Eric (7) is dressed in his black Nina Halloween costume. He jumps into the family room and kicks his right foot into the air. He pumps his fists and shouts “Ha!”
“Whatcha doin bud?” I ask.
“Ridding the world of evil.” He says.
“Well, maybe do it with a little less jumping and shouting. I can’t hear the TV.”
“Mom,” Eric sighs. “With great power comes great responsibility.”
I love the fact that Eric is so confident in his superpowers. As he bounds around the room ferreting out evil from under the sofa cushions, I start to think about what he says. And I start to wonder, is great power limited to super heros?
I’m just a simple Midwestern gal. I live in a modest suburban house just north of a cornfield. I take my kids to swim class. I make oatmeal for breakfast. That doesn’t sound much like great power to me.
No power means no responsibility, right?
Wrong.
Even though I don’t sling webs and swing from building to building, I have tremendous power. And every day I am faced with a choice. How will I use my power.
It starts when I wake up in the morning. I have the power to start my day off on the right foot. I can choose to slog through my shower. I can growl at my husband and snarl at the kids. Or I can smile and be thankful that God has given me another day to hug and kiss my family. I have the power.
When I go to work, I can glare at my co-workers. I can roll my eyes and slump in my chair at meetings. I can complain about my boss, my pay, my job, my day. Or I can smile and be thankful that God has given me a means to make a living and to pay the bills. I have the power.
When I drive home from work, I can scream at the idiot who just cut me off. I can give him the finger and shout obscenities. I can waggle my fist at the traffic jam. Or I can smile and be thankful that God has allowed me to make it safely to my destination. I have the power.
I have the power to make my own day better. I have the power to influence my family and friends. I have the power to influence the lives of people I have never met.
I have the power.
With my great power, I have great responsibility. A great duty. To leave a mark on the world. To make it a better place. To share something as simple as a smile.
That is my power. That is my responsibility.
Spiderman, look out. There’s a new superhero in town.
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