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from Cossondra I watched a short video today in which an actor demonstrated how children of different birth orders would probably get a stuck Frisbee out of a tree. The oldest got a broom and loosened the disc, so it fell. The middle child threw a football at the Frisbee and knocked it out of the tree. The youngest child left the disc in the tree and ordered another from Amazon. In another video, he demonstrated how they would get into a pool. The oldest slipped in quietly. The middle child ran and splashed into the pool. The youngest stayed inside and looked disgusted that there even was a pool, or siblings. In both of these videos, the oldest had a quieter, more reserved approach, while the middle child relished opportunities to be rough and make a big splash. And, in both situations, the youngest child just didn't want to be bothered. Obviously, there are exceptions to these stereotypes, but birth order tendencies are natural because of many things, including parenting styles. (If you would like to know more, there was an official birth order theory developed about a hundred years ago.) Perhaps the descriptions of oldest/middle/youngest fit your children, or maybe they match you and your siblings. They might even describe you and your friends or even your workmates. Think about it. Do birth order personalities show up in your home, even if it is just you and a spouse or a roommate? Could trouble with a co-worker come down to consequences of birth order? Let's look at a couple of Biblical birth orders: Cain and Abel, Esau and Jacob, Joseph and his 11 older brothers and one younger, David and his older brothers. It would be interesting to understand how birth order played into their stories. However, looking at this list, I don't see any patterns. Cain was the older brother, but he doesn't come across as thoughtful and cautious as Abel's murderer. Esau was the older of the twins but sold his birthright and opened the door for Jacob to fall into deceit. They didn't get along enough to have much of a relationship until much later in their lives. Joseph was number 12 of 13 boys, and it seems that the baby, Benjamin, was the only one who didn't dislike Joseph. Of course, there was a lot more going on there than birth order. Those boys had a lot of baby mamas. That is rarely conducive to harmony. And, finally, David. David had seven older brothers who didn't think much of him, but he was the one God chose to be king, warrior, and scripture writer, not one of the older, taller, stronger brothers. Even though I do believe that birth order does affect the way we think and act, I also believe that God doesn't deal with stereotypes. He wants willing hearts who will trust and obey Him. Are you a younger born whose older siblings picked on and harassed you for being spoiled? Don't let that type of thinking hold you back. Don't listen to the whispers in your mind telling you that you are a dumb kid. Embrace God-inspired ideas and go after them! Are you an older born who gets tired even today of being responsible for everyone and everything? Don't feel bad about taking a breather. Time to refocus and regenerate can always be profitable. But embrace the giftings of organization and big-picture imaginings that God has given you. Middle child? Somewhere in the middle, even? But, whether you were a boisterous kid or a peacemaker, both skills are still needed in adults. Families, workplaces, and churches need energetic people to achieve and build. All of those places need peacemakers, too. I encourage you, readers, to ask God if something stereotypical is holding you back. And, ask Him what it is. If it is something as recognizable as birth order, pray-vestigate what you need to do to step out. Me? Oh, I'm an only child. Oldest and youngest all at the same time. We have no issues with each other. My folks got it right the first time.
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