Monday, November 23, 2009

Heroes


Heroes. We all have them. They're those super-human men and women that inspire us with their virtue, zeal, and fortitude. Borrowing from As Good As It Gets, they make us want to be a better version of ourselves.
My 10 yr old son, who incidentally just broke 2 more 10-u swim team records (now he has 3) was at the gym the other day with his grandfather who was working out with a trainer. The trainer, knowing that Mr. Monk was on the swim team, asked him who his swimming hero was. I guess she expected him to say Michael Phelps. That's probably a pretty common answer. Not my kid. He told me later about this conversation as we were driving along in the car and when I asked him who he said his swimming hero was he looked at me kind of funny and said, "You Mom. Who else?" So I saw the trainer the next day and asked her to relate the conversation to me. Sure enough, he really did say that I'm his swimming hero. Pretty hard to believe, huh? I'm nowhere near the swimmer Michael Phelps is, but I'll take the admiration of my son over a million gold medals! That made my day!
Who's your hero? We Christian ladies are always aspiring to be the ideal Proverbs 31 woman, aren't we? She just seems too good to be true sometimes, doesn't she? You know the chapter so I'll only quote my favorite part. "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her." (vv26-28) Oh how I long for those verses to describe me. Isn't God gracious that my sweet son calls me blessed even though I've failed so many times at being the Proverbs 31 woman? I so want to be that wife and that mother, well minus the spindle part.
What about you homeschooling moms? Who's your hero? Mine's Kimberly at Raising Olives. She's been successfully multi-level homeschooling with Sonlight, the same curriculum we're using, for over 4 years and teaches her kids Greek and has pre-schoolers and toddlers in the mix. Oh, and did I mention she has 9 kids (and one on the way!!)? She has helped me so much this year and I know that it's no accident that our virtual paths have crossed. The Lord sends us the nudge in the right direction that we need just when we need it. (If I had "met" Kimberly last year while nursing a new baby I wouldn't have been ready.)
Heroes. They inspire us because they show us it can be done. I'm so glad my son's swimming hero is not a pot smoking Olympic gold medalist, but his mom who loves her kids and also can still whoop him in the pool.
I'm grateful for all the women in my life like my mom and the Kimberlys of the world who show me that the Proverbs 31 woman is not some unattainable ideal, but a real woman who loves the Lord and willingly submits herself to His will and to her family.
Who's your hero?

3 comments:

  1. i agree, kimberly is one of my heroes...but i often say i wanna be like mrs. duggar when i grow up! ;)

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  2. I'm always amazed at how calm and collected Michelle Duggar is. She is so soft spoken for a mother of many. I love it! She's a hero, too. I learned so much from their book.

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  3. My hero is my sister. You can check her out at www.homesteadwannabes.blogspot.com. She is an amazing woman. She is my twin sister and we are so the same, but so different. She has endured so many seperations from her hubby as a military wife, and comes out stronger every time. They are facing another deployment in September. She is the mama to two red heads and loves to ride a Harley.

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I'm an on-the-run mom to 6 kids who studied and taught exercise science in a previous life. I love all things running, nutrition, and health-related. I usually run at zero dark thirty in the morning and am often quite hungry before, during, and after my run, but I live a rich, full, blessed life with my children, family, and friends. My faith in God is my anchor, and looking to Him and His promises allows me to live fully even when life circumstances are difficult. While running gives me an appetite, my desire is to hunger and thirst for righteousness more than for physical food.