Unlikely heroes often come from unexpected places

As I watched the girl’s nitpick each other the other day, finding fault in the mere fact that their sibling consumed air, I got a little tickled. Trying my best to hold back my laughter, I watched as one child would voice her disdain for the actions or words of her sister while the other quickly countered with evidence of her own why her sister needed to shape up. The fact that good old dad would interject his words of wisdom relating to the benefits of sisters, family and having the backs of our siblings fell upon deaf ears as I was simply as a noise in the breeze to the little combatants. As the battle raged, I found that it took all I had not to record their conversation for future use in a well-planned out blackmail scheme. As the girls either tired of the combat or simply became resigned to the fact that the other was being unreasonable, I found the perfect moment to interject.

Forgetting that trying to rationalize with an angry 9- and 10-year-old, fresh out of battle, was pointless, I began discussing the importance of communication and compromise. As you can imagine my attempts to turn the battle into a teaching moment was enormously unsuccessful and met with the occasional “she did” and “she said”. Deciding that the only plausible solution was a bit of time apart, I directed the girls to go play in their rooms, adding the necessary parental phrase, we have all come to love and adore “and I better not hear any more arguing.” As the girls stomped to their perspective rooms, I reminded myself just how lucky I was to be blessed with the girls, even through the conflicts.

As the silence of the sibling ceasefire continued, I began thinking about how the same two children, entrenched in battle, failing to give in, and determined to win truly could turn the proverbial page and have each other’s back when necessary. My thoughts flowed to several years prior where my youngest child was promoted to a grade level where she attended the same school building as her older sibling. Silently listening as her older sibling talked to her mother and I about a male classmate who had consistently treated her poorly, even resorting to physically assaulting the child. The younger child simply listened. As her sister revealed that the boy had began treating her friends poorly, she voiced her concern that he would again begin “being mean” to her. Her mother and I, and the child devised an adequate strategy for addressing the bully while her sister continued to sit idly by, seemingly not paying attention. It wasn’t until approximately one week later that we realized the younger child wasn’t simply ignoring her sister but developing a strategy of her own.

While at home eating dinner, as was routine with our family, we asked the girls how their day went. With excitement gleaming, Lilli began describing to us that while on the playground, the boy began picking on one of her friends. Feeling frustrated that she was unable to protect her friend, she saidd she didn’t know what to do. It was then, as Lilli described, that she saw movement from her side. Without being noticed, she watched as her little sister ran up and addressed the situation by throwing the boy to the ground, standing over him while she told him he better not hurt her sister or her friends again. Shocked by the child’s actions, I must admit, I felt pride in the fact that the child solved the problem for her sister. I thanked Riy for her help but warned that she should speak to the teachers rather than resorting to physical violence. Her reply was both revealing and humorous. She simply described that “when the teachers won’t do anything sometimes sisters have to have each other’s backs and do what’s necessary”.

The situation reminded me that life involves moments where our heroes are not only those we rely upon, but also sometimes come from the most unexpected places. We all have strengths which are many times on full display for others to see, what we many times try to forget is that likewise, we are also weak in one area or another. It is through community and a willingness to be on the lookout for others, interceding when necessary, that we all can fulfill our destiny and make it through this life unscathed. Be someone’s hero this week my friends.

Richard J. Stephens lives in Carter County and is the father of three little ladies ranging in age from eight to 29.