A talk today considered the topic of who our heroes are. I did some thinking and considered that I really didn't have a hero. By my definition, a hero is someone who has done some act of saving you from harm and someone whom you are in such awe that you more than praise them, more than emulate them; you worship them. I also think that for me to hero worship, the actual hero needs to be present. That counts out just about everyone. Christ comes as close to a hero as anyone, and if I were to be a bit more vigilant, I could consider Him my hero.
Anyway, it got me to thinking who my heroes are. I dropped the worship part of my definition. I dropped the part about being rescued. I dropped the definition of mine that meant they were present. And, I guess I started thinking about people I admired, people who had made a difference in the world, my life, or even just being exemplary in their own realm.
Outside of Deity, I thought of several people in the scriptures. I admire Mary, the mother of Jesus, whose soul did magnify the Lord. I thought of Ruth, who left all her past to cling to her new-found God, way of life, and her mother-in law. I thought of Esther, who was as righteous, intelligent, and humble as she was beautiful and risked her life to save her people. What faith!
Outside of the scriptural figures, I suppose that Abraham Lincoln is a 'hero' to me. He changed the small world by abolishing slavery, by saving the union of the United States. He never gave up. He was religious. He was self-motivated and learned beyond public education, but that which he read of his own volition. Do I want to be like him? Yes!
I thought of my childhood and how I wanted so much to be like my mother. She unfailingly prepared every meal...on time, table set perfectly (by her children no less). She was a teacher of homemaking. She taught me to sew, to cook, to clean, to do the laundry. She taught us to work. She taught me the Gospel of Jesus Christ through actual teaching, testimony opportunities taken every moment of every day, and most of all her actions. Do I want to be like her? Yes!
I actually had several heroes as a child that I did, in fact try to be like. Mrs. Ferris, my first grade teacher, who decorated my classroom with trains (even a life-sized one we could get in). She taught me to crochet and allowed me to work on it during recess rather than going outside. One day, I somehow got my underpants wet. I didn't know what to do. She washed them out and hung them on the radiator. When a boy asked who's they were, I saw her answer that she didn't know who's they were. What a wonderful hero to me! Mr. Skold, my 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Randall, my fourth grade teacher taught me to draw. Mrs. Richardson, my 5th grade teacher let me sing alto and make up the music to a poem that my class learned to sing and perform. Mrs. Soucek, my 7th grade homeroom and social studies teacher, finagled a spot for me on the school newspaper staff when she saw that no one would elect me (the new student) to that post. Mrs. Lemler, the PE teacher, who knew I wanted to be in the dance talent show and let me dance with the girls in a jazz number that they had learned from their dance lessons and she even got me costume. I can't remember all the other teachers, my debate coach, my choir leader, the drama director, that continued communication with me long after I left high school, but I remember one of my PE teachers in high school. She had requirements for making an A in gymnastics, but she amended them for me because she said it was not safe for someone of my height to do one of them. She also took into account that I already knew how to swim, so she let me help teach that class. All of them were such good examples of a teacher. I knew I was loved. I felt like they taught me, as opposed to a class. When I was faced with a decision as to my future career, it was a 'no-brainer', you see, I made that decision long before; I made it when I sat on the front row in Mrs. Ferris's class and said to myself, "How can I remember her name forever, because I want to be just like her/"
I thought of Sister Hinkley. I saw her on a video in Time Out for Women. I heard her daughters tell stories of her. I read her quotes. She was a down to earth Godly woman, who was no respecter of persons. She treated everyone like they were her best friend. I didn't know her personally, but what I did know about her reminded me of someone I did know personally. She reminded me of KK Ellis. KK was always gracious, outgoing, and made everyone feel welcome and loved. KK was an example of always helping others and doing her best. KK always testified of Christ. Her heart was pure. Her motives were pure. One day, when we were having a presidency meeting (she was my counselor in the stake Primary) I told her how her son had said some things to hurt my son's feelings. She cried. She hugged me. She apologized for her son, then later talked to her son and reported back to me. What a sweet, Christ-like lady! Do I want to be like them? Yes!
I thought of a lady in my ward. Sister Hunt, a young mother, who has about 5 children. The last year, her daughter had won many gymnastics tournaments. Apparently she is really talented in that area, so the practice time had increased with her level of competitions. However... this year, Sister Hunt's daughter dropped out of gymnastics. Why? Because her mother prayed to know if that was best for her or if it would interfere with her ability to associate with her family members and the members of the Church. You see, the practices had made her miss several church activities and had basically put the mother in the car constantly travelling to competitions. The mother presented the problem to the girl and asked her to fast and pray about it...all the while, the mother fasted and prayed, too. The little girl received her answer when her little sister, came up to her and said, "You never have time to play with me. When can we do that again?" This same Sister Hunt had her children draw names for Christmas presents...Christmas presents that were handmade. I saw the beautiful, thoughtful, kind things the children made. Everyone was astounded at the wonderful things the children had made, but I knew better. I knew the mother had done similar things for her children. I knew that she had set the example of how to lift one another, how to buoy one another. What an exemplary woman!
I thought of every divine quality I see in my own children. Kevin, for his service to others, Cheryl, for her guiding and teaching of her children, Linda, for her nurturing, loving of her children. David, for his loving, unpretentious heart and desire to be righteous. Janet, for her teaching and loving her children. Susan, for her ability to schedule, plan, and teach the gospel in her home. My husband, for his pure heart, for his desire to do right, for his unfailing desire to continue repenting...to continue being better, to continue reading the scriptures, to continue striving to be who God wants him to be. What exemplary spirits you are. You are all my heroes.
