This story evolves from being primarily about envy between brothers into a story about healing trauma, releasing resentment, and accepting the imperfection of those we love. In that sense, it actually moves beyond the central theme of Pope’s An Essay on Criticism and enters the territory of spiritual reconciliation. It is an encouragement to accept the holiness that is rightfully yours – you just have to gracefully accept it and reject debauchery.

The Mansions of River Oaks

In the stately River Oaks neighborhood of Houston, Texas, where ancient oaks shaded broad avenues and grand mansions stood behind iron gates, lived two brothers.

The elder brother, Nathaniel Albert, was a respected civil engineering professor at Rice University. Brilliant, disciplined, and admired by students, he had spent his life designing structures meant to endure generations. He owned a magnificent mansion in River Oaks, a spacious lake home on Lake Livingston, and was married to Sarah Mae, a woman descended from one of Texas’s oldest ranching families. Together they raised six strong sons.

His younger brother, Samuel Albert, was a nuclear chemist at Dow Chemical near Almeda Genoa Road. Quiet and thoughtful, Samuel possessed an uncommon humility despite his considerable success. He too owned a mansion in River Oaks and a lake house overlooking the waters of Lake Livingston. His wife, Lilly Mae, came from a distinguished East Texas family. Together they raised three daughters and three sons.

Outwardly, the brothers appeared equally blessed.

Yet Nathaniel carried a secret bitterness.

Ever since childhood, he believed Yahweh had favored Samuel.

When Samuel succeeded, people praised his wisdom. When Nathaniel achieved something greater, people merely expected it. When Samuel spoke, listeners leaned in. When Nathaniel spoke, listeners admired his knowledge but rarely his heart.

As the years passed, envy rooted itself deep within Nathaniel’s soul.

During family gatherings he silently counted every difference. He measured each compliment Samuel received. He weighed each blessing as though God’s grace were distributed by mathematics.

“Why him?” Nathaniel often wondered.

The holiday season approached gray day by gray day and the fiery colors of Autumn seized the leaves of the Texas Maples. Christmas was already appearing on the lanes of River Oaks in decorations and excitement in the air. Families filled neighborhood churches, golf was played  at the country club. Fundraising dinners and silent auctions were scheduled as the fourth quarter of the fiscal year was closing down. Many neighbors were headed to Aruba for Thanksgiving and Christmas however, all the pleasantries were indulged in during the holiday season in the great state of Texas. Even the children anticipated gatherings at Lake Livingston where fishing would happen and drones would be flown spectacularly.

Meanwhile, at the center of the extended family stood Esmerelda, the ninety-year-old matriarch.

While others decorated trees and hosted parties, Esmerelda devoted herself increasingly to prayer.

Each morning she sat near a window facing the rising sun with her heirloom Bible on her lap, an inheritance from her olde mother. It had been passed down for generations, oldest girl child to oldest girl child…

“The Lord is moving nations,” she would tell her grandchildren. “The will of Almighty God unfolds from the White House to every state, every military base, and every corner of the earth. Men dare to climb heights that angels themselves would refuse. Therefore guard your hearts.”

They listened politely, as these words were spoken over them by their beloved Esmeralda from their first breaths on earth until this holiday season.

Samuel and Lilly Mae listened carefully knowing that there would be a time when Esmeralda’s blessings would end. They saved her words to their hearts and they were grateful to Elohim for her love and they loved her in return.

Nathaniel dismissed her concerns. He remembered that she was not perfect. He could only see her as the mother who pulled a gun on him. As Samuel’s senior by four years he knew the real Esmeralda. He despised her for falling on that day long ago. He despised Samuel because he never knew that version of Esmeralda.

“The world belongs to those who build it,” he would say.

One December evening, the entire family gathered at Nathaniel’s mansion. After dinner, a heated discussion arose about world affairs, power, and influence. Nathaniel spoke confidently. “Human progress depends on great men,” he declared. “Knowledge, science, engineering, government, these determine the future.”

Samuel responded gently. “Knowledge is valuable. But wisdom begins with humility before God.”

Nathaniel laughed. “There you go again. The family saint.” The room fell silent.

Esmerelda looked at her eldest son with sorrow. Then she quoted a line she often used when discussing arrogance. “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” Nathaniel recognized the sentiment from Pope’s An Essay on Criticism. Esmerelda continued…

“The greatest blindness comes when we believe we can judge better than Heaven.”

Those words lingered long after the guests departed. That night Nathaniel could not sleep.

He walked alone through his mansion, passing trophies, awards, framed degrees, and photographs commemorating decades of achievement.

Yet the house felt strangely empty.

For the first time in years he confronted a painful truth. His anger was not truly directed at Samuel nor his mother Esmeralda.

It was directed at Adonai.

He had spent decades arguing with Heaven because Heaven had not distributed blessings according to his calculations.

Months later, severe flooding struck portions of Texas. Engineers, scientists, emergency responders, and community leaders worked together to protect lives and property.

Nathaniel and Samuel found themselves serving side by side.

Watching his younger brother labor tirelessly for strangers without seeking recognition, Nathaniel finally understood something he had overlooked all his life.

Samuel was not favored because he was more gifted.

Samuel appeared favored because he remained grateful. No, Esmeralda never pulled a gun on Samuel, she also never pulled the gun on Nathaniel again.  Esmeralda never pulled that trigger either. What Yahweh knew, what all angels knew is that the gun had a squib lodged in the barrel. Had Esmeralda pulled that trigger both she and Nathaniel would have died in a horrific explosion.

This is a truth that Esmeralda will never know until she is reunited beyond the veil with her beloved husband. While in the body we can only “see” what we need to see… that’s why it’s important to do what’s right and what’s best by Holy Spirit help and guidance as there is no guilt or transgression there.

One evening after relief work concluded, the brothers sat on Nathaniel’s dock at Lake Livingston.

The sun disappeared beyond the water.

“Nathaniel,” Samuel said quietly, “you’ve always been my hero.”

The words shattered decades of resentment.

For years Nathaniel had imagined a rivalry. For years Nathaniel had lived in fear. Fear of the mother he adored. Frustration in himself for his inability to communicate openly with her, to trust her. He needed her to be more than human.  For all the times she prayed for him. He never prayed for her.

Samuel himself, had never been competing, he truly loved and admired his brother.

Tears filled the older brother’s eyes. At last he confessed the bitterness he had carried and why. The old trauma of never being able to accept that Emmanuel blesses imperfect humans, imperfect parents.

Samuel listened and then embraced him. Esmeralda had confessed to Samuel and Lilly Mae that yes, a day did come when she pulled a gun on Nathaniel. Samuel was crushed for a time but he understood cause and effect scientifically as well as the end result:  She pulled the gun but not the trigger. In science, many experiments go wrong – rarely does an experiment begin and not be completed. Esmeralda, his beloved mother, resisted what was in motion…she was able to stop while physics was in operation on matter – her.  Samuel knew his mother was truly human AND truly in love with Jehovah and with the humans that came forth from her own soul – Nathaniel first and then himself.

The burden that had haunted Nathaniel for most of his life dissolved from his mind and heart and drained down into the waters of Lake Livingston and floated away on the current.

Meanwhile, Esmerelda continued her prayers, giving thanks to Yahweh in praise and love.

When the celebration of  Emmaneul’s birth in the form of a man arrived, the family gathered again, not as competitors but as brothers and sisters united in gratitude under the feathers of the Almighty God Jehovah who is merciful and wants no one to be destroyed but for all to attain eternal life and keep it in peace and love.

Nathaniel finally understood what neither education nor success had taught him.

Sorrow and unforgiveness had nearly destroyed him. He grieved the perfect mother he longed for her to be.

Humility had saved him. He chose to love his mother and himself for just who they were warts and all. Would he ever allow his mother to have a gun? No way! He loves her and himself just the same. Even more so, he was no longer upset with Yahweh Yireh, for the mother Adonai provided is imperfectly perfect for the whole family.

Holy Spirit brought back to his memory the ancient admonition:

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV): “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

The Albert Family lands were healed, their sins forgiven, they heard from heaven, their wicked ways were ended forever, they saw the face of Jehovah, their prayers were approved and answered, they were forever humbled and called by Adonai’s name:  Adonai’s people forever.

Selah.

Moral

Those who seek the kingdom of God discover that His wisdom is greater than human judgment, and memories of pain. Jehovah’s favor is Jehovah’s favor and only one marked for destruction opposes His chosen ones.

Contact: mscoletha@mscoletha.org