A Short Article on Being Twins

The relationship began at conception.  Though the cell split apart at the time, no one would be able to split us apart.  Twins enjoy a relationship that is as unique as twins are themselves. Jamie and I were always together from day one. Some claim that twins lack identity, but nothing could be further from the truth. Being a twin not only made you more aware of your own identity, but unique because you shared an identity as well.  Few have such a gift.  Thus when we would walk into a room together, part of the thrill was standing beside your other half.  We didn’t think anything of answering to Jamie or Jeremy.  We knew that if a stranger smiled and said Hi, we were likely meeting a friend of our brother. Growing up we always dressed alike.  We would argue at times about what to wear because we would rather dress alike than each wear what they chose for that day.  I trusted him to represent me rightly and I believe he felt the same. I know not what it is like to have a non-twin sibling. Thus the only way I know how to describe our relationship is to compare it to that of a marriage.  As with marriage, your lives are blended together as one. But a key difference with twins is that the relationship was there from day one.  Thus you learn about the world around you with your twin by your side.  You grow to appreciate what you’ve always had and to treasure the one God created you with.

At times we would have fun on the phone because our voices sounded so much alike. I can remember one night I stopped by the conference office and visited with him. I called Erin his wife at home and pretended to be Jamie. We both silently snickered as I created a tall tale on the phone. We really had her going. 

 “Are you twins?” was a common question but one I never tired of.  I will miss being mistaken for my brother.  I will miss being referred to as “the twins.”  Though Jamie can no longer represent me, I will seek to do so for him. Others may now see what Jamie would have looked like as he got older. But more than that, I will keep smiling, laughing, communicating, and sharing like Jamie. For that was his mission as is mine and now I will seek to do for both of us what we once shared in accomplishing. 

Jamie was a gift God gave me from conception and though I was only able to enjoy him for 29 ½ years, I will always treasure that gift and await the day in which I can enjoy again that special bond that exists between a set of twins.