BE A HERO – HONOR

Be a Hero – Honor

Honor – our minds skip through images we’ve seen since we were little. Knights in silver armor kneeling to be honored by the sword, superheroes giving up everyday pleasures for a greater good, and cartoons with the age-old instruction to do what is right. All these ideas point to the first step to be a hero. Live a life of honor.  

When we honor others, we recognize how they make our lives better, and we don’t want to miss the opportunity to be part of their lives. Parents, teachers, counselors, friends, and even those who are younger than us receive honor. Have you ever felt really connected to a family member or a coach? What are some ways you can honor them with your words? Be sure to tell them how you appreciate them in your life.

I was very close with both of my grandmothers. My maternal grandmother lived just down the street and I would visit her often, especially in the summer. She made amazing food and I can still remember the taste of her homemade apple dumplings with ice cream. My grandmother had a rough childhood. At age 3, her mother died from tuberculosis. Her father died when she was 16, and she and her brothers went into foster care. These experiences caused my grandma to honor her family members. She loved us so much and created a beautiful home for us all to enjoy. The main way she honored her family was taking care of us well, particularly by feeding us. She spent hours in the kitchen making sure we enjoyed every bite. On holidays, you would find her on the couch deeply napping after the meal. She had poured out all her love into the meal she made for us. Because my grandma had a difficult childhood, she easily honored her family because she valued it. What are the ways you can use your time and talent to honor others?

Last month, we went on a family camping trip for a week. One evening during snack, we were making almond butter, bananas, and graham cracker sandwiches. My niece, Emeri, is 5 years old. After taking a bite of her snack, she came to the table and declared that she was making a yummy sandwich for her mom. The way she honored her mom inspired me to make the snack for all my family members. Honor inspires others and comes from a genuine love to those we wish to honor. When you love someone, you honor them.

So far, we have seen examples of people who honored those they love. But, what if you need to honor someone you don’t like very much? My mom taught me an important lesson when I was growing up. Whenever someone upset me, she always told me to give back to them the opposite of what I had received. This could be towards the person who hurt my feelings or others. If I was insulted, I should give compliments. If someone took my lunch food or money, I should share or pay for someone’s meal. If my friends didn’t want to work with me on a class project, I should look for those who needed a partner and work with them. If someone gave me a dirty look, I should walk around with a genuine smile on my face. This was easier said than done, but you know what? It really worked. It is very counterculture to do this. Most of the time, we just want revenge, and we use anything and anyone to get it. But honor doesn’t seek revenge. When you are living as an honorable hero, you set aside the selfishness that seeks attention for yourself. Like all the superheroes we see in the movies, right? They are usually incognito and leave when the attention is turned to them. When you receive rude behavior from others, you can just respond in the exact opposite way from what you experienced. They may even be the ones receiving your kindness. Sometimes you will surprise your very enemies by throwing them off with honor. Try it sometime!

Honor is easily found in our words. Unfortunately, so is dishonor. Our tone and word choice really matter! The most difficult part of our body to control is our tongue, one of the smallest members. Why do friends call each other names? Do you really believe the person who you are investing time in is an idiot? Stop and think about the words you are using. Better yet, have your parents record you for a day. How many times are you saying something in dishonor? Give yourself a grade for the day and see where you need to make improvements. Likewise, create a reward jar to track when you used honorable words. This will help you develop the habit of honorable talk. How many coins can you rack up in the jar for saying honorable words? Then, once you’ve saved enough money, honor your family, and take them out for ice cream! Light up the H in Heroes today and watch how choosing to honor others will change your life for the best!