Warrior hero

There's a hero in my life who is fighting an epic battle right now (keeping her identity anonymous for privacy's sake).

She has kept the most powerfully positive outlook on her fight (doing things like calling her treatments "ammo-therapy," for example), which has been truly inspiring to watch. 

I'm tempted to focus on what she's going through currently, but that would be discounting the decades of support and influence she's had on me. So I'm going there instead. 

This woman stepped in big time to help mother me after my mom passed. With 2 little girls and a successful music career of her own, this was no small feat. But I remember so looking forward to spending time with her. She laughed with me, took me out to eat, helped with my hair, and was simply...there. She was my hero.

My dad remarried and we moved across the country for my middle school years, so our time in person was limited, but her gorgeous voice lifted me and held me through some really tough times, as I'd listen to her albums on repeat. Her voice was home for my heart, drawing me close to my Savior and reminding me of His promises to "carry me when all my strength was gone." 

Through the years she went through her own wave of tough times (I had no idea just how tough until recently). Chris and I got married and we grew our own family, and we didn't really keep in touch other than the occasional online connection, but I never stopped feeling her love and support. 

We've recently reconnected through what I believe to be a divine and perfectly-timed gift, and it's been the most beautiful, enriching experience to build on the relationship we've had all of these years. I can't wait to see where the coming years bring us. 

For now, in this battle, she can use all of the prayers she can get. Please, will you join with me in prayer for her? I strongly believe in the power of faith. This hero gives her love and spirit so freely. Let's do the same for her. 

To my hero. because I know you're reading this, I hope you feel how much I love you and thank heaven for you and for our relationship. Thanks for being there for me, and I'm praying for an army of angels to surround you and have your back in this battle. You're a true warrior.

I hope this post inspires you to reach out to one of your heroes and thank them for who they are in your life. Then show up as a hero in the lives of the people close to you, and to use your own gifts to lift and hold others like she does. We all need each other, and we all deserve the joy that connection brings.