Do You Dream of Being a Hero?
Have you ever dreamed of being a hero? I have. I think we all do from time to time.
For instance, in my head, I’ve rescued someone from a burning building, I’ve helped the police capture a criminal, I’ve saved a child from being abducted, and I’ve found the money from a bank heist and returned it to the police.
In reality, I provided a woman and her son an apartment after their home was demolished by a plane. I was managing an apartment complex in Atlanta at the time and the Red Cross called to see if we had an apartment they could move into without a lease until their place was fixed.
I called 911 after I noticed a car on I-285 driving erratically onto the shoulder and back onto the road. As I was exiting on to I-75, he continued on I-285. I don’t know if he was having a medical issue, was texting, or was driving under the influence, but whatever it was, he needed some intervention which I, being in the flow of Atlanta traffic, could not provide.
I saw a school bus drop a young child off and there wasn’t anybody at the end of the driveway to pick him up. I glanced in my rear view mirror as I drove past him and saw he was still just standing there. I found a place to turn around, drove back to his house, and parked on the shoulder across the road from him.
He was still standing there at the end of the driveway when his mother pulled up. She looked in my direction, so I got out of the car, walked across the street, and introduced myself. I told the mom that I was on my way to pick up my grandchildren for the afternoon and when her son just stayed at the end of the driveway, I couldn’t just drive by and leave him standing there. I didn’t want to approach him and scare him, so I just parked where I could see him until someone got there.
And the bank heist? Well, a man in front of me in line at the grocery store once dropped a twenty dollar bill and I picked it up and gave it back to him. Does that count?
I haven’t saved anyone’s life, I haven’t thwarted any criminal enterprise, I never rescued anybody from a disaster–fire, flood, or otherwise. I haven’t donated a kidney or bone marrow, or any of those things one can donate while still alive.
It was just day-to-day me trying to do the right thing. I’m not a “person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for my brave deeds and noble qualities.”
I, along with most of the rest of us, will probably never be a front-page-hero. God bless those who are, and those who put themselves in places where they may be called upon to be so–think firefighters, police officers, those in the military, people in the medical profession, and these days, school teachers.
I’m certain, though, that there are true acts of heroism that go unnoticed every day. How about the people who adopt a whole family of siblings so they can stay together? How about the people who helped run the underground railroad and those who helped Jews and others escape the Holocaust? What about those who have fought the good fight against cancer, whatever their age and whatever the outcome? How about the child who, despite being ridiculed, eats lunch with the new kid in school? There are thousands of acts like these that go unnoticed by the world at large every day. These people are heroes to me.
Do you still want to be a hero? Be the kind of person you want your children to be. This can be very hard but very heroic. Keep your promises; heroes do that, too. Smile at strangers–I think they left that quality out of the definition. Be there for someone when they need a friend. That’s a biggie. There are thousands of ways to be somebody’s hero. We don’t have to be front-page-heroes to be heroes.
Has someone done something “heroic” for you lately? Share with us in the comments.
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Well Miss Horton. I love this. As I was reading, the thought of just a smile or a hello or a hand to help an elderly person through the door or up a step is quiet heroism. When I read your last paragraph, our minds think alike on this subject. I certainly do not think of myself as a hero. I have been in one situation recently when I saw a young teenager standing in pajamas over an overpass over the interstate. I passed her and thought, “Susan turn around.” So I did. She was holding on to the chain linked fence and getting ready to stand on the rail. Would she have climbed up and considered jumping? I don’t know. I stopped and asked her if she needed help all the while my heart racing a mile a minute. She was crying and obviously needed help. She stepped down and came over to talk with me. We conversed for about 5 minutes. I offered to help her or give her a ride to get some help. She thanked me. Just about that time the police pulled up. Someone must have seen her and called them. I said you are going to be okay. They will help. She looked desperate and I have thought so much about the young lady. I pray she is okay today. I have no doubt God put me there at that time. Hero? No I don’t consider myself a hero. Just a person trying to help someone in need. The world and people need this now days more than ever. Just remember, ordinary people can be quiet heroes everyday. I hesitated to write this. I am in no way boosting my ego. I have never shared this with anyone. I shared because you never know what just a simple hello or a kind word can mean to someone. Give it a try. It will make you smile on the inside too. It costs nothing to be kind and a quiet hero daily.
Susan, such a beautiful and inspiring story. Obviously, someone drove by and called the police, but you stopped. Most people just “don’t want to get involved,” but you did. I wonder how many people saw her and just drove on by. I like the way you put it…being a quiet hero. I have no doubt that God put you there, and I have no doubt that you positively affected her life. Thank you so much for sharing that story with us. I’m sure it wasn’t easy, but it’s a gem!
You’re right…”It costs nothing to be kind and a quiet hero daily.”
Susan, 10 years from now, when the angst of her teenage years has subsided, She is going to be looking at her children with such love, and remember the woman who took the time to talk to her. You may not think you’re a hero, but you will always be her hero. “What so ever you do to the least of your brothers, that you do onto me.”
Amen, sister!
This was great Carol. You have always been a HERO to me. You just don’t know how much you have helped me now and in the past. Talking to you has been a blessing in disguise at work and now. With all both of us has going on you brighten my day every time I talk to you. MAY GOD BLESS YOU FOR BEING MY FRIEND.
Lynn, thank you. I’m humbled by your comment. I feel the same way about you. You’ve always been one to step up when someone needs your help–at work and at home! God Bless you as well my friend…God bless you!
I’m no hero, but this made me think of all of the animals I have “rescued” over the years. For a while I felt like I was the finder of lost creatures, great and small! I have found and returned to owners three cats, four dogs and a rabbit. The ones we have truly rescued, as in we took them in and/or cared for them – four cats and a horse. My dogs don’t count, because they weren’t rescues. The ones you may remember from my childhood were from the “pound” – so they count, but for my parents. Tony and Cleo, the collie and beagle. I also built a warm winter home for a feral cat that my friend had been feeding. We were thrilled when he actually used it! I tried to save the kitten of a feral cat who lived at the barn where we boarded our horse. The mother was not much more than a kitten herself and she abandoned her baby. I tried to bottle feed it, but it just wouldn’t eat. It broke my heart. I wish I had done more. I let the “barn cats” cuddle in my lap to warm them whle I watched my daughter’s riding lessons in the frigid Western New York winters. I can’t go into a PetSmart without looking at the homeless cats. I want to take every one in! I guess I’m just an old softie when it comes to animals.
The last few years I have been making costumes for our local theater. There are often people, sometimes young, who I can tell are misfits. I make it a point to be extra kind to them. I put a lot of effort into making their costumes as beautiful as the lead character’s. I love to see their faces light up, and sometimes they will exclaim, “I get to wear THAT?!” A simple act of kindness can be heroic I guess. It makes that person feel like they matter, even if the other actors reject them. I know what that feels like, and I won’t let it happen on my watch!
You have always been a hero Carol! My childhood would have been dismal if I hadn’t had you and your sisters to play with. And even though we grew apart over the years, I am glad we have re-connected, because we share a meaningful history from growing up on that magical place known as Walnut Street 🙂
Nancy, I’m beginning to see that we are all “quiet heroes,” as Susan dubbed it earlier, in our own way. I believe that every act of kindness helps to hold the darkness at bay. Every kindness you give to another person helps keep their darkness at bay. That’s huge.
And it counts with animals as well as with people. My kids used to tell my husband that if he didn’t get into people heaven, he’d always have a place in kitty heaven!
I love your costume philosophy too. And yes, I believe now that a simple act of kindness is a heroic act.
I am also so glad we re-connected, (darn that high school house system A-E, L-Q. The S’s were on the other side of the building!) because you are an awesome person and a huge part of my childhood. Looking back, I think the only place I ever spent the whole night away from home was at your house. Usually I’d get “sick” and have to go home. That’s weird that I never realized that before.
So, thanks, hero, for being a friend, for loaning me your bike, for climbing trees with me, and for being you.
On the point of being a hero, I wonder whose darkness a hero is actually keeping at bay? A hero definitely lightens up the life of the recipient. But don’t the actions of a hero also lighten the lives of those who witness the act? What about those who hear about it after the fact? And last but certainly not least, does that action not lighten up the life of the hero him/herself? The action, whether large or small is a light in the dark. And even the smallest of lights can light the way for many.
Nicely put! Yes!