We All Need a Hero

As I was getting ready this morning, I was listening to the boys in the other room. Per their usual routine, Owen was goofing around, Micah chattering from his chair, and the sounds of 'Super Why' wafted between them.

The closing song began "Hip hip hooray..." and the boys both began singing along. I could hear Owen jumping along to it and Micah's "I, i, oooraaaay" in time to the music. Even though I wasn't standing in the room watching, I know they were both waving (or rather swinging) their hands along with the song. I know this because I've seen it before and it happens almost daily.

While enjoying them from the bathroom where I was doing my hair and makeup, I began to process this excitement. No matter what else is going on, never mind that they didn't watch most of the show, the song excites and energizes them every time. Micah especially loves music, but for Owen, I think it's the idea. It's the "Superhero saves the day" idea that attracts his attention.  Even at such a young age there is already a natural tendency to gravitate towards a hero. It is our innate desire to find someone or (later in life) something that will fill us with hope, purpose, peace and provide safety from the unknown around us.

Owen has already had many hero's. At 18 months he was a huge fan of "beep beep" otherwise known as Thomas the Train, he went through a short and relatively tame Elmo stage, and a noteworthy (not so tame) Buzz Light Year stage. Currently he seems to be between hero's, like he's growing out of the 'kiddie' hero's but hasn't quite let go of them yet because he hasn't found something else to grab a hold of. Underneath all of these fictional characters I can see that Owen's true hero is his daddy. He is such a daddy's boy, if dad does it, he does it. If dad loves it, he wants to love it.

Micah isn't really attached to any fictional characters yet. He loves to sing along to Super Why but he doesn't request him or call him by name, it probably isn't too far off though, as I got my first "Mom" exclamation this week (I'm no longer "ma" or "ma mama ma mama"). Micah's true hero is his big brother. He doesn't call him by name, but there is a definite light in his eyes when he plays with him. If Owen does it, Micah does it, and then he smiles this big "I'm a big boy" smile that melts your heart.

Micah's hero is Owen, Owen's hero is dad, and dad's hero is Jesus.

Christians often refer to the emptiness that they or a loved one felt or feels before accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Emptiness that usually leads to a search and is often filled, temporarily, with the quest for money, sex, drugs, success, fame, and knowledge. Those things become people's "hero's" but people can also put too much weight or confidence in other people as well, expecting their spouse or children to fill that void and emptiness inside.

"Then Jesus said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."" Luke 12:15

Ultimately, those who accept Christ have figured out that none of those things bring lasting peace.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

My children have shown me how we each search out hero's in our lives. My dad was my earthly hero, saved me from a life of pain I do not want to imagine, and now my husband has taken his place. Whenever a situation arises where I'm truly stuck (or rather Owen's foot is for example ;) ), I pray first, then I immediately want my husband.  I'm guilty of, at times, putting too much pressure on and confidence in Brian to fill my voids of loneliness or recharging me when I'm exhausted, instead of leaning entirely on my Lord.

I'm blessed to have a testimony where I was saved young and my searching days were relatively minimal, my rebellious stage relatively tame. However I have witnessed many who have been thwarted by the quests I mentioned above. Once I was told "But the next day I'd wake up alone, lonely, so that night I'd go out looking for another guy and the cycle continued." I've grown apart from other friends who were counting on drugs/alcohol, money, success, and even fame to pull them through this life to give them happiness and peace. Just yesterday I felt attacked by someone who merely wanted to appear more knowledgeable than I.

To that I say "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." Romans 12: 3

I'm blessed to know the Lord and to have had women who have helped me understand the Word of God. Who have shown me, and shown through example, what it means to live according the God's demands and seek his will. When I'm wondering about my purpose here on earth, how I fit in, what I can do to be a "hero" or how to find safety and peace, I don't have to look far. The bible is clear about how to find the Lord's will and purpose for us, and so I can rest in that comfort.

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

As my children grow it is my hope that they will continue to have these fun little hero's that Micah will soon love Thomas the Train and come up with a name for him all his own, that Owen's Kung Fu Panda stage will continue on a little longer, but also that they will be able to see Jesus as their hero. That our faith will develop into their own personal faith and that they will have testimonies to share with their friends about the greatest hero they've ever known.

God is the ultimate King, Jesus the ultimate hero: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Brian's childhood hero was Superman. Here is a cute picture of him probably around 6 or 7...Perhaps he's pretending to be Superman, or maybe a quarterback, not really sure, but isn't he cute?