People Who Inspire

I love movies. Especially ones that have a good message. Jack Nicholson was in a movie with Helen Hunt called, "As Good As It Gets". Jack's character (Melvin), is an obsessive-compulsive man who has a hard time communicating with other people. As the movie progresses he finds himself romantically attracted to Helen Hunt's character, (Carol), but he is at a loss for words in trying to describe his feelings for her. Finally, in a last-ditch effort to make sense of his feelings he simply says, "You make me want to be a better man". For Carol it is the highest compliment she could have received. It's a wonderful movie and I highly recommend it.
I wanted to write a blog about "authors" who have inspired me over the years. And then, the more I thought about it, I realized that there were actually people in my immediate life who have inspired me to "be a better man". There is the older gentleman in our church whom I watched nurse his wife through 6 years of Alzheimer's Disease... saying the "long goodbye" with a grace that constantly amazed me as I observed his faithfulness, love and tenderness towards her. The young couple who suffered a great loss of one of their children...and did so without wavering in their faith in a loving God and His promise that "this is not the end of the story". My own pastor, whose messages of redemption through the finished work of Jesus Christ has bolstered my faith tremendously over the years. My good friend who struggled most of his adult life with drug/alcohol addiction but managed his final years of recovery with strength and courage. My two sons, who have grown into compassionate, Godly men that any dad would be proud to have raised. Our family friend, who, despite bad health most of her life has always "been there" when we needed a friend. Anothe friend, who succumbed to cancer a few years ago. She still amazed everyone at her funeral by making even that into a celebration. (She actually bought "baby gifts" for her yet-to-be-married friends). A sterling example of a life well-lived. Then there is my wife, God love her, who has been an amazing example of love and hospitality to others all her life.
I'm sure there are others I haven't mentioned. Thank you ALL for writing a bit of your lives into my life. I can say without a doubt that knowing you has indeed, made me "want to be a better man". As you are reading this, I'm sure there are people brought to mind of whom you could say the same. Sure, there are authors/musicians/writer-muses who have challenged my life and actions through their wonderful songs and literature, but that's nothing compared to witnessing, first-hand,... lives that inspire.