'ordinary' Heroes

[shanstress70]

Captain Tux suggested that we start a thread about our stars, heroes, etc... someone ordinary who did something extraordinary.

Great idea, CT.

Hero #1:

I lived in Wrightsville Beach, NC right after I graduated from college. I was single and poor, having just graduated and not finding my career yet. I lived in an apt right on the beach, in the bottom story of a beach house. Then came Hurricane Fran...

When they had a mandatory evacuation, I brought a few changes of clothing, put most of my valuables (to me at the time this meant my 19" TV, phone, etc.) up on top of the dresser, and took off to my friend's house inland to wait out the storm. The area was completely devastated. I had no clue what I would find when I went back over the drawbridge. They didn't let anyone go on the island for 7 days, but when it was time I had no idea what I'd find.

I was all alone, as all of my friends were working and no one could go with me. I was crying and driving over the bridge. There were state troopers standing on the drawbridge checking for proof that you lived there before they let you go over. I showed the trooper my ID and he told me to pull over. Then I started crying even more - did my lisence expire? Was the place demolished? He came over and said, "Young lady, why are you crying?" I told him that I was nervous about what I'd find, all my stuff ruined, etc. He talked to me for about 10 mins getting me to calm down and realize that I was alive and healthy and that's all that mattered. It worked.

He didn't have to do this. It was about 95 degrees standing in the heat. He went above and beyond to help calm someone down. I know it's not a huge deal to most, but it restored my hope in strangers.

When I got there I had to kick in the door, and yes, everything was destroyed and had been under four feet of water... my clothing, furniture, electronics, and worst of all my high school yearbooks and photos. But I was OK because of the wise words of this stranger.

Hero #2

My mom was at work one day (she works at a small town hospital where the gossip is insane!). Some coworkers were talking about this lady whose husband died and she doesn't even have money for groceries - and her grown children don't even go visit her. Although my mom didn't know this woman, she knew OF her and where she lived. When she got off work that day, she took $120 worth of groceries to this lady, who was astounded and so appreciative. Mom also stayed there for a couple hours and just visited and talked to her. She still keeps up with her and makes sure she knows that she can call my mom at any time.

[boyando]

I'm not a fan of calling people hero's. I did something, that some people called heroic once and it didn't define who I was. Truth be told, it happened so fast I didn't think about it. If you ask me, the Holy spirit guided me to do the things that I did. So in my mind, it maybe time to change my deff. on what a hero is.

Alot of times on this site we talk about what it takes to ener the Kingdom of God. If my understanding is right, the key to salvation is to be born again. Relax all you LDS freinds, I haven't gone southern Baptist.

I'm a firm believer that the same character that you develope in this life, will fallow you till judgement day.

If you read the story's above (and many more to come, I'm sure), I think you will find people who are born again. People who are true Christians, by that I mean people who are Christ like. To me, they are the true hero's.

So do I still believe that only through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints all men may receive salvation and it is the only way to receive salvation? I know it. Everything about this Church is to strengthen the individual and increase our faith in Christ.

If any of these hero's have not heard the word of God in this life, when they do come unto judgement, as we all must do, Jesus will seprerate the true hero's out and because he is consistant, will require work, I.E. baptism, temple marriage ect., to be done here on earth for those who have past on, not hearing the full "good news". Jesus wil not suffer us to spend eternity with some one who is not like ourselfs. By that I mean those of us, who do evil here on earth will not want to live with those who have been made pure by the blood of Christ and are, for lack of better words, of a higher character.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints is on the earth to make hero's of us. Anyone can find peace and contentment, beyound there wildest hopes and dreams, by listening to his Holy Prophets and fallowing there words. In and outside the Church, we can become happier by being the type of hero that we have seen, so far in this thread.

"nuff said" - Allmosthumble

[CaptainTux]

I could write pages about my grandfather.

He was a survivor of the Bataan Death March and continued to serve his country in the Korean war. He was in the Army Air Corps and was an airline mechanic. In 1954 he started to work for United Air Lines as a mechanic and continued to work there until he retired in 2001.

When my father left, he took over the role of dad until my mom remarried in 1980. He then picked up the pieces of what was left of me in 1983 and took the mantle of father again. My biological father is a man of some fame, but has never been there in my life. Expensive things sent to me on birthday's and Christmases. Making sure my visits to him wold make the local society happenings, but not the adviser, counselor, disciplinarian, and friend every young boy needs.

He took me to baseball games, hockey games, talked me through my first car accident, helped me learn to defend myself against my first (and last) bully. Gave me tough love when I would get out of line. When he found smokes in my jean jacket, he removed the cigarettes and replaced them with shaved carrots and asked me later that day if I ate anything healthy. When I slammed a door in anger, he removed my bedroom door from it's hinges and took my car keys away and told me there would be two less doors I would be slamming, etc.

When a girl came to my door that he actually likes, he kept letting her in the house and kept the other ones at bay.

He was the one who told me to read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John over and over again as long as a lived.

When I was separated from my wife and told the family I was getting a divorce, he was the one who literally knocked me on my butt and told me to grab that girl and be her husband and do whatever it took to be a man.

He is now slipping in the grip of Alzheimer's and it is me and my uncles who take of him now. My uncles and I? None of us have ever been divorced. We have never hit our wives or kids, we have never slacked off on unemployment, we own up to our errors, and we get by each and every day making the best choices we know how and move on past mistakes.

We owe much of this to a man who did not always do the right thing. In the 50's and 60's he was an alcoholic who beat his wife and kids and then found sobriety and worked for years to win back the trust of his wife and the love of his kids. I never knew that man, I only knew the one who had changed and found redemption. My uncles have forgotten the man from before and as far as they are concerned, only the new man exists.

That is the hero we know. He was never famous, never wealthy, and the most glamorous thing he ever had was a old t bird convertible. He will tell you the most glamorous thing he ever had was his wife.

[Traveler]

I have many heroes in my life. I have posted of my father but perhaps the greatest hero I have said next to nothing. This is my angle wife and the love of my life. Which is strange because my wife and I are as different as two people can be. She was the cheer leader - I was the nurd. She is rock and roll and I'm classical and Jazz. She is high society and I am servant class.

She has made me better - she has taught me the art of kindness. She has put up with my sense of humor and my logic. She has loved our children and made every sacrifice for her husband and family. She is my eternal best friend and the greatest inspiration provided by my L-rd. She has taught me what marriage in the divine sense means and given me power to be a father. There is nothing a mortal can give more than she has given.

The Traveler

[Dror]

Not to be sappy, but... my mother (bless her heart!). :)

My parents got divorced, and then my mother took care of us by herself. Not because she had to, but because she wanted to. She worked when she could, maintained an apartment, provided us with food, and provided us with love, all while suffering from a debilitating mental illness and occasional hospitalization.

I didn't realize it at the time, and I'm afraid I wasn't properly grateful, but my mother fought her demons against incredible odds, and came out on top, in order to take care of my siblings and me. She has an indomitable spirit and I truly admire her for it and for the love she has shown us.

My mother is not perfect, but that's part of the beauty of it--she keeps trying to do better and make a better life. She truly is a hero.

Dror

[Lindy]

Ordinary Heros... I think of those who stop to help others in distress without thinking twice, those who are there for a family member, a friend or a co-worker who needs help. Those who don't make excuses why they can't do something to help out when needed...but are the first ones to say "what can I do to help"

Those who are examples of the pure love of Christ..... wether they believe in Him or not.

We know of or hear of ordinary heros everyday of our lives.... and like the angels among us.... we may not even realize they are there.

[Bob_oz]

Hero is such a poor word. I like Lindy's view above. Real people doing real things that never get noticed.

My step-father (also my mothers cousin) was one of those historical heros, a pilot in the Battle of Britain (listed 9th or there abouts for kills) and to his credit he said little about it.

But the real people who act when needed are just as great, actually greater. The ordinary people who keep someone alive after a heart attack or cardiac arrest till aid gets there, the friends who can listen without telling you how you must fix it, the spouse who never judges - just encourages, the person who always encourages everyone and never knocks anyone, the person who does it when they say they will - no matter what, the list is endless. The honest - now today that is courage.

Bob

[sgallan]

My dad is my hero. He is the guy you see skydiving into schools as Santa Claus. Or on his Harley making toy runs. Or sponsering the Young Marines. Or organizing a scholarship through whatever group he is giving his time too. Or any one of a number of things that has his house covered in thank you pictures and plaques. And there is more. It is family. He makes our big events when he can and always has. Usually he ends up being one of the volunteers helping out when he goes. He is the guy who helped drive and financed my daughters trip to nationals. He is the guy who puts on a water ski camp for family, and family friends, out of his house, and pocket every year. His is the house when one of the family is having problems and needs a place to live.... it's his house. And often that 'family' is by virtue of live-in, or mixed family marraiges. They are family just like any other to him. He has always been there for all of us. He has always been there for the community. He is the one who gave my brothers and I a zest for living and for helping others. His love and friendship is unconditional. You have problems, whether it be drugs, other legal things, or marraiges..... it doesn't matter. He may not like the behavior or situation but his hands will still be there to help. And it doesn't matter what religion you are, sexual orientation, background (he got me the job teaching mostly inmates), race, none of that, friendship and especially family is just that. That he does all of that - and taught me all of that - though he does it better - is what makes him my hero.

[StrawberryFields]

Ordinary Heros... I think of those who stop to help others in distress without thinking twice, those who are there for a family member, a friend or a co-worker who needs help. Those who don't make excuses why they can't do something to help out when needed...but are the first ones to say "what can I do to help"

Those who are examples of the pure love of Christ..... wether they believe in Him or not.

We know of or hear of ordinary heros everyday of our lives.... and like the angels among us.... we may not even realize they are there.

Very true. Words to live by. Even in your signature...

"~ - - -- -- -- -- -- -- --

A life is not important

Except for the impact

It has on the lives of others

(Jackie Robinson)