The measure of a man

This week, there was a shooting in Melbourne, a shooting in which some people of the general public became involved, because they came to help.

You can read about the funeral of one of these men here.

To me, this is the kind of man who epitomises the word "hero". This is the sort of man I want my boys to grow up to be. Not because women need men to protect us- but because we all need each other to protect us.

One of the things I admired the most about my Dad when I was growing up, was that he was always the one who helped ladies get their pram down the station stairs, when it seemed everyone else was rushing around, too busy to help.

Twice this week, I have seen W stop and do something for someone else- a baby dropped a shoe, and he took it to his mum. At toy library, there was a blankie on the ground, and he looked around for anyone who might have dropped it. He found the pram and ran to the lady to return it...I felt more proud than I felt the situation deserved, but I think things like this are a pre-cursor to a life of "best and fairest".

If W grew up to be like this man, I'd be ever so proud. This man's children are too young to understand now, but I hope that when they grow up, rather than feeling angry for the way he left them, they will feel enormously proud of the man he was.

I heard a quote once, which I think summarizes the situation perfectly- "our children are watching us live, and who we are shouts louder than anything we can say"