HEROES
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you...Philippians 1:3

In one's lifetime,
there are many genres of heroes
Mankind lives and moves and breathes
among them, day by day;
Some obvious, outwardly identifiable
As armed and uniformed,
their pageantry is displayed.

Others gallantly serve on foreign soil
Preserving the integrity of our shores;
Full of valor, facing their own destruction,
Yet, loving their God and Country, even more.

Some labor in emergencies
To preserve life at all cost;
A steady hand, a firm command
That, not even one, be lost.

Still others live in stygian houses
Passed daily, with nary a glance;
Inside, shivers the forgotten mother -
Her helpless children's only chance.

I have been blesssed to know several heroes
Yet, those who loom even greater than this,
Are the two whom I revere the most;
The woman, Andrea, and her son, Chris.

*This was composed as a tribute to my cousin, Andrea and her son, Chris, who was wheelchair-bound from the time he was 15/16 years old [when he received a spinal injury from a dive into a too-shallow pool - he was utterly paralyzed] until the end of his life, last year, when The LORD called him Home.  They were the most remarkable mother and son team I've ever seen.  Her love and dedication in caring for  him, for 14/15 years, gave Chris hope and strength - and a smile - I will never forget.  These two inspired me... for my lifetime.