My Brother’s Keeper

By Cody Seth Hatchard

My little brother, Jacob, and I do everything together. We are two years apart but almost the same size. People always ask if we are twins.

One day when we were playing, Jacob cut his finger really bad. We rushed inside to run water on his finger. While Mom checked his finger, I put my arm around him to make him feel better. He was really scared.

Mom decided that Jacob needed to go to the hospital so that they could treat his finger. Our neighbor offered to watch our little sister and asked if I wanted to go with them. I looked at Jacob. He begged me to go with him. Even though I knew it would be a long wait at the hospital, I decided to go with him. He needed me.

On the way to the hospital, Mom had me say a prayer for Jacob. When we arrived, I tried to make sure he was comfortable. We brought a water bottle with us, and I made sure I offered him lots of drinks to take his mind off his finger.

When we finally saw the doctor, I was a little scared. I didn’t know if my brother would need stitches. I knew it might hurt.

While they worked on Jacob’s finger, he screamed and cried. Mom didn’t want me to watch, so I stayed in a corner of the room while she held Jacob’s hand. Seeing him in pain made me cry, too.

Soon Jacob’s finger was bandaged and we were able to go home. Mom told me that I had been “my brother’s keeper.” She said that in a small way, I had felt how Jesus feels about us when we are sad and hurting. I am glad I was able to be there for my brother when he needed me.

Jacob and Cody Seth Hatchard, ages 6 and 8, are members of Casa Grande Second Ward, Casa Grande Arizona Stake.

Illustrated by Mark Robison