Cain and Abel -- David Stevens

The story of Cain and Abel is that of the first brothers on Earth. Cain was the first-born son of Adam and Eve, and he became a farmer. Eve later begat another son, Abel, who herded sheep. At one point, both of the brothers brought a sacrifice to God—but while Cain only offered some ordinary grain to the Lord, Abel slaughtered one of his fattest sheep. Thus, the Lord had respect for Abel, and He had none at all for Cain. Because of his brother’s success, Cain grew resentful and slew Abel in the field. With the dubious distinction of the world’s first murder, Cain was marked by God and then exiled from the Garden of Eden to wander the land of Nod.

I was—depending on your perspective—either blessed or cursed to grow up with three siblings: all sisters, all older than me. Personally, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Constantly in my adolescence I was buoyed by their optimism and educated by their experience. Holidays, weddings and other family events became indelible memories because of my sisters’ joie de vivre. I also gained these benefits without enduring much sibling rivalry, due to the wide age range between us; my youngest sister is five years my senior. Since they moved out to seek the Great Perhaps, I have had the only-child experience, and, for me, it does not compare.