A True Hero

What makes a person a hero? The official definition is: a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities; a person who is greatly admired; the chief male character in a story, play, movie, etc. Because of movies, novels & media, I think we often think of a hero as someone with a super power or the perfect life...you know, physically fit, prepared for anything, with money in hand & time to "meet the need"... they just easily do what needs to be done and are seen as a hero that did what was impossible for us commoners. ;) Reality, as we all really know, is that heroes rarely fit that sensationalized definition, but are humble, gracious men and women that care more about others than themselves. 

One of my main heroes as a child was Mother Teresa. Her life of selflessness, captured my heart. Just this week I came across a book about her life that it's time to reread, then I saw this quote - you may have seen it too. "If you want to change the world, go home and love your family." How simple, yet profound. Mother Teresa, embodied true, Godly love. At 8 years old, her father died. At 12, she knew God's hand was on her life and ministry was her life calling. At 18 she left home to study and prepare herself for what she knew was God's plan for her life - she never saw her mother or sister again. That's love. That's a genuine, deep love for God. To forsake your own desires, for a plan that will take you to unknown places with unknown people...This life will give you more than you could ever dream of, yet often in ways we may not have chosen. In my opinion, that's where the greatest heroes begin, with a reckless, abandon to God. 

Mother Teresa had a grasp on real love that many never come to understand. She reached and still affects more people than I will probably ever even meet. She understood love. Love is sacrificing. Love is quiet. Love is humble. Love is gentle. Love is giving of yourself, not giving stuff. She didn't face these challenges like we do today, but it's not a FB post, an opinion or a petition. The root of all those things, is ourself - our wishes, what we want to see happen, what we feel is best. Love is about others. Love is about doing. Love is more in the mundane, everyday life than the lights of life or likes of FB. 

How can you and I be heroes? We can love our families. We can put them first. We can choose to love the life we're living. We can be the greatest expression of God's love, when we teach our families how to love God by the way we live our lives. I REALLY hate cliches, but this one absolutely fits and it's that "talk is cheap". Go change your world by putting your family first, loving them, not just by talk and certainly not by giving them stuff, or running your kids all over so they can be a part of every event and activity...to the ball field, music lessons, dance, study club, etc...all that is good. My son plays football and we're headed to a game an hour away this afternoon - nothing wrong with that.  The point though is this, love has to be the starting point and the ending point of it all, and providing those things doesn't translate into love. Love is a sacrifice. A sacrifice of you, connecting with your spouse, your children. It's desiring to be a hero to your family and your family only, and often times, you then become a hero to many others around you!

"If you want to change the world, go home and love your family" - Mother Teresa