Current mood:

hopeful

My hero: Arthur Roney
Not bad for a Monday. For anyone who cares to read, here is the story of an amazing person...

I spoke with an older gentleman today. He was looking for some money that our government had promised to pay him, and he in turn was going to pay off some medical bills. (Part of my job is to help people look for their money.) I took the time to listen to this man and I found his story to be really amazing so I just wanted to document it here and maybe get some more good thoughts out for him.
His name is Arthur Roney. Mr. Roney is a retired war veteran from WWII, and I'm pretty sure he told me he was a colonel in the Air Force. Unbeknownst to him, he contracted some "strange radiation disease" during the war and when he came home--he passed it on to his wife and 3 children. He has since lost his wife; all three of his grown-up children have died, and he has had to watch them all die, knowing now that it was his service in the war that ended up killing them.
This man was not broken down as he told me his story, he said that he knows he'll get to be with them again very soon (he's terminally ill as well, you see). And I couldn't help but wonder at the courage of this man. How much more courage does it take to tell your horror stories with all the rights in the world to fall into despair, and say with confidence that you know things will be better soon? I am so inspired! Faith in knowing that there is a better life beyond the loss and pain of this one can make even MY weak spirt stronger than those that persecute me or forget about me or ignore me or are offended by me. Thank God for that spirit of courage to be who I am no matter what's going on around me.
There really is no point to the story, other than the fact that I want this man to be remembered by someone. He really spoke to me and to my heart. I told him he was my hero, and he said that he had never been called that before--then he told me I was his hero (for finding his money) and so we were even. But it doesn't feel even. I hope that Mr. Roney has a very peaceful end to his life here. And even though he will probably never read this, I want him to know that he is remembered.
God bless you, Arthur Roney. I'm sure we'll meet again.