Unsung

In today’s society the heroes are athletes, actors, singers and the like. What happened to the days when we adored people in our communities? We idolized teachers, business owners, doctors or our parents. We looked up to the garbage man or the landscaper because they worked hard, lead by example and took pride in all they did. Truth be told they still do. So, ask yourself, what has changed? My personal opinion is that hard work and honor have been supplanted by all things perceived glamorous and fast. This is compounded by the breakdown of the American family and my priority the Black family. The images that our youth are bombarded with on television, movies, music and their cell phones are a constant and overwhelming influence. They see their family struggling to make ends meet while it is perceived athletes, actors and singers have it made. The saddest thing is that many of their parents are either too busy working to counter those influences, are not active participants in raising their child(ren) or are feel the same way and reinforce the sentiment. So, honor and hard work are no longer what a hero make…

How can we counter these influences…one child at a time. Tell your child the value of hard work. Teach them to put no one on a pedestal because people in high places fall. If however they are going to aspire to greatness, aspire to be a great person first. Aspire to be that aunt, uncle or cousin who whether their financial means are meager or vast are rich in spirit, kindness, generosity, love and wisdom. These are riches that no one can ever take away. They are what make a hero. Teach them that real heroes serve. They serve their communities, their families and their churches. They do good works because that is who they are, not simply for a tax deduction. As adults we must also share the stories of our heroes. We must point out the heroes in our community. We must show them the diverse nature of those heroes. Real heroes must no longer be unsung!

So, I start today by lifting up and acknowledging three of my heroes, my uncles, Arthur C. Christian, Dr. Harvey M. Day and Michael Christian. These men are great to me! You see, when my parents divorced each of them whether they knew it or not stepped up and stepped in at times in my life that I needed the guidance of a man. Whether it was teaching me how to drive a manual, having me work with them in their garden or simply taking me to a movie, they are there. Yet, even more important is they each led by example. An example that showed me what it is to be a good son, brother, husband and father. Their example showed me what it takes to positively contribute to my community and society. They showed me the value of hard work and sacrifice. They showed me how to give honor and praise to God not simply in words but by deeds. Their example showed me what it takes to be a man. I thank them and I thank God for them!

I have another hero, well in this case a shero, my mother, E. Jean Christian. She is my shero for more reasons than I can list but in this context because she was wise, humble, loving and obedient enough to know that if I was going to grow to be a man I needed to have strong male influences. She knew that while she could raise me to be a good person it takes a good man to make me a man. Her strength and sacrifice define shero!

So, I ask each of you to go to a child that you have influence over and challenge their outside influences. Show them that they do not need to look to the NBA, PGA or even the White House for a hero. If they want to find a hero they need only to go to school, talk to their parents or watch the mail man come down the street. Let the real heroes be unsung no more!

Be blessed and be a blessing.