Superhuman
The dictionary tells us that a hero is a person, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. A few commonly known heroes who may fit the definition of a hero are Captain America, Iron Man, Superman, Batman, and many others. But I feel like too often, these superheroes are taken as an example of what heroes should be. But in reality that’s hardly the case. You don’t need superpowers, a nickname, or a fancy outfit to be a hero. You just need a general knowledge of right and wrong. Growing up we all had heroes, people we looked up too, someone that we wanted to be like when we got older. For some of us that may have been a dad, or a big brother, or even a fictional superhero. For others it may have been a best friend, or a teacher, or a coach. And we looked up to those people for specific reasons, maybe it was the way that they stood up for what was right, even if it wasn’t easy. Or perhaps it was the way that they stood up to the bully at school. Or the way they showed kindness to someone who may not have deserved it. They had noble qualities, which basically just means good genuine character. The defining characteristics of the superheroes that we read about in comic books, or watch on the big screen can be found in everyday people, just like you and me. An ordinary person can be just as courageous and brave as a superhero can be. We may not have the whole world watching us on TV, and sometimes no one will see us at all, but a friend once told me that we do what is right because it is the right thing to do. And that includes the times when it may not be easy, or seen.
The thing you might also notice about the superheroes in movies, is that they all have a personal battle that they struggle with aside from saving millions of people. Well believe it or not everybody struggles with something, all the time. And sometimes all we need is someone to show us kindness and give us a helping hand when we need it most. If you do that for someone, that makes you a hero. You may not have saved a city, or even a life, but you don’t always need to save someone’s life to qualify for the title of “hero”. Sometimes all it takes is giving someone hope when they have none, or making a small effort to make a bad day a good one, or just making a difference in their life. Every good hero started with a role model of their own, that person who turned their bad day into a not so bad day, and stuck around, and that’s all it took to make someone a hero in the eyes of at least one person. And before to long the influence tends to rub off, and that kid who needed a role model becomes a role model. But heroes have bad days too, and it’s days like that when a hero might need saving too.
That brings me to the heroes that have gone down in history. People like Martin Luther King and Jackie Robinson. They both fought for the same thing, and I’m sure you know what that is. They just fought for it differently. Now these men and many other historical figures like George Washington, were all remembered for doing something remarkable. George Washington was the very first president of the United States, it was a big responsibility. He was in charge of running and protecting an entire nation, he had the rest of the government but I’m sure it was pretty terrifying at first. I mean, it was the first time anybody was in charge of the entire U.S. But he made an impact, he was a historical hero. But if nobody had remembered him, do you think he’d still be a hero? He most definitely would be. Just because nobody remembers it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. It doesn’t mean that you’re any less of a hero. A hero doesn’t do something for glory or fame, they do it because it’s right. I’m sure Jackie Robinson didn’t know that he was gonna make such a big difference, he was just doing what he loved to do. Yet he made a difference anyway, and so many kids and people in general have looked up to him. But even if he hadn’t have been remembered, he still would’ve made a difference, and he still would’ve been a hero. You can be a hero in many respects and sometimes in the most little, but important ways. And that isn’t always gonna be remembered, and sometimes that makes it seem like our efforts aren’t important, or worth it. But it doesn’t change the fact that you did the right thing. Doing the right thing when no one’s watching isn’t always easy, but you walk away feeling better about yourself and if you ask me, that makes it worth it.
When I think about heroes though I often times like to turn to the Bible. And the two things that come to mind first are Jesus, and David (as in David And Goliath). David took a small stone and a slingshot and killed a giant, and not only does that take a lot of guts and bravery, it takes a lot of faith too. But while his bravery was rewarded, he didn’t expect them to be. He didn’t expect anything, he just did the right thing because it was the right thing to do. And Jesus lived on earth as a human and was hung on a cross and punished for absolutely nothing. He didn’t do anything wrong yet he took the punishment anyway, for everybody in the world. He suffered hatred and a cruel punishment for the benefit of all of us. He was the greatest hero of all, and He didn’t have any superpowers, He just had faith and love, and it was enough. People hated Jesus, but His whole life on earth He did what He knew was right in spite of what it led to. And in my mind He’s the greatest role model and hero that we have. The heroism that we see in the Bible is some of the best examples that could’ve been set for us, because when the right thing is done, it’s done with courage and kindness, and without the expectation of reward, and sometimes without even being seen.
Heroes are everywhere. They’re sitting next to a friend in need, or helping an old lady across an icy street, defeating a giant with a stone and his trusty slingshot, or maybe even on the big screen shooting webs and swinging across New York City. A hero can be literally anyone, all it takes is good character and a good knowledge of right and wrong. Then the right thing gets done the right way, and sometimes the hard way. We all have the potential to be someone’s hero, or role model, even those of you who are reading this. There’s a certain comfort in someone being your hero, whether it be a childhood role model or just a role model in general, because one thing you can always count on a hero for is being there when you need them most.
Until Next time,
Alayna
That brings me to the heroes that have gone down in history. People like Martin Luther King and Jackie Robinson. They both fought for the same thing, and I’m sure you know what that is. They just fought for it differently. Now these men and many other historical figures like George Washington, were all remembered for doing something remarkable. George Washington was the very first president of the United States, it was a big responsibility. He was in charge of running and protecting an entire nation, he had the rest of the government but I’m sure it was pretty terrifying at first. I mean, it was the first time anybody was in charge of the entire U.S. But he made an impact, he was a historical hero. But if nobody had remembered him, do you think he’d still be a hero? He most definitely would be. Just because nobody remembers it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. It doesn’t mean that you’re any less of a hero. A hero doesn’t do something for glory or fame, they do it because it’s right. I’m sure Jackie Robinson didn’t know that he was gonna make such a big difference, he was just doing what he loved to do. Yet he made a difference anyway, and so many kids and people in general have looked up to him. But even if he hadn’t have been remembered, he still would’ve made a difference, and he still would’ve been a hero. You can be a hero in many respects and sometimes in the most little, but important ways. And that isn’t always gonna be remembered, and sometimes that makes it seem like our efforts aren’t important, or worth it. But it doesn’t change the fact that you did the right thing. Doing the right thing when no one’s watching isn’t always easy, but you walk away feeling better about yourself and if you ask me, that makes it worth it.
When I think about heroes though I often times like to turn to the Bible. And the two things that come to mind first are Jesus, and David (as in David And Goliath). David took a small stone and a slingshot and killed a giant, and not only does that take a lot of guts and bravery, it takes a lot of faith too. But while his bravery was rewarded, he didn’t expect them to be. He didn’t expect anything, he just did the right thing because it was the right thing to do. And Jesus lived on earth as a human and was hung on a cross and punished for absolutely nothing. He didn’t do anything wrong yet he took the punishment anyway, for everybody in the world. He suffered hatred and a cruel punishment for the benefit of all of us. He was the greatest hero of all, and He didn’t have any superpowers, He just had faith and love, and it was enough. People hated Jesus, but His whole life on earth He did what He knew was right in spite of what it led to. And in my mind He’s the greatest role model and hero that we have. The heroism that we see in the Bible is some of the best examples that could’ve been set for us, because when the right thing is done, it’s done with courage and kindness, and without the expectation of reward, and sometimes without even being seen.
Heroes are everywhere. They’re sitting next to a friend in need, or helping an old lady across an icy street, defeating a giant with a stone and his trusty slingshot, or maybe even on the big screen shooting webs and swinging across New York City. A hero can be literally anyone, all it takes is good character and a good knowledge of right and wrong. Then the right thing gets done the right way, and sometimes the hard way. We all have the potential to be someone’s hero, or role model, even those of you who are reading this. There’s a certain comfort in someone being your hero, whether it be a childhood role model or just a role model in general, because one thing you can always count on a hero for is being there when you need them most.
Until Next time,
Alayna
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