My oldest son is an oddity. I’ve never met anyone who is more gracious and aware of others, even when no one would blame him for being a little selfish.

This week my son received a call to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This is something he has been working toward for several months, having to go through physical therapy just to get his injured arm healthy enough to submit his papers.

On Tuesday, the fateful day came. I’ve never seen him more excited as we all stood around listening to him read the letter. He hadn’t read very far when my youngest son, who sat next to him, blurted out, “Columbia,” the location of where he would be serving.

Sadly, our youngest is known for doing things like this. He’s blown out other people’s candles on birthday cakes. He’s told people what they are getting for presents, even after he’s been told to keep it a secret. He steals the “thunder” of moments all the time, and this was my oldest son’s biggest one to date.

He didn’t say a word, just rubbed the top of his head like he was a little rascal, and kept reading.

At the end my youngest said, “I don’t think I like this mission call, it too far away.”

I figure this at least means he realizes how special his big brother is. There isn’t a person in the world that would put up with his antics in such a kind, easygoing way. Maybe my youngest will finally give his brother an opportunity to experience some “thunder” when he comes home in two years.