Be a hero

Today I have a lot on my mind... and I want to share some of it with you. After releasing the Hero music video yesterday, it's got me thinking a lot about the hero's journey. Being born without arms and legs has had me on a whole hero journey in life. Regarding the title hero, when I was younger, I really felt a pressure to prove to the world that I was good enough. My younger self's hero concept was, "look at all the things I can do without arms and legs!" And people really did, and they said, 'wow!" And as I got older, this stopped working. I literally had someone tell me one time, "We get it, you're awesome. But now it's time for you to show other people that they are awesome, too!" That quote stung a bit at first, but that was the the same year that I started my nonprofit Making Dreams Come True and began the journey of giving back. And, as a Christian, another aspect of being a hero, is recognizing that when we search inside ourselves if we don't have a relationship with Jesus, we do not have the capacity to be a hero. I've learned this myself too, as I have had seasons, where I felt completely empty because I was spending all of my energy proving myself. Jesus is the model of heroism. I spent time in therapy, and one of the things my therapist said is that I was on a hero's journey. She said that every hero says no at first, to the quest of heroism. Jesus never said no, but he did ask the Father to take the cup from Him. Heroism isn't about feeding your ego. If you want to be a hero for your ego, that can last for a little bit of time. But being a true hero requires humility and self reflection, but more importantly, God reflection. God is the one that gives us the strength to discover our imago dei, that wonderfully designed human being that He created in you, with gifts, talents, destiny and purpose. You illuminated in the Holy Spirit is the only way to truly being a hero. And that journey to being a hero is about what you do for others. The hero's journey is an adventure filled with joy, and challenges. And you will feel like giving up sometimes, but a true hero never quits. I also think there is something to be said of free will. We have the choice in our human will to decide to never give up, and to keep going, even when it's hard. No one can give you that gift, but yourself. And in my experience, it is the hope of Heaven for eternity that keeps me going on the hard days. And then the victories are even sweeter!!! Are you ready to take the hero's journey?