What Makes a Hero?

Who was your childhood hero? Did you want to be like Mike? Perhaps you thought Muhammad Ali was the greatest? Maybe you were wrapped up in Hulkamania?  As kids, we all have people that we consider to be our heroes. When I was a kid my idea of a hero was fleeting at best. Ozzie Smith, Michael Jordan, Joe Montana, Mark McGwire, Wolverine, Batman, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bruce Lee and the list goes on and on. All of these people/characters were heroes for me at one time or another. Some lasted for years, some for a few months, but I placed each one on a pedestal at some point in my life. As I grew older, my idea of what a hero is changed and then, my grandfather became my hero.

To My Boys: …”You Will Have Trouble. But Take Heart…”

20161106_163010

Dear God,

I’ve been lost in the darkness, and blinded by light;

I’ve stood in your presence, but now you’re no where in sight;

You gave me the strength of thousands, but now I’m losing the fight;

I thought I was winning, I thought I was running your race;

Now I’m so broken, all that I see is disgrace;

I’m tired and weary, can’t keep up this pace;

I listen at night, hoping to hear you call out;

But all I hear is nothing…just nothing, not even a sound;

A Call to Arms

graduation-679945_640

I have been a part of several conversations where young women were talking about how they control their relationships. Their significant others jump at their command and never have the final say. Some of these involved kids that were from exes, where the new boyfriends were expected to be a part of the kid’s life and help protect and provide for the child, but had no say in the discipline. In fact, one mother had forbidden her boyfriend from correcting her child. Another mother wouldn’t even allow her child’s father to discipline.