Recently my son has occasionally talked about being scared at night (animals!). One night we talked about what he could do if he felt scared, sad, or lonely: You can think of your mommy and daddy and how much they love you, and how they will take care of you and help you or You can call us if you get scared.

The next night before bed, I told him how much we loved him, and he volunteered, So I don't have to be scared! That's right, I said.

He continued, So if you're SAD.... And I responded, You can think of mommy and daddy and how much we love you.

He went on, And if you're LONELY.... I went on, Just think of mommy and daddy.

He paused for a moment, then said, and if you're HUNGRY....
A father

Our four year old daughter, Kim, has had quite a year: A new baby brother; Her older sister's birthday; Grandma died; And several pesky childhood illnesses. Her personality has changed from being outgoing, competitive and couragous to shy, timid and clingy. I've done well for several months but recently I've become tense and short with her. (I'm getting some extra time to myself for reading, writing and reflection and I'm happily improving.)

Kim is the sweetest little thing and I love her to pieces. She has reminded me of this through two anecdotes recently that have softened me nearly to tears. We were laying down to snuggle at bedtime and we accidently bonked heads. I apologized and added, I know my head is hard. She said, No, my head is harder . . . and thicker.

Out of the blue she started talking about how much she loves her aunt, who lives in Missouri, about 12 hours drive from our home. She said, I love her with my heart -and my thinker.
Carol Feather-Francis

When my son was about eight years old he and I were in the car alone on our way to do some shopping. I was feeling discouraged with much of my life at that point and was feeling rather melancholy. I turned to Bill and said, Bill, I'm feeling pretty sad today. Bill looked at me serously. Then he patted my leg and said, Dad, you just gotta have hope. What a guy. Needless to say, my day brightened considerably.
A father

Alana Franklin saved Jahan K. Rimes from assault, Silver Springs, Florida, June 1, 1998. Jahan, 6, was in a bedroom of his family's ground-level apartment after a man armed with a gun broke into the unit and shot Jahan's mother and two other relatives. After the assailant pursued Jahan's mother to the bedroom, Jahan's aunt, Alana, 11, student, fled the apartment to summon assistance. Alana returned to the scene and, knowing that Jahan was in the bedroom, went to one of that room's windows, in the side of the building. She broke then unlocked the window, opened it, and pushed aside the blind. She saw Jahan on a bed within reach of the window and the assailant in the doorway. Alana partially entered the room through the window, grasped Jahan, and pulled him outside. As they ran away, the assailant went to the window and fired. A four-hour stand off with police ensued, following which the assailant was arrested. Although wounded, Jahan's mother and the other hostages survived. Alana received the CARNEGIE MEDAL awarded for extraordinary heroism in the United States or Canada by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. She may be the youngest to earn the award.

During the night of August 6, 1998 in Hanahan, South Carolina, Layonee R. Phillips had fallen unconscious in her car. Unfortunately, the car was positioned directly on a railroad crossing and was in the direct path of an approaching train traveling at about 45 m.p.h.. Keith Louis Putnam was a passenger of another vehicle that approached the crossing. He immediately left that vehicle and ran to the stranded car. He grasped Ms. Phillips, pulled her from the car, and dragged her to safety. The train bearing down on the crossing, Keith returned to the car, looked inside (thinking another passenger may have been left behind), and turned away. The train then struck the car, which struck Keith, inflicting fatal injury. Keith Louis Putnam was 15 years old. Ms. Phillips was treated at the hospital for minor injuries. Keith received the CARNEGIE MEDAL awarded for extraordinary heroism in the United States or Canada by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission.