This past week I finished up my finals, packed up the room I had been living in for the past nine months and made the drive home for the summer.

I got home and started helping my mom with a few tasks and chores she needed done, I helped my sister fix a pair of broken sunglasses and accompanied my mom in the barn to doctor a horse with an infection.

I seemed to easily fall back into my role of “big sister” as I took charge of the tasks that needed to be dealt with.

From a young age, I seemed to know my role as the helper and being the older child. I enjoyed helping my mom fold laundry – mostly the towels and washcloths because folding squares and rectangles was a concept I could understand. I liked to hold my little sister and help feed her and dress her with my parents.

Throughout the years, this helping became more significant. I offered my sister advice and recommended what I thought was best for her. I became my mother’s right hand woman, helping in the barn, in the house, running errands, and other day-to-day tasks.

When I left for college, I was worried about how my sister and mom would continue without my help in the house. My sister never had the role of big sister so I wasn’t sure if she would be able to take on the task of helping my mom out the way I did. I also knew that without me there, she wouldn’t have someone to go to when she needed to talk. The dynamic of the house would change when I moved away and I was worried about how this would affect them both.

It did change when I left. My mom picked up more of the workload on her own and my sister tried to fill in where she could.

When I came home however, it was easy to glide back into my role of being the older sister and it wasn’t until then that I noticed how important it is that I’ve played this role in life. Being away showed just how big my role was in our home.

Because I’ve been a big sister, I now know how to listen and give advice. I can lend an ear and open arms, be understanding and compassionate.

Because I’ve been a big sister, I know how to be a leader and make decisions that benefit not only myself. I know that being a leader is teaching and choosing to be a role model.

Because I’ve been a big sister, I know how to offer help when it’s needed. I know when to lend a hand, jump in and start completing tasks and when I’m just simply in the way.

Because I’ve been a big sister, I know responsibility. I know how to do chores, meet deadlines, be on time, and many other essentials to being responsible.

Because I’ve been a big sister, I know what it means to be an important puzzle piece in the bigger picture.

I’m so thankful to be a part of something that needs my puzzle piece to complete a full, functional picture. Without it, the picture still remains but is not quite as great as it is with all the pieces together.