New Hero

I've never been one to have heroes. As a kid, when people asked, I'd say Abraham Lincoln. But as an adult, when posed the question, I never had anything to say. That's changed since I've been at this shelter.

There's a song I've been listening to lately with the incredible words (Thanks, Bobs) :

"Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You've made it now"

Hopeful voice. How profound.

My new hero is a woman who went through an awful lot before she found that hopeful voice. She was homeless for a decade because of a terrible childhood. But some incredible people reached out to her and loved her deeply. She cried out, asking God to point that sinking boat home. And He did.

But the beauty of the story is that she does the same thing for our homeless neighbors now. She helps them find that hopeful voice by giving, and giving, and giving. She leads a women's support group, she's getting a degree in counseling, she's become a minister, and she's put her family back together after so many trials. She's my hero not just because she's a survivor, but because she is such an amazing picture of grace.

She noticed that too. And in response, she shows that grace to others. She loves extravagantly.