By Samantha McKenzie

My heroes live in my house. They fight for me on a regular basis. They will run to my rescue at the drop of a dime. They have saved my life and my soul on many occasions. They are my family.

My heroes aren’t in the movies. Neither are they told about through comic books. Instead, my heroes are my children, my parents, my siblings and all of the countless aunts, uncles, and cousins who have held me down throughout my lifetime.

My heroes extend beyond bloodline. They are made up of a collective group of men and women who have shared their friendship and grace with me and my children.

They are both old and young. Some live near and others live farther away.
And I love them all.

They are the people who’ve held my hand while I have faced all types of adversity. They’ve taken on giants, fought with villains and walked fearlessly into dark alleys to save the ones they love.

My warriors have tasted victory and defeat. We’ve lost battles together and won wars. They know about falling down and helping each other get back up. This is what distinguishes family from others. They support each other no matter what.

They are strong and resilient. They band together to support one another and when they are faced with life’s turbulence or derailments in their journeys, they dig deeper into their God-given superpowers and find the wellspring of fortitude to help carry on.

These are the amazing people I’m proud to call my family.: These are the extraordinary souls that step fervently into the light. The only way you’d know who they are is if we tell you their story.

My mother, Angela McKenzie, is my hero. My sister, Allison Miller, is my hero. So is my brother Wayne.

My heroes include my children – Shakeel, Tahirah, and Samiyah. I’ve watched them all grow into their capes. I watch them put on their armor. I witness them as they face fears, fight against the demons, save lives and live to see another day.

Their superpower is love. They are our family and circle of friends. Thanks to them all.