Strength is

I think one of the greatest words I know is strength. Have you ever noticed an oak tree and thought of the strength in the limbs? Can it be possible that people have that same kind of strength? The kind that endures and comes to our rescue when we think a situation is hopeless. I think it is.

There was a child in the head start program at Greasy Creek Elementary School. This little boy had Downs-Syndrome and was considered in the high range of mental retardation, but looking into those bright little four year old eyes you could see a will of iron. This child was determined to learn. If he ran into something beyond his comprehension he wouldn't stop until he had either figured out, or someone had explained it in a way he could understand. Now, nine years later, he is thirteen and in the top one-fourth of his class. He is no longer considered retarded and regularly amazes doctors with his abilities. This child is using his strength to educate himself and do something great.

On another occasion in my life I came to know a woman, I'll call her Ann. Ann was married to an alcoholic. Her husband hadn't always been this way, but when work went bad and money was low he turned to alcohol. The alcohol released the control released the control he had over his anger and bitterness. That's when the abuse started. At first Ann thought that when her husband went back to work everything would be okay. She didn't understand how sick he had become. In time he found work, but things didn't change. He would always find a reason to drink, and then he would find a reason to hit.

Ann was the mother of two, with no education to speak of , and no job experience. At that time Ann saw no way out. Then one evening as he sat in his favorite chair watching television Ann's husband turned on their six year old daughter. The little girl had gotten in front of the television. Cursing and calling the little girl names, he raised his hand to strike. Ann was faster, grabbing her daughter she ran to the children's room to get her son. Ann locked the three of them in the bathroom, the only room with a door that locked. That night after he had drunk himself into a stupor Ann left the monster her husband had become. With only the cash she had stolen from her husbands wallet and what few clothes they could gather Ann disappeared from my life for two years. Finally, I received a letter from her. Ann made it to Montana to her family. She is in school to be a nurse and working full time in a factory.

In my experiences in life I have found that some people are like the mighty oak. The heart of these special people give them an almost unbelievable strength of spirit. Now that is the true definition of strength.