Are you an AVENGER? Which one are you?

       WOW......I have to admit I LOVED  "The Avengers" !  My family took me to see it on Mother's day.  Yes, on Mother's day.  And thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised!  It was great!

       Normally, this kind of movie is my sister's cup of tea.  She is the queen of knowledge when it come to these movies.  Sometimes we even tease her about it mercilessly.  But as I was sitting there with my family taking it all in, I began to feel a little piece of what she must feel sometimes (she'll be so proud!).   A little light bulb when on for me.:
      We all want to be a HERO sometime in our life!  That is part of the draw of these movies! 

     This movie had an amazing story about many individual, extraordinary heroes who couldn't fulfill their purpose to save the world until they came together and used their exact gifts given to them to protect our planet and the human race.  What a unique picture of us....

Let's look at the characters: 

Which Avenger are you?

1. Iron Man:  Funny, selfish, sarcastic, brilliant, the comedian, cynical, has to be the center of attention, impulsive, and most definitely narcissistic. Appears incredibly confident, but lonely, and ultimately trying to beat death. But...rises to the challenge when it matters.
2. Thor:  Betrayed by his brother. Strong sense of family.  Still ashamed he left home and was childish and selfish.  Has great strength and character. Trying to make things right but can't change or help his brother Loki (the god who tries to take over Earth and is filled with jealousy and spite)
3. Black Widow:  Amazing intelligence. Able to deceive while looking like an ally. Desperately trying to escape her past and the memories of childhood.  Loyal and faithful to those she believes in and that she owes a debt to. Never gives up.
4. The Hawk:  An observer. See things no one else can see.  Is able to silently protect. Maybe more the servant of the group.  Is humbled and grateful when he is saved from the curse he has been under.  Maybe a bit of the picture of the "lost son' who come back and is more grateful and has greater perspective. 
5. The Hulk:  I love this guy!!!  I think sometimes there is a 'hulk" in all of us.  He is scared of what he may become.  Hides his talents, his gifts, just in case the "bad guy' shows up.  He is  afraid of rage and anger but learns to channel it and heal it by being surrounded by people he can trust and that believe in him.
6. Captain America:  (my personal favorite!)  In a place of acceptance of his past. Scared of his future, but willing to fight for it.  The voice of reason for the team. May argue, but not for long. Wants to bring out the best in those around him.  Willing to sacrifice.
6. Fury:  The protective leader.  He makes mistakes but he believes in all of them.  Has a great amount of pressure to bring the heroes together.  He has to help them believe in themselves, work together, serve each other for the greater good.

       As I think of my family, my group of friends, the teenagers I work with, I can really see these characters come to life.  Some of us are more of one character and some of us are a combination of others.  I am not completely sure where I would place myself.   But I do know that ALL of us can be a hero.  I might be a hero to one person or to many. And the point is....we are not all supposed to be the same!  Together we are STRONGER!        That is how we bring the "team" together to help others.    We are at our best when we work together, support each other, rejoice in each others gifts without envy and competition. 

                No matter which "Avenger" you may identify with, what your fears or past may be....God can, and WILL use you with the gifts He gave you to be a hero in someone's life.   Don't be afraid....you CAN make a difference!


        So go be a hero!


      ..... And thank you to those who have been a hero in my life!



 Deb

      

A word of blessing...

What does it mean to be blessed?

                  Last week my daughter came home and asked "Mom, why am I so blessed?".  It was an interesting question.  Of course, I asked her what she meant by that, and she wasn't sure exactly how to phrase her question.  I could tell she almost felt guilty for feeling blessed.  This generation of young people has great compassion and empathy.  Due to the internet, (things like the KONY project), television, movies, and cellphones, the world's problems are known by our kids in an instant.  They see pain and suffering all around the world,  and I think what she was contemplating that week was: "why did I get to be born here?"   She feels blessed and she is not sure she is deserving.

                 Well, I am certainly not a philosopher or a theologian, but I knew this was a big question with a lot of hidden meaning and concerns for her.  So first I asked her this question?

                 "Well.....what DOES it mean to be blessed? "

        

     Here is dictionary.com's definition:

bless·ing

   /ˈblɛsɪŋ/ Show Spelled[bles-ing] 

noun

1.

the act or words of a person who blesses.

2.

a special favor, mercy, or benefit: the blessings of liberty.

3.

a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness.

4.

the invoking of God's favor upon a person:


                                  Our English language can be very limited.  The world also tells us that wealth, beauty, fame, success.....that those things are blessings.  But are they really?
Look at the above definitions.   A "blessing" is the actions, the character, the words of a person who chooses to bless.   A "blessing" is mercy....favor....freedoms....benefitting someone's life.   A "blessing" is a gift from God bestowed upon us.      So, if we would think of being blessed in these terms, than so many more of us would "feel" blessed and "be" a blessing to someone else.  And this fact is universal!!   Whether we live in southern California, Africa, China, or the Middle East, etc....each human being can be blessed and be a blessing.   Sometimes we focus so hard on getting rid of all the "ugly", and "hard" that we forget to see how are lives are intertwined with blessings.
                    

        

                             

               

                I love this saying below.  It reminds me that the blessings in my life, my gratitude for them, and the way I choose to bless others can leave precious, permanant imprints on my heart and my future, and maybe on their's too. If I choose to think this way, then no matter what comes my way, I will still KNOW that I am blessed!

                "So, yes, my sweet daughter, you are blessed.  It is a gift. Don't take it for granted.  You don't have to feel guilty, just DO something with the blessings you receive.  And every single day go out and be a little blessing in someone else's life too."

Have a blessed day!  Deb