I saw The Vow a few days ago

I saw The Vow a few days ago with Denise and Kendall. I teased them that I now know what water boarding must feel like - sheer torture. (Ok, I know that is a terrible comment on so many levels).

But I'll admit, I enjoyed the movie. While I do think the movie was at least 30 minutes too long, I really did like the definition of "hero" that you can find in Channing Tatum's character. He is keeping his vow; he loves even when he is being rejected by the one whom he loves. He is a hero. (By the way, the movie is based on a true story).

I think that we need to teach our kids to be heroes. I have been guilty of focusing on rules - "this is what God wants, this is God's will" - without helping my kids see the big picture. God wants heroes. He has designed us to be heroes. The world needs them, and we need to be them.

When you see the kind of movie that has a strong hero or heroine, usually they are someone whose love is brave and sacrificial. At a tremendous cost to themselves, they do the right thing; they love at a price; they don't care what others think of them; they only want to do what is best for the one(s) that they love. They are heroes. And we come away from the movie somehow feeling stronger and better.

Be a hero. Look at what is going on in your life today and decide that you will be the hero. You will love even when you are not appreciated. You will be brave and faithful when others think that you are stupid and out of touch. You will work tirelessly to help others whether or not anyone notices. You will not whine or indulge in self-pity, because heroes don't do this. Instead, you will pursue others' good even when you are rejected and misunderstood. You will do this, not because of any gain for yourself but because this is what love does when love loves. You will do all this, because you are a hero, being made that way by God, in the image of your older brother.

Live the big story: it's what you're made for.