Puzzling Questions of my Childhood

As a young girl growing up I didn't understand the term Hero. At the beginning of the school year there would often be questions like Who is your favorite sports star, what are your hobbies, what is your favorite song, and who is your hero?

I was often puzzled by the term Hero. What is a hero? The typical answers were the fireman, rescue team, and others who have saved another's life. I always left my space blank, because I didn't have a particular Hero.

As I ponder my thoughts on heroism I have come to the following impressions, and have come to the conclusion that I know many Hero's.

A hero is:

The home or visiting teacher who persists in their contact.

It's the infantry soldier who reaches out to a support group and gives a voice to his demons and realizes that he is not alone.

It's the mother who selflessly caries a child in her womb giving constant nourishment to a growing life.

It's the one person that answers the phone when you really need a talk, or who opens the door and gives you a shoulder to cry on.

It's the lonely soul that cries to God with the faith that He will answer.

It's the mother who leaves an abusive marriage in order to give her children hope of a future free of violence and control.

It's the callused Vietnam vet who holds his new grand baby despite the memories that flood his mind as the child begins to cry.

It's the person that doesn't say, "I understand what you're feeling." It's the person who acknowledges that you are hurting.

It's the leader who shows the moral courage to stand up for what is right.

It's the person who looks for a human connection when they are suffering, not a drug, porn, alcohol, cutting or other destructive behavior to dull the emotions.

It's the woman who drops everything and drives across the country in search of purple and yellow pansies to fulfill a dream that she has had.

It's the addict who makes a commitment to work a program. (Even if it is their 17th time starting a 12 step cycle)

It's the servicewoman who acknowledges how difficult it is to be a woman in the military.

It is any person who is able to change when the odds feel completely impossible.

It's the one who prays in faith for a miracle.

It's my Mother.

My Grandmother,

And my Great Grandmother who taught me by example how to love, how to serve, and how to sacrifice.



And above all my Savior Jesus Christ who has shown me the way.