To Find My Heroes, I Look No Further than My Breakfast Table

A man told my husband that he was wanting to write a book about three of his heroes. All three were preachers. I thought to myself "That is really wonderful! But, if I write a book about my heroes, I wouldn't need to look further than my breakfast table to find them."
My heroes as a child, were Ron and Carolyn Courtney, my Dad and Mom. They are not pioneers, or war veterans, but they made an ordinary life, extraordinary. They brought joy to the mundane happenings of life. They brought peace to a chaotic world. For this, they are my heroes.
My Dad never made it very far up the "ladder of success". He worked as Director of Field Services for the American Cancer Society, and later the American Heart Association. This meant that he traveled the state of Arkansas and organized local fund raising boards. He was a great speaker. He taught the boards how to organize and follow through with fund raising campaigns, such as, "Jump Rope for Heart" and many others. Once he and Mom came to know Christ, they no longer went to the parties that were hosted by the "big wigs" in these fund raising organizations. He quit doing this because they served alcohol, and Dad would not associate with that lifestyle in any way. This forced him into the shadows of the business world, and therefore, he never made it into the boss's chair. Because he said "no" when the world offered him success at a high price, he is my hero. He spent many hours reading to me about the Presidents. I loved history, and he did, too. He took me on walks in the summer. We each had our own "walking stick" and we enjoyed looking at our neighbors' well manicured lawns and noting their new riding mowers! We smelled the honeysuckle in the air and he told me stories of his childhood. He took me on long bike rides, and he would take my bike apart and lubricate it every year and then proudly stand back and say "She'll go like greased lightning, now Valerie!" And he was right. He took me to teen activities, the library, and to my monthly orthodontic appointments. He read the Bible aloud to my Mom every morning. He loved me when I would get a bad attitude, and he was so proud of me when I achieved a high score on a test. For all of this, he is my hero.
My mother was blessed to have the favor of men and women alike in her chosen field: education. A brilliant student herself, I am convinced that she could have become a college professor if she had desired. Instead, she taught special education. She was, and is, tenderhearted. Her heart broke when a mentally disabled or retarded person was laughed at, or made fun of. I am not as naturally tender hearted as she, but watching her tear up over seeing someone mistreated has made me much more sensitive to the feelings of others. We never called someone "a retard" as a joke in my house. We never made fun of those who were handicapped or poor or disabled. She taught me that it was by God's grace that we had the intelligence, money and abilities that we have. For this she is my hero. She taught me that "life and death are in the power of the tongue". (Prov. 18:21) She spent many hours explaining to me that words can help or hurt people, and that mine often hurt others. She worked long hours teaching, and often stayed after school to tutor students who were struggling. Then, she came home to cook supper, do laundry, write letters, lesson plans, and grade papers. She rose early, and went to bed late. It was a rare evening that she ever put her feet up to relax. She was always doing for others. She never missed her Tuesday night soul winning time. She worked hard at teaching her 3rd Grade Sundays School class. She made us eat breakfast - and supper - together. For all of this, she is my hero.
When I married at age nineteen, I had already been witnessing some amazing examples of character and integrity. I had no idea that I'd be witnessing even more of that in the life of my husband.
He got his first job at age fourteen because his bike was broken, and he needed to earn money to have it repaired. He could have asked his parents, or grandparents for the money, but he didn't. He got himself up every morning at 4:30 and delivered papers on foot. For this, he is my hero.
He watched his father face many battles in the ministry, yet he gave his life to serve in the ministry as well. He didn't get bitter. He is my hero.
In Bible college, he had to install his own lavatory in the dorm! He faced very primitive conditions as the college got on it's feet, yet, he didn't quit. He's been criticized and judged wrongly by others, but he doesn't get angry or quit. He keeps going. He is my hero.
He has many abilities and talents, yet he is humble. He gives his all when he could get by with less.
He studies God's Word, and tries to live it. He's honest. He's not a hypocrite. If we have a disagreement over something before services, or if he even just snaps at me, he will apologize before he preaches. He wants to be right with God, and with man, or in my case, woman! For all of this, he is my hero.
I am so thankful that my heroes are not just people I know about, but people I know.

My Mom is not a Quitter

Me, Mitchell, Mom and Lauren in 2005

Small in stature, but big in heart. Carolyn Courtney looks like she would break under pressure, but looks can be deceiving. As the daughter of a very successful farmer, she learned the value of hard work early in life. With five siblings, she learned how to get along. The Leonards were never weak - they were strong in will and in love. My Uncle Gary was left a paraplegic by an accident on the farm many years ago. While in the hospital, the nurses came to discuss new lines of work with him, since farming would no longer be an option. To this, he replied "I'm going to farm." And farm he did. Every piece of farm machinery was fixed with a rope - not wheel chair lifts - rope. He climbed into this equipment that had been fixed with hand controls using his upper body strength only. He rises early in the day and works until late at night. He jokes, laughs and makes every one around him feel good...you don't even see his wheel chair after a while.
What's this got to with your Mom? Thanks for asking! It's got everything to do with her. My Mom is like my Uncle. No, she wasn't injured on the farm, but she has faced battles, nonetheless, and she has refused to quit, just like Uncle Gary.
No matter what has happened in her life, she has not once quit on God.When my sweet nephew contracted bacterial meningitis at three days old and nearly died, and subsequently is mentally retarded, she refused to quit. When pain or sickness wracked her body, she refused to quit. When my Dad lost his job of twenty years at age 52, she refused to quit. When God moved her children to North Carolina, Florida and Texas, she refused to quit. And, when God took her husband, confidante, and companion through life's trials home to Heaven, she refused to quit. She goes soul winning every week, heads up a ladies spiritual support group at her church, teaches third grade Sunday School, teaches in the Bible College, tutors children in the Christian School, writes numerous notes and cards to people, and the list is endless. I haven't even begun to tell you all the things she's done for me personally - that would take forever.

My Mom has always been tenderhearted. She was not just a teacher, but a special education teacher. She taught what some people would call the "cast offs", or the underdogs of society. I am not as tenderhearted as she is, but after watching my mother patiently and lovingly teach those precious students, well, I've come a long way. She loves the unlovable. I know this because she loves me. I know this will shock some of you, but I've not always been the paragon of virtue!! I was a stubborn and often rebellious child, and a hard to manage teenager - but she loved me anyway. Some would say "She had to love you, she's your MOM!" But I've been in enough homes to know that in fact, she didn't have to - so many kids are not loved by their Moms. I watched a young boy and his mother yesterday as I was waiting to get my hair cut. The mother angrily grilled her boy on his addition flashcards, stating rather loudly "I don't care how much you hate it, you're doing it all day, until you learn these." This boy wasn't being openly defiant - he was tired! It was 4:00 pm, and he had been at school all day, and now his Mom was openly humiliating him. I can say, my mom never did that to me, and I was openly defiant!! Yes, I am very blest. My Mom believed that verse in Proverbs that says "The sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.."

I just wanted to share with you what a wonderful lady my Mom is. Today is her birthday. Some can paint beautiful paintings, or cross stitch, or play a song on the piano, but I only know how to write. Thanks for taking the time to read about her. I am so proud of her.

Happy Birthday, Mom! I sure do love you.

Tribute to a Great Family:

My Wonderful Family!!!

Me (and Laci), Kevin, Mom and Melanie at our home at 2811 Karen Drive!

July 30, 2007

In my last post, I shared a little bit of my childhood with you. Thank you for the kind comments that some of you left me. I mentioned my wonderful Mom and Dad, but I didn't tell you about the great brother and sister God gave me! My brother, Kevin, Pastors First Baptist Church of Ocoee, Florida - right outside of Orlando. He has four great kids and a sweet wife, Kathy. I had the blessing of having Kevin as my school Principal when I was in 5th -7th grade in the Christian school I attended. Every morning from 8:30 to 8:45ish he held devotions for the whole school. Only in Heaven will he know how those devotions impacted me. I remember several of them vividly! Though I wasn't saved then, I was trying to live the Christian life, mostly because I wanted to be like Kevin and Melanie.

Speaking of Melanie.... she was 9 when I was born and has loved me unconditionally since the day she heard "It's a girl". She prayed for a little sister and God answered her prayer -she just forgot to ask for a little sister who wouldn't be a stinker!! :-) She lives in beautiful North Carolina now with her three precious boys. I asked the Lord to put us in a church in NC, but I was asking so I could "consume it upon my own lust" so the Lord didn't answer! It would be great to be physically close to a sister who seems only a whisper away to my heart. We have remained very close over the years, despite the thousand plus miles that separate us.

Kevin and Melanie are both extremely good...and it comes so naturally! I have to really work at things like thoughtfulness, compassion, willingness to help others, saying the right thing, and on and on and on!! It all comes so easily to them. They have, and always will be, an example of sincere Christians. What you see on Sunday with Kevin and Melanie, is what you'll see any day of the week if you dropped in on them at their homes. They are genuine people. I don't know why God placed someone like me in such a wonderful home. Though not perfect, they are always giving me a goal to reach up to in my Christian life. As a child I thought I was adopted! As a teen I thought I was "switched at birth". As an adult I realize that God just decided to have mercy on me.

On the third anniversary of my Dad's homegoing, my mom flew all of us kids home to be together for four days. The photos here are from that brief, but wonderful, trip home. I'm sorry I don't have a photo of my Dad to show you. I only had my digital camera a short time before he died, so I didn't get any of him on it. My brother -in-law may be able to e mail me some photos from his camera(Thanks, Walter!), if so, I'll be posting them later. So stay tuned!

Me (and Laci), Kevin, Melanie, and Mom enjoying the food and fellowship of my aunts and uncles in Batesville, AR