weeks ago as the the two teams were playing, Wade and Walt being on different teams, Walt shot the ball and made the basket, Wade began to cheer. Then Wade made a basket, and Walt cheered. Now, the games are usually competitive, and no one wants to lose. Wade and Walt are bigger than the game. They demonstrate a love for each other that is greater than winning a spring league game. They took joy in watching each other do well. It was refreshing and forgetting the score, they both won that night.
There is no doubt the are an example of the scripture in I John, and I know God was smiling. It is a tribute to their parents as well, because I can tell there is a lot of Love in their home. Last night we finished spring league, and at the end when everyone was leaving and we were cleaning up, I saw Walt and Wade shooting baskets with their MOM. They were having a great time, and you could witness the love they have for each other. I was watching and I am sure someone else was as well-now that's setting an example.