A TRIBUTE TO MY HERO

A HERO… It seems that we all need a person in our life to hold up as the ideal; a person we admire for various reasons; someone we strive to emulate.  A HERO, when measured against his/her peers, stands head and shoulders above everyone, even if only in your estimation.  Sometimes we set a person up as a HERO in our mind for reasons that may not be shared with our friends, family or anyone in our circle, but to us they perfectly fit the definition. 

Ask someone to name their HERO and you might be surprised at some of the answers.  We give HERO status to the famous, the rich, Hollywood actors and actresses, singers and musicians, sports stars, police officers, firefighters, military warriors, teachers, preachers, moms, dads, husbands and wives, for a mixed bag of reasons; some deserving and others questionable.  So what makes a HERO?  Let me tell you about mine.

My HERO is a man of high character, faithfulness, honesty, kindness and love.  In a world of selfishness, situational ethics, sinking morality and hedonism, he stands head and shoulders above those surrounding him.  You guessed it…my HERO is my husband, Steve.

FAITHFULNESS and COMMITMENT.  At the age of 12, Steve committed his life to Jesus Christ, was baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit.  At times he has been knocked down by those he trusted, stumbled and had to pick himself up a time or two.  You see HEROS are NOT PERFECT but they ARE FAITHFUL to the commitments they make and HEROS are the ones who pick themselves up and keep moving forward no matter how many times they get knocked down.

At the age of 18, Steve stood at an altar and declared his commitment to me.  He promised to be faithful, to love and honor me until death.  For 40 years he has never wavered from that commitment.  Yes, HEROS remain faithful when others break promises.  They choose to love and honor those commitments when temptations present other options.  They make a covenant with their eyes and purposely look away because they are FAITHFUL.

HIGH CHARACTER AND HONESTY.  A HERO ceases to be, once his character comes into question.  Once he makes a decision to set character aside and follow desires, convenience or the crowd, all the other hero ingredients are of no value.  A loss of character nullifies faithfulness, commitment, honesty and trust and the pedestal crumbles.  I have watched my HERO say NO when yes would have been easier and seemingly more beneficial.  Several years ago, he lost a congregation and many friends and opportunities because he would not compromise his character by signing a Ministry Agreement by which he could not honestly live.  He refused to find loop holes or justification for noncompliance because Steve is a man of high character and honesty.   A HERO DOES THE HARD THING BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING!!!

HUMBLE.  A HERO is not self-promoting.  He doesn’t stand on a pedestal of his own making and would probably consider it a stumbling block to be avoided.  He would be shocked to realize that anyone considered him a hero or that he has accomplished anything worthy of hero status.  He gets up every morning and does the right thing, not for recognition or accolades but because he loves others more than himself and just because IT IS THE RIGHT THING!  I have watched my HERO stand invisible in a crowded room, ignored and overlooked for position or honor because he refused to “blow his own horn.”  I have seen him give of himself, sacrificially, with no expectation of anything in return; sometimes not even a thank you; because HEROS ARE HUMBLE.

Steve Niswonger is the love of my life, my best friend, my staunchest supporter and cheerleader; MY HERO!  He may never run into a burning building or fight off a villain; but he WOULD to save someone that needed saving.  He may never be asked to preach to 20,000 at a general conference; but he COULD with passion and anointing.  He may never throw a baseball at the World Series or a football at the Superbowl; but WOULD TRY if asked.  My hero can always be counted on to be FAITHFUL, COMMITTED, HONEST, OF HIGH CHARACTER AND HUMBLE.  After all, isn’t that what being a HERO is really all about?

THE BRIDEGROOM IS COMING

Today my heart sings, there is a smile on my face and a spring in my step.  WHY?  Tonight my love comes home after a week-long business trip.  “My Beloved is mine and I am His.”  Tonight I will touch his face, hold his hand, listen to his voice and all will be right again.  Today is a day of preparation.  I made a trip to the grocery store and the pantry is stocked with his favorite foods.  A pecan pie will soon be baking in the oven; WHY?  Because he loves pecan pie.  By tonight, the house will be swept, the furniture polished the candles lit and I will be showered, perfumed and my hair fixed just right.  WHY? The one my “heart longs for” is coming home.

It is a message that many scoff at or have brushed aside.  It is a Love Story of a bride preparing as she waits in eager anticipation for the groom to return as he promised.  John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  To the Unbeliever it may be just a fairytale but to the BRIDE, it is HOPE; a PROMISE; an APPOINTED DAY!

Oh she doesn’t sit pining away, daydreaming about what is to come.  No, the Bride is busy preparing, anticipating, getting ready because the time is drawing near; THE BRIDEGROOM IS COMING!  As she sweeps the house, a song spills from her lips; a song of praise to her beloved.  The food is prepared, the candles are burning brightly, she is showered and perfumed; THE BRIDEGROOM IS COMING!  Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His wife has made herself ready.

The time is now; it is time to WAKE UP, GET READY, THE BRIDEGROOM IS COMING!  Romans 13:11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is HIGH TIME to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.  Get out the broom, the dust cloth and the polish; reach way back in the corners and sweep away every cobweb and “dust bunny.”  Check the candles, are they fresh and new; trim the wicks and light the fire.  Now it is time to check your garments, brush away any crumbs, wash away any smudges, and roll off the lint that may have accumulated.  Spray on His favorite scent; the aroma of praise.  Then LOOK and LISTEN for His arrival.  THE BRIDEGROOM IS COMING!

Does your heart beat just a little faster?  Is His touch just a little sweeter? Do you long just to be in His Presence?  Don’t be weary, THE BRIDEGROOM IS COMING.  Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say COME!

Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”  Amen.  Even so, come Lord Jesus!

A SHIRT, A GUITAR, LOVE & COMMITMENT

37 years ago, WOW!!!  Such a long time ago that seems just yesterday.  At 18 years old, I couldn’t imagine being 37, after all my mom was just 39 and she was getting old.  Today, I sit and reminisce.  How did we cram so many memories into such a short span?  How does 37 years pass so swiftly?  How did I get to be 55?  We were so young, so much in love, so full of dreams and plans, so fearless as we stepped into life together.  It has been quite a journey and I am so thankful we’ve walked it, stumbled, sometimes skipped and other times carried each other, but always together; side by side.

All of my friends have heard me tell the story of our huge family walking into the little church on Mattis Avenue in Rockford, IL.  My eyes immediately focused on the young man sitting on the platform, playing a guitar.  Oh yeah, the most important part of the story, the “western” shirt with tiny orange flowers, your sleeves were rolled up and you took my breath away. It took you 2 whole months to ask me out and that’s when the journey started.   

I loved your gorgeous, thick hair, (at 55, the envy of all of your men friends), your kindness, your off-the-wall sense of humor, but most of all your devotion and commitment to God.  I was raised on a church pew, we actually went 4 times every week, and I knew I wanted a Godly man.  But, your love for God blew me away and actually scared me a little because I didn’t know if I could live up to that in my own life.  Somehow, even at 18, I was able to grasp how your commitment to God would translate into love, devotion and commitment to me and I was not about to let that get away.

That love and devotion was portrayed in a story that few people have ever heard.  We had been dating for a few months and the attraction had deepened to young love.  As our relationship progressed, the temptation to go beyond the boundaries also grew.  Your relationship with God was too precious to allow it to be destroyed by a premature moment.  We agreed to take time away from each other…that was the hardest week of my life.  The other part of the story is that because of your love for me, you didn’t want my parents to think you were “dumping” me; you wanted them to know you truly respected and cared for me, so you went and talked with them.  I was so mad, but you won my Mom and Dad’s hearts forever.  37 years later, I think back on this story with tears in my eyes; what a precious gift you are and how I have always felt so cherished by you.

It’s been quite a trip.  Sometimes a “Roller Coaster Ride”, other times a “Sunday Afternoon Drive” and many times a “Bumpy Ride” down a path filled with ruts but we just kept driving forward, together.  Someday we will take that Hawaiian vacation, we talk about, buy that motor home and become “snow birds,” but tonight I will celebrate by returning to where it all began, in church.  I’ll be listening to your voice as you preach the Word of God, totally convinced; 37 years later this is exactly where I want to be.