A hero has been described as someone who fights for a good cause or makes a positive difference in the world. I know a boy whose hero is his dad who is a firefighter. He truly admires his dad who risks his life fighting fires and rescuing people from burning buildings, and when he grows up, he wants to be like his dad. Do you have a hero? Is there anyone you wish you could be like?
When I was a kid, I didn’t think of John Wayne as my hero, but I did think he was pretty cool and wished I could be like him. The characters John Wayne played in the movies personified a man with “True Grit”—a determination to overcome adversity. The characters John Wayne played epitomized a true hero—doing what’s right, standing up for yourself and for those who are too weak to stand up for themselves. John Wayne always told the truth, always kept his word, and was a real man’s man.
Another hero and role model was my own father. My father was not a perfect man. He had his faults, but he also had many good qualities. He worked hard and took care of his family. My dad was not prejudiced. He accepted people for who they were irrespective of their skin color. My dad could be harsh, but he could also admit when he was wrong. I’m a lot like my dad. He was my father and had a huge influence in my life.
More than likely, you too reflect many of your father’s good and bad qualities, but more important than the influence of your human father is the influence of your heavenly father. As a child of God, you should admire him and try to be like him. The Bible says, “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children (Ephesians 5:1).” You can be like your heavenly father if you get to know him by spending time with him. The more time you spend with God in prayer and in his word, the more you’ll be like him. Just as God is a positive force for good, you too can make a positive difference in the world, and who knows, maybe someday, you’ll be someone’s real-life hero.
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