After Landon’s school open house recently, I was reflecting on how welcoming and caring Landon’s teachers were when we met with them that day. I thought to myself what a wonderful gift they give every single day to typically developing kids and those with special needs. (Trust me, it takes a really amazing person to work with special needs kids day in and day out! They are role models for me.) Anyway, as I was thinking about how much good teachers should be appreciated and honored, my mind immediately went back to my days in high school. I immediately remembered what my high school principal would say every day, every single day. At the conclusion of the announcements, he would say “Teachers, let’s make a difference and be somebody’s hero.” He said it Every. Single. Day. So much so that I’m sure most people weren’t paying much attention to it because it was said so much. But now looking back, I think that statement was probably one of the most profound things we heard every day!
Back then, the principal made the daily announcements over the intercom every morning while we were in homeroom. Principal Bell was a very friendly person who always had a cheerful demeanor and a huge smile to offer anyone! On top of that, he wore a suit everyday, and he had one in every color of the rainbow!! From lime green, to pink, to purple, to navy, to black. Those suits really fit his happy, cheerful nature! Anyway, he passed away in 2007, but his words didn’t. They replayed in my mind just the other day, and I began to think about what a hero really is.
Many times we think a hero is a famous athlete or wealthy celebrity, but nothing could be further from the truth. A hero is a kind teacher, a dedicated nurse, a brave soldier, a loving pastor, a dad who jogs pushing his adult special needs child in a wheelchair, a faithful mom, an encouraging principal, dedicated missionaries, etc.
I have several heros in my life and one of them is my daddy. He retired from the military, but he never really retired!! His passion, what drives him, is meeting the needs of others. He would do pretty much anything to help anyone, and I don’t just mean in words, but in actions. He would do anything from putting up a fence for a neighbor to building a church in the hills of Honduras. He walks the walk. He is a missionary and he and my mom have led short-term mission trips for almost 20 years. That’s what a hero is.
We like what looks glamorous and beautiful. We tend to focus on those and forget the ones who do the humble, simple, things that go unnoticed. But without the true heros, we would have huge empty places!! There would be less love because there would be less givers. There would be less true heros.
So, whatever you do each day, reflect on who and what truly matters. Do the truly “heroic” things….even the mundane. It doesn’t matter what your profession is, be the best you that you can be. Lovingly make a difference and know that you really might just be somebody’s hero!
1 Corinthians 10:31
…whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Matthew 25:40
Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.
Your friend,
Tiffany
You’ve Got A Friend 