Listening to his interview I am so reminded of my Dad. Sully talks softly of not thinking of himself as a hero but instead of how thankful he is for all the people who did their jobs very well that day. I am encouraged by this man because he found himself in an extraordinary situation and simply did his best with what God gave him that day.
This is a re-post about my hero...who's your hero and why?
When I was 18 years old I went to Florida to visit my birth certificate Father. His name was John.
John was an alcoholic. About four days into my trip, John went on a bender. Halfway through the fifth of vodka he started calling me Sandy; my moms name. He and my mom divorced when I was a toddler. Mom decided she had enough abuse and wanted to protect me. John hated Sandy so, I kind of knew the visit was heading south. It was early but I decided to go to bed anyway. That way "Sandy" wouldn't be around to bother John while he finished off the fifth.
Sometime in the wee hours of the night John came searching for "Sandy" and I ended up locked in my bedroom with a drunk on the other side of the door. In a panic, I called home. That's when I met my hero.
My hero had actually come into my life about five or six years before that but I didn't realize he was my hero, yet. He started dating my mom and quickly figured out that she was a package deal. While they were dating I got to see Cats, Evita, and Annie all at the Fox Theatre. I got to go sledding, to the movies, and out to some very spiffy restaurants. My hero made every attempt to woo us both ;) all the courting worked on my mom! Eventually my hero married my mom...and I hated him!
My hero never did anything wrong to me. He took me right along with my mom when they wed. He provided a wonderful home, love and care, and security. I don't know what my problem was, but I rebelled. I told him I hated him almost daily and made his life with my mom as difficult as I could. From 13-18 I was horrible to my hero. In a power play that only a snitty 18 year old could plot, i came up with the ultimate rebellion--go visit my "real" father! Off I was to Florida...not a very good plan but, I guess it was just the way God intended to really introduce me to my hero.
So, there I was, panicked, in the middle of the night, on a long distance call from Florida to Michigan. As soon as my mom heard the tears in my voice she flashed to all the pain John had put her through and feared I was going to have to endure a similar fate. She was upset and afraid and ended up passing the phone to my hero because she felt helpless.
My hero never missed a beat. After five years of my attitude he could have easily hung up the phone and never felt an ounce of guilt.
But he didn't.
Somehow he knew exactly what to do. In what seemed like only minutes the police were at the house and an officer was helping me pack my things. My hero booked me a hotel room overnight, convinced an officer to guard it, had me escorted to the airport the following morning and on a flight back to my mom by the afternoon. My hero rescued me when he had every right to let me fall.
It wasn't an instant realization that my hero was my hero. I didn't really get it until I had kids of my own. But looking back, that was the moment that changed everything.
Over the years my hero taught me about forgiveness and hope, tenderness and how to hold my own. He taught me patience and understanding. Bless his heart, he even taught me algebra :) and the fahrenheit to Celsius conversion formula.
My hero helped me grow in my faith and modeled the love of Christ through his daily actions toward me.
My hero is my champion when i don't deserve one. Loves me when I am unloveable and accepts me when i am unacceptable. My hero is my biggest cheerleader and my most gentle critic.
When it was time, my hero let go of my hand and taught me to cling to my husband. He helped me to see all the potential in my new family. He encouraged us in our marriage and has entrusted his "cape and hero status" to my wonderful husband. Somehow he knows just how far to let us fly on our own and when to help us reel it in.
My hero is my Dad. And, my hero is dying.
Our time together is so short now. There are so many moments since that night he rescued me; I beg God I never forget! So many lessons and laughs!!
So how do you say goodbye to a hero? I can't.
My only hope is in Christ. My hero and I both have faith in Christ. It is by grace, through faith in Christ, that I believe I will not have to say goodbye. Instead, it will simply be an "I love you and so long for now! See you in heaven!"
All of this to say, you don't have to say goodbye either. Faith in Christ pays the debt that sends us to hell for our sin and separates us from our God. Faith in Christ reunites those who love HIM in heaven someday. If you do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ, if you do not have hope in Christ, please call out to God to save you even now.
John was an alcoholic. About four days into my trip, John went on a bender. Halfway through the fifth of vodka he started calling me Sandy; my moms name. He and my mom divorced when I was a toddler. Mom decided she had enough abuse and wanted to protect me. John hated Sandy so, I kind of knew the visit was heading south. It was early but I decided to go to bed anyway. That way "Sandy" wouldn't be around to bother John while he finished off the fifth.
Sometime in the wee hours of the night John came searching for "Sandy" and I ended up locked in my bedroom with a drunk on the other side of the door. In a panic, I called home. That's when I met my hero.
My hero had actually come into my life about five or six years before that but I didn't realize he was my hero, yet. He started dating my mom and quickly figured out that she was a package deal. While they were dating I got to see Cats, Evita, and Annie all at the Fox Theatre. I got to go sledding, to the movies, and out to some very spiffy restaurants. My hero made every attempt to woo us both ;) all the courting worked on my mom! Eventually my hero married my mom...and I hated him!
My hero never did anything wrong to me. He took me right along with my mom when they wed. He provided a wonderful home, love and care, and security. I don't know what my problem was, but I rebelled. I told him I hated him almost daily and made his life with my mom as difficult as I could. From 13-18 I was horrible to my hero. In a power play that only a snitty 18 year old could plot, i came up with the ultimate rebellion--go visit my "real" father! Off I was to Florida...not a very good plan but, I guess it was just the way God intended to really introduce me to my hero.
So, there I was, panicked, in the middle of the night, on a long distance call from Florida to Michigan. As soon as my mom heard the tears in my voice she flashed to all the pain John had put her through and feared I was going to have to endure a similar fate. She was upset and afraid and ended up passing the phone to my hero because she felt helpless.
My hero never missed a beat. After five years of my attitude he could have easily hung up the phone and never felt an ounce of guilt.
But he didn't.
Somehow he knew exactly what to do. In what seemed like only minutes the police were at the house and an officer was helping me pack my things. My hero booked me a hotel room overnight, convinced an officer to guard it, had me escorted to the airport the following morning and on a flight back to my mom by the afternoon. My hero rescued me when he had every right to let me fall.
It wasn't an instant realization that my hero was my hero. I didn't really get it until I had kids of my own. But looking back, that was the moment that changed everything.
Over the years my hero taught me about forgiveness and hope, tenderness and how to hold my own. He taught me patience and understanding. Bless his heart, he even taught me algebra :) and the fahrenheit to Celsius conversion formula.
My hero helped me grow in my faith and modeled the love of Christ through his daily actions toward me.
My hero is my champion when i don't deserve one. Loves me when I am unloveable and accepts me when i am unacceptable. My hero is my biggest cheerleader and my most gentle critic.
When it was time, my hero let go of my hand and taught me to cling to my husband. He helped me to see all the potential in my new family. He encouraged us in our marriage and has entrusted his "cape and hero status" to my wonderful husband. Somehow he knows just how far to let us fly on our own and when to help us reel it in.
My hero is my Dad. And, my hero is dying.
Our time together is so short now. There are so many moments since that night he rescued me; I beg God I never forget! So many lessons and laughs!!
So how do you say goodbye to a hero? I can't.
My only hope is in Christ. My hero and I both have faith in Christ. It is by grace, through faith in Christ, that I believe I will not have to say goodbye. Instead, it will simply be an "I love you and so long for now! See you in heaven!"
All of this to say, you don't have to say goodbye either. Faith in Christ pays the debt that sends us to hell for our sin and separates us from our God. Faith in Christ reunites those who love HIM in heaven someday. If you do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ, if you do not have hope in Christ, please call out to God to save you even now.
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