蜜芽传媒

My brother Anthony turned 60 this weekend 鈥� a milestone birthday! He鈥檚 almost a decade older than me, so in most of my memories of him before he left home, I鈥檓 very small.听As a child, he was the only one in our house who could drive and so听he听would drive me to school. He鈥檇 often get in super late from work 鈥� 2 or 3am, as that was what his job required at the time鈥� But I鈥檇 wake him up at the crack of dawn with a cup of tea, 鈥淎nthony 鈥� I鈥檝e made you tea鈥�. He鈥檇 struggle to wake, and so I would make him another, 鈥淎nthony 鈥� I鈥檝e made you听another听cup of tea.鈥� Before I would beseech him, 鈥淎nthony, please wake up! I鈥檓 going to be laaaaate!鈥滱nd he鈥檇 dive out of bed, and get me to school!

听

When our Mum had a suspected heart attack aged just 40, he was about 17, and I was about 8. I was small and scared! And there were no adults around. He took charge. I can remember that he made me possibly the worst porridge I鈥檝e ever eaten. You could stand your spoon up in it. I think I did! I ate it without a single complaint. He then took me to school 鈥� right into my classroom. And there he stood 鈥� a 17 year old, talking to my primary school teacher explaining what had happened. I can still see him. And I still feel pride. When I think of it now 鈥� he was so young, yet he was so responsible. He didn鈥檛 have to be.

At just 17, he could have easily, and quite fairly, thought it was someone else鈥檚 responsibility. But he always stepped up. And because of that, a day well over 40 years ago is sealed so vividly in my mind. A little girl felt safer, because a teenager cared enough to act. Our actions DO make a difference. Islam teaches that sometimes it鈥檚 the smallest of deeds that matter the most. And I think it鈥檚 worth remembering that when we may doubt ourselves that the action is too small, or if we think it鈥檚 not our responsibility.听It may have been the worst porridge ever, but it was also the best porridge ever. So to all those who step up, and care, huge respect. Thanks Big Brother, and Happy 60th听Birthday.