Big Brother,

You gave up so much for your younger siblings.

You practically co-parented with Momma to get us where we all are now, often working long hours to help pay bills, sacrificing going out with friends and having a blast, as most teenagers do. No, instead, you babysat, worked, helped with homework and supper and even put us down for bed on school nights.

I hated it whenever you babysat. I never cared much for authority, and you ruled with a seemingly-iron fist whenever Momma was away. I know now that you were simply attempting to do your best. You and I didn't usually get along much when you babysat, but when we went off with your friends, we clicked as brothers ought. Your friends loved me, I was the "cool kid brother," and I always had a blast.

You always spoke to us as equals, even though you clearly had the authority. You spoke wisely beyond your years when encouraging us to be our best, and your words worked. Especially when it came to school. You never forfeited an opportunity to remind us how important school was for our futures. That is one thing I never took for granted. It's what spurred me to learn to enjoy going to school each day to learn new and incredible things from my amazing, influential educators at my dedicated, publicly-funded schools, and now here I am, three months shy of graduating from App State. Thank you for giving me the drive and determination to make it here.

Most importantly, thank you for teaching me that being who I am is okay. I'll never forget the day you caught 11 year-old me using your laptop (the only computer in the house and one I did not have permission to use). In fact, I wasn't actually using it when you caught me; you searched the history and found some less-than-appealing URLs that you had not visited.

You sat me down, and wrote up a poem in under a half-hour. As far as I have ever found, it is an original piece written by you:

"I am whoever I am.

Who I am today, may not be the same tomorrow.

Either way, I will love and appreciate myself, because I know that I am the child of a loving and caring Creator and that I am wonderfully and fearfully made in His image.

My God says, "Be still and know that I am God."

He is my comfort, my strength and I know He loves me EXACTLY the way He created me.

I am whoever I am, and I am loved...

Loved by my family,

Loved by my friends.

Loved by my God, Father Almighty.

I am whoever I am."

-M. Comer, 2004

You assured me that I did not have to be ashamed of myself, a message in juxtaposition with the one our backwoods Southern Baptist church thundered from the pulpit on a recurring basis. I began to feel a sense of confidence in myself after that day, seemingly-borne from a decision you made to take an hour from your life to explain to me your story, how things happened when you came out, and how you learned to be happy with yourself.

I can't ever express how grateful I am that you were there for us youngins.

Your influence on me, personally, is something I cherish, because I would not be who I am today without having you there to help raise me, mold me into a young mind capable of seeing the potential perfection in everything.

I love you, big brother.