| My Heroes have always been my family... | | | | It is a Wife or Husband who loves each other |
| We live in a generation that seems to have lost it's | | | | unconditionally and no matter the challenge know that |
| way. | | | | their LOVE will always be more than enough. |
| "Hero worship" is at a all time high with Movie Stars, | | | | It is the school teacher whose life is dedicated solely |
| Celebrities, Rock Stars, Authors, Sports Athletes and | | | | to the purpose of impacting lives and challenging |
| really with anyone who is famous in our society being | | | | students to dream BIG dreams and that nothing is |
| viewed as "Heroes" | | | | impossible. |
| My Heroes have never been anyone from those | | | | These are the Heroes in my life and there are a |
| groups. | | | | Million more... |
| For you see, my Heroes have always been my | | | | It's time we get back to the "Basics of Life" and |
| family. | | | | remember who the Real Heroes in our lives are. |
| My hero was my Dad who provided for his family | | | | Acknowledging what someone has meant in your life |
| against incredible odds..who when he foot was | | | | is one of powerful and emotional things you will ever |
| smashed at a accident at work when told they | | | | do and to be acknowledged by someone that we |
| wanted to amputate it said " No, I cannot provide | | | | love is very emotional as well. |
| for my babies with only 1 foot" and refused to let | | | | Sadly, this is not done enough and often times we |
| them amputate his foot and went into work the | | | | just run out of time. |
| next night and worked a full shift only to be told | | | | When you take the time to acknowledge someone it |
| after his shift was over that he was "fired" because | | | | really is the best gift you could ever give someone. |
| they did not want "a cripple working for them" | | | | What your really saying when you acknowledge |
| My Dad crawled to his car and kept his foot and his | | | | someone is "You matter" and "I remember" |
| dignity and somehow,someway, found a way to | | | | The sacrifices that you made...I remember... |
| provide for his family. | | | | The time you stood by my side when no one else |
| They are those Brave Men and Women who are | | | | did...I remember... |
| serving in the Armed Forces who have left good | | | | The time you believed in me when no one else did... I |
| jobs and wonderful families back home to fight for | | | | remember... |
| and defend our country and to defend our country | | | | You'll never know how much you much I Love you |
| and our freedoms with Honor and courage they few | | | | and appreciate what you did for me...I remember... |
| understand and those that have paid the ultimate | | | | I remember and I never forgot! |
| sacrifice in doing so. | | | | Life moves at such a fast pace and often times we |
| My Hero was my Mom who taught her baby boy | | | | "assume" that those matter most in our lives really |
| that "God never closes one door without opening | | | | know how we feel and then we simply run out of |
| another" who taught me more about strength, | | | | time. |
| dignity, courage and Love as I watched her fight | | | | There is no greater gift you can give someone that |
| cancer that took her life at 46 years of age. | | | | has made a difference in your life then |
| Never losing her faith even when she knew the end | | | | "acknowledging" them. |
| was near. | | | | Acknowledging what someone else has meant to |
| No, my heroes are not rock stars and you will not | | | | you is one of the most powerful experiences...not |
| find my Heroes on some TV show either! | | | | only for the hero in your life but for you as well...let |
| My heroes are the fireman and women who run up | | | | me give you an example. |
| the stairs when every one else is running down the | | | | In 1998, for Christmas, my sister, Renee, gave me a |
| stairs and they do not even hesitate no matter the | | | | gift, a wonderful acknowledgement of what I her |
| danger they face | | | | "Big Brother" had meant in her life. |
| They are the Policeman and Women who put their | | | | Just a few paragraphs written from her heart, and a |
| lives on the line every single day to keep our cities | | | | picture of us on a sheet of parchment paper. |
| and communities safe | | | | She put it in a nice frame and gave it to me that |
| They are the EMS personal, those folks in the | | | | year... it really did not cost much but meant the world |
| ambulances, that save lives every single day and | | | | to me. |
| never complain. | | | | Since then, I have received numerous cards and gifts |
| They are the Nurses and the Doctors who also save | | | | from my Sister but I cannot tell you today what |
| lives and do so with a grace and a compassion in | | | | they were. |
| spite of facing overwhelming challenges at times. | | | | Yet today, if you come into my home office, on my |
| They are those Brave Men and Women who are | | | | wall, you will find her letter of acknowledgement to |
| serving in the Armed Forces who have left good | | | | me, hanging on a wall almost ten years plus later. |
| jobs and wonderful families back home to fight for | | | | It still means as much to me today as it did when it |
| and defend our country and to defend our country | | | | was given to me over 10 years ago. |
| and our freedoms with Honor and courage they few | | | | That is the Power of Acknowledgement. |
| understand and those that have paid the ultimate | | | | Greeting Cards get thrown away... |
| sacrifice in doing so. | | | | Gifts are soon forgotten... |
| They are the Step Mom or Step Dad or Foster or | | | | But a Heartfelt acknowledgement is never forgotten |
| Adoptive parent who loves a child like their own and | | | | and is always treasured and remembered...even years |
| provide love and security when it is needed most. | | | | later... |
| They are the Grandparents who puts their | | | | Time is a vapor and we never seem to have the |
| retirement dreams on hold to raise a grandchild. | | | | time or take the time to tell someone how we really |
| No, my heroes are not Movies Stars. | | | | feel about them and how their life has impacted ours. |
| They are the Mom and Dads who are single parents | | | | Take the time today! |
| who somehow find a way to hold their family | | | | Make the time today! |
| together against overwhelming odds. | | | | It is high time the "Real Heroes" in our life and |
| It is the Pastor who prayed for me when I could not | | | | communities are honored! |
| pray for myself. | | | | |