Heroes

July 2009

Do you know of anyone that you would consider to be a hero?

The dictionary's definition of a hero is a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his or her brave deeds and noble qualities.

When I was younger, I looked at a hero like the movies portray heroes that do something very extraordinary; but as I have matured in life, I have come to see many people that I would consider heroes or heroic in their actions in every-day life.

A couple of years ago while competing at the NFR, there were some of us contestants that were asked to do a TV interview after one of the performances. The lady that was conducting the interview made a comment that we were like heroes. As Alisa and I were walking back to our truck that night, after the interview, I was kind of caught up in my emotions. For we had heard earlier that night that a lady that we had met and visited at a hospital had passed away. I actually felt ashamed. The lady in the interview had called us heroes, but the real hero was a woman named Christie that nobody would ever see except for a very sick lady dying in a nursing home. Christie sat with her for weeks giving her her time and love and support while she experienced her last days. That is what I would call a real "hero."

There are people all around us that live their lives giving to other people's needs, and no one ever hears of their heroic deeds. There are heroes everywhere. Just to name a few: moms, dads, granddads, grandmas, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, close friends, policemen, paramedics, firemen, teachers, pastors and soldiers that give of themselves 24/7.

It seems like heroes have a very special quality. They simply operate in the Commandment that Jesus gave to His disciples; and that is, to love one another. Loving one another simply means being helpful or kind, considerate or patient, giving in whatever means we may have to assist one another through our life's journey. Nothing feels better than to feel like you have made a difference in some way for someone.

God bless you,

Clay O'Brien Cooper