I'm trying something a little different. Here's a testimony as if written by James the Apostle and brother of Jesus:
People always ask me if it must have been hard growing up with Jesus as my older brother. Didn’t I always feel inadequate when I compared myself to Him? Wasn’t I ever jealous of His gifts and talents? Didn’t I resent Him? People who ask such questions don’t know my brother very well. Jesus was always there when I needed Him. He never made me feel small or stupid when I asked Him for wisdom and guidance, and He always gave me much more than I asked for, and occasionally a lot more than I wanted. I will admit it sometimes felt hard to keep up with Him, but He never once gave me the impression that He was impatient with my slow and sometimes crooked progress. I always wanted to plan things out and have everything prepared and only act when I was good and ready. But Jesus taught me that you can’t plant any seeds without getting a little dirty and that faith was often a messy process, but if I would just keep putting one foot in front of the other, He’d be right there by my side to help clean up afterwards. Who could ask for a better brother? Who could possibly resent someone as meek and lowly and kind and gracious and loving as He? I bear my witness that Jesus is my Brother, and He is your Brother, in His name, Amen.
