Miles Smiles

Whenever I move to a new place and new people ask me about my family I always respond by saying that my brothers are my life heroes and my best friends. And it’s true. My brothers are my heroes because I learn so much from them in the way that they live their lives. They’re also my best friends because they’re extremely supportive and encouraging. I am so thankful that God has blessed me with 2 amazing brothers!

Today is Miles 23^rd birthday so I want to dedicate this post to him…

I appreciate how Miles is such a great leader. He has always been a leader- whether it was on the highschool football or quizbowl team, or if it was on the Wheaton tennis team, or for the Stars group (organization that he was in charge of at Wheaton for the mentally and physically handicapped.) Miles has a very unique ability to lead his peers and earn their respect with his confidence and humility.

I appreciate how Miles is such a hard worker. Miles has always worked extremely hard in his sports and in school. A good example of this is few years ago we were on a family trip and Miles was preparing for the MCAT so he would take half the day and study even though we were all on the beach playing with the family. That’s the difference between Miles and I…This past family vacation I was studying for my PT licensure exam and I could barely get myself to study because I wanted to be outside with the fam. I just don’t have the same work ethic and drive as him, and honestly I don’t know many people that do. Miles has always worked hard in everything throughout his life.

I appreciate how Miles is a great friend. I remember being at Miles and Emily’s wedding last summer and looking around at all the friends who care about him and appreciate him so much. Miles is someone who would drop anything in order to help out a friend in any way possible. Miles is one of the most loyal guys and I can tell that all of his friends feel that and really appreciate that about him.

I appreciate how Miles loves his family. He is a super busy guy trying to do med school well, be a good husband, and have a social life but yet he always makes time for Vince, my parents and I. He’s always making time to talk to me about life and give me encouragement and support on whatever I need. A good example of his love and sacrifice for his family is that Emily and him drove back to Ames for a less than 24 hr trip with the sole purpose being seeing me after I returned all jetlagged and sick from Kenya and before I moved out to CO the following day.

I appreciate Miles’ marriage with Emily. 1) I appreciate how he chose such an amazing wife because now he has an incredible woman to spend the rest of his life growing and learning with, but more selfishly I have an awesome sister-in-law ; ) 2) I appreciate how he loves and serves his wife. It has been amazing for me to see Miles become such a godly husband who pursues his wife and puts her first. I love seeing how their relationship is focused on Christ and it’s really neat to see a relationship that demonstrates the relationship between Christ and his bride, the church, so well. He lives out what Tim Keller says in The Meaning of Marriage “Marriage was designed to be a reflection of the saving love of God for us in Jesus Christ.”

I appreciate how Miles is devoted to his relationship with God. He has always been so faithful in spending time with the Lord every day. If you’ve seen Miles’ bookshelf before then you can tell that he loves digging into theological books. He is always reading deep Christian material in order to grow and be challenged in his faith.

I appreciate Miles’ hearts for missions. After spending one month in Kenya doing medical missions I’ve realized how much I admire his heart for doing the same because I realized how hard it is. He spent a whole semester in Ecuador apart from Emily (his girlfriend at the time, wife now) volunteering at a mission hospital because that is where his heart is. And now he’s going to Peru all summer to do more research and medical missions. It’s a big deal for him to give up his last summer ever to do that, especially when his wife doesn’t get to be there with him for the first month of it. The strong passion and calling he feels for medical missions is obvious with the amount of sacrifices he’s willing to make in order to serve on these trips.

My heart is full today with gratitude. I am thankful for my brother Miles and I am so proud of him for the man of God he has become.

(The above collage Miles made me for a Christmas gift recently! My favorite pic is the leotard one in the center)