Unlikely heroes

She’s there for a couple of hours every weekday morning and then again in the afternoon. Rain, shine, or snow, when school is opening or closing, she’s on the corner making sure the children can cross the street safely. She’s making life and death decisions for our kids, and that makes her a hero in my book.

Some of our heroes are those who’ve demonstrated astonishing bravery in the face of adversity. But the world is full of unlikely heroes—people like you and me—who step in to help in situations that might otherwise overwhelm someone. The young woman in the grocery store who helps her elderly neighbor shop. The friends who bring dinner for the family of a newborn.

Take some time this month to notice the heroic deeds of those around you, and while you’re at it, notice your own. Each time we’re able to lift the burden from another’s shoulders we’re doing the work that God asks of us. Be sure to thank those who are helping others. Perhaps today is a good day for me to go to the corner and thank that faithful crossing guard.

This message was adapted from “What Makes a Hero” by Debra K. Farrington that appeared in the May 2009 issue of Lutheran Woman Today (now Gather) magazine.