"Donald Trump's Brother"


DONALD TRUMP’S BROTHER
          Let me share one example.  I found this article this past week from the New York Times (New York Times, Horowitz).  This person is in the news presently probably more frequently than in other person in the entire world.  Everyone has an opinion regarding him.  However, this article delves more into his private and family life.  I found it interesting.  So, however you feel about the man Donald Trump, I want you to put that aside and ignore politics for a few moments. 
          Fred Trump senior, Donald’s father, became very successful as “one of the master builders of the New York boroughs” (3).  Fred’s oldest son, his namesake, Freddy Jr. was the apparent heir to the real estate empire.  Donald was eight years younger.  However, there was definitely a personality and/or gifting/talent conflict.  Freddy Jr. was the opposite of his father.  Freddy was a fun-loving, constantly joking, a more laid back type of guy who loved to imitate famous comedian W.C. Fields.  He was a handsome and sociable fellow without the aggressive, driven, perfectionist, authoritative personality of his father or younger brother Donald.
          Freddy tried to fit into the family corporation but did not care for the Real Estate industry.  Therefore he eventually drifted out of the family business.  However, Freddy loved to fly, pursued his pilot’s license, and worked for Trans World Airlines.  He was married and had children.  Sadly, Freddy also loved something else…his liquor.  He began drinking heavily so he was forced to quit flying and was divorced.  Freddy Jr. died in 1981 at the age of 43. 
          Donald said that he had learned from his brother about “how bad choices could drag down even those who seemed destined to rise.  Seeing his brother suffering led him to avoid ever trying alcohol or cigarettes” (2).  He also said about his brother’s different giftings, “Freddy was caught sort of in the middle as somebody who didn’t really love it, and only because he didn’t really love it, he wasn’t particularly good at it….Now I give speeches on success, and I tell people, ‘You’ve got to love what you’re doing.’”
          Now Trump at age 69 admits to have grown “to appreciate his brother’s free spirit…He would have been an amazing peacemaker if he didn’t have the problem, because everybody loved him” (6).  Too bad his father and Freddy Jr. both did not recognize the differences and the unique strengths in each other.  They were certainly different, but one was not better than the other, just different with diverse talents and personalities.  Their dreams and destinies were different too. 
 
CONCLUSION
          We are different…for a reason.  Our personalities, strengths, abilities, talents, and Spiritual gifts are all different…for a reason.  One is not more important than the other in the Kingdom of God.  We need to recognize our strengths and weaknesses.  Although improving our weaknesses is a constant process, we should spend more time utilizing our God-given strengths, gifts, and talents for His glory.  We should also desire and pray for Spiritual gifts which God distributes according to His plan throughout the body of Christ.
          I will close with a question I posed to you previously…are you fully utilizing your God-given talents, Spiritual gifts, abilities, and strengths in order to fulfill your destiny in life and advance the Kingdom of God?