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Day 3: Elijah’s World – The Weight of Being Firstborn

Writer's picture: Isaac KimbowaIsaac Kimbowa

Welcome back to my daily series introducing Chapter 1: The Perfect Family Facade from my upcoming novel, The Firstborn’s Journey: A Legacy of Grace. Today, we step into the shoes of Elijah, the firstborn son, and explore the unique challenges he faces in a family that looks perfect on the surface but is quietly strained beneath the weight of expectations.


“Sometimes being first feels like being last.”

Elijah often admired his parents—their hard work, their devotion to providing for the family. His father, James, was a man of few words, but his sacrifices spoke volumes. His mother, Grace, was the glue holding them all together.

But as the firstborn, Elijah carried a weight that no one seemed to notice. He was the silent observer of his father’s struggles, the confidant for his mother’s quiet anxieties, and the unspoken role model for his younger siblings.

In this excerpt from Chapter 1, we see the world through Elijah’s eyes:


Excerpt: A Firstborn’s View

Elijah sat at the kitchen table, his books spread out in front of him, the sounds of his siblings playing drifting in from the backyard. His mother moved around the kitchen, her hands busy with dinner preparations, but her voice soft as she hummed an old hymn.

“Did Dad say what time he’d be home?” Elijah asked, not looking up from his math homework.

Grace paused, her eyes flickering toward the clock. “He’s working late again. You know how it is, honey. He’s doing this for us.”

Elijah nodded, his pencil tapping lightly against the table. He knew his father worked hard. He admired him for it. But sometimes, he wished James would notice the small things—the way Elijah helped his siblings with homework, the way he stayed up late finishing chores Grace didn’t have time for.

His mother glanced at him, her expression softening. “You’re a good boy, Elijah. Your dad sees it, even if he doesn’t say it enough.”

But did he? Elijah wondered. He didn’t resent his father, but the silence between them felt heavier with each passing year.


A Firstborn’s Silent Weight

Elijah’s story isn’t unique—it reflects the silent burdens many firstborns carry. The pressure to excel, the expectation to lead, and the often-unspoken role of peacemaker within the family can leave firstborns feeling both deeply responsible and quietly overlooked.

In The Firstborn’s Journey: A Legacy of Grace, Elijah’s struggles mirror the challenges faced by countless firstborns in families around the world. His journey will resonate with anyone who has ever felt the weight of being “first”—and the longing to be truly seen and understood.


Let’s Reflect Together

Can you relate to Elijah’s perspective?

  • Do you remember moments when you carried responsibilities others didn’t notice?

  • Have you ever felt the unspoken pressure to be a role model?

Share your thoughts in the comments below—I’d love to hear your stories.

And don’t forget to come back tomorrow for Day 4, where we’ll explore the cracks that begin to show in this seemingly “perfect” family.


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