Everyone Has a Wish, Anyone Can Be a Hero

My hero came in the form of Billy Graham when I was nine years old. My grandparents took me to see him at Soldiers Field in Chicago. I was mesmerized by the grandness of the place and all the people that had come to see him. All that all faded when Billy Graham began to speak. In his words I found strength and comfort that has carried me through the roughest of times in my life. Hearing him tell of Gods love for me, and the sacrificing of his son, kept me in tears throughout the whole sermon. At the end I did not hesitate to be one of the multitude of people to maneuver our way down the stairs and through the aisles, to get to the front for our salvation, to have Jesus come into my heart. As they prayed over me I felt the weight of the world lift from my shoulders. A calmness and euphoric peacefulness replaced my tears. From that day till now some 46 years later, I have never felt abandoned or alone.

My husband says his hero growing up was Spiderman. Coming from an abusive and dysfunctional family himself, he hid himself in the pages of a spiderman comic books. A super hero come to the aid of people in distress. He even gives spiderman credit for his learning to read.

Two days ago I happened upon a site called " Wish Upon a Hero ". I was looking for someway to get a computer for my grandaughter in Minnesota to do her online schooling. What I found at Wish Upon a Hero, A network of open hearted people, " Heroes " getting together to find ways to help people and grant wishes. I was both saddened and humbled by the multitude of people making wishes for the most basic things that so many of us take for granted. People just like many of us that were living paycheck to paycheck, until some unfortunate event sent them on a downhill spiral which they are now finding difficult to climb out of. Now they find themselves and their families with no food or warm for their children. Some looking for tires for their cars, so they can continue to work and keep a their already stretched paycheck coming in. Some asked only that a sick or elderly loved one might get a card in the mail to brighten their day, and others for prayers for strength or or healing. Some asked for a simple gift even used, that they have longed for but would never consider getting for themselves. A pair of boots, a purse, a used set of sheets to replace the one set of worn ones that now cover their beds. A stocking for their children who will not have Christmas and may have to face the stark reality, at to young an age, that Santa might not be real.

Whether you are rich or poor, young or old, Christian or atheist, you can be a Hero. There are no special requirements, other than the willingness and desire to help a fellow human being. It can be as simple as a prayer or word of encouragement for someone who feels hopeless. Something as inexpensive as the cost of a postage stamp on an envelope with a birthday or holiday wish tucked inside, could brighten the day and put the smile on the face of sick or otherwise forgotten person. . If your children or yourself has outgrown clothes that have life left in them, they could be seen as new to someone in your area that has none. Your old furniture could help to fill and empty home. A small monetary donation added to others can help to feed a hungry family. So many needs, not enough heroes.

Within the Wish Upon the a Hero site, there is a variety of groups in the forum section. Some of these groups target special needs wishes of people. One of these groups is Quiet Angels. They are a group of dedicated, anonymous individuals, that have come together committed themselves to help people by pooling their resources to grant wishes.

During this season of miracles, I would encourage everyone to at least visit this site. Once you have, not only will you see the need, but hopefully also see as I did, what a little compassion and the power of love can do. Can you find it in your heart to be a hero? I guarantee nothing will make you feel better than knowing that even your simplest act of kindness can change the world, one wish at a time.

God Bless you all this Holiday Season, and may all your wishes come true.