In running my charity, The Hope Express, for over ten years, my perception of what defines a hero might be different then yours. As my son battled Leukemia, and then my wife battled breast cancer our paths crossed many who could be tagged with that moniker.

Adversity is fickle. It does not discriminate. You cannot look upon the heavens and choose the trials that you must live with. Rather, those burdens are unleashed on you.

There have been many over the years that have tried to call my family heroes. I do not accept that. Quite simply, we had no choice. Just like you have no choice. We all must deal with the hand that we are dealt. It is what defines us while we spend our days on earth.

I see heroes in places where most people do not. It is the softball or little league coach, or the mom or dad who support their children in whatever endeavor they are interested in. It is the everyday person doing what they do every day. Those acts of humanity and kindness that go unseen or unheard of are acts of heroes. They ask not for themselves. It is the deed, or the act of giving that gives them all the reward they need.

Where do you see heroes?