Dear Brother,

Last night our family celebrated my dad's birthday. I wish you were present, even in spirit, but you have chosen to once again hurt my parents. The phone phone message you attempted to leave only resulted in a saddened expression on my father's face as he listened to a dial tone.

Throughout your life, my parents have nurtured and strengthened you, encouraged and guided your paths. Your happiness was all that they asked in return. When you went through a particularly difficult time, they were there, standing by your side, both prayerfully and financially. But instead of honoring them by being a man of character, you chose to stand behind a wife that continues to be disrespectful, hurtful, and dishonest to me and my parents. You let her make our family decisions when she does not have our best interest at heart. You will not stand up to her hurtful remarks, her selfish acts, and rudeness. You don't even return calls for fear that you might be spending too much time with our family and not hers. When my sister-in-law was dying, I didn't receive one phone call or word of support from you. And after she had passed, my mother called your wife to let her know and she promptly changed the subject and talked about how school was hectic for her.

The holidays are approaching and we are bracing for yet another let down. Will she invite herself and her cousins over to my parents house for Thanksgiving? Do you think it's right to pressure my mother to cook and entertain your family for several days when her health issues make it difficult to do so? How about the broken or used gifts she hands to us every Christmas? You sit there and watch my mother unwrap a broken gift that your wife doesn't even offer to exchange for her. And dad receives clothing that is clearly 2 sizes too small. How about the many times I received a sweater that was faded, with colors that had run, or had the care tags and labels cut out so that I couldn't possibly exchange it for my size? This, on top of her presenting a Christmas wish list to us before October. Gifts that cost well over what she would even consider spending on my family collectively. And yet, my parents do it because, after all, they love you and want to make you happy.

I just tried calling you and got your voicemail. I doubt you'll call me back because you are a coward. All I wanted to express was to please call my parents and just talk to them. They miss you and would love nothing more than to just hear your voice and talk about nothing. I don't care if you never talk to me but please don't take my parents for granted.

Signed,

your forgotten sister