This month on Remembrance Day in Canada, and
Veteran’s Day in the United States, we
celebrate our military heroes, who have willingly committed themselves to
defending our country. My beloved
peace-loving father served in the U.S. Marines and Air Force, and I am proud of
him for making that sacrifice for his country and for his children and
grandchildren.
He was the most patriotic person I’ve ever known, and helped
changed the world for the good by standing against hatred, prejudice, government oppression and
terrorism. Many others that I know—such as
my dad’s cousin, a friend’s brother and my best friend’s son—also served, and
in a way, so did all the parents, siblings and spouses of these families. To all current and past members of our
military forces, thank you—I could never thank you enough.
I also want to celebrate some non-military heroes, authors
who have changed the world through literature, by giving worthy attitudes and
vision to our minds, and who have consistently given joy and delight no matter
what we’re facing in our lives. Here are
just a few that have been on my bookshelves since childhood.
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, you introduced me to the magical
world of books and adventures. A. A.
Milne, through Winnie the Pooh you taught me patience, gentleness and tolerance. Beverly Cleary, your Ramona Quimby taught me to
always be myself, and to not be afraid to laugh at myself.
Robert Louis Stevenson taught me to dream and to take joy in
being a dreamer. He also introduced me
to the utter beauty of poetic words, rhythm and rhyme. C.S. Lewis and Madeleine L’Engle showed me
that fiction—even science-fiction—can make its way deep into our souls and
introduce us to the Savior. Jane Austen
taught me poise and discipline through her strong female characters, and Charlotte
Bronte taught me self-sacrifice and courage through Jane Eyre
and Mr. Rochester.
The bottom line: all
of these authors made me smile inside. They changed their worlds,
and changed me. It
is because of them that I love to read and write, and I hope to give the same to
my readers. I’d like to think that I
also have changed my world by being
someone better than I would have been apart from these literary works.
My admiration and appreciation goes out to all of these
heroes, past, present and future.
Posted by Ramona
Interesting list of author heroes. I'd concur with all, but my favorite from your list are Austen, Lewis, and Cleary.
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