Where is my heart, hand, and feet?

About 70, or so, years ago my great-grandfather and his son, my great uncle, went to get food from the corner store in Puerto Rico. My uncle, Tio Juan, was only (about) 5 years of age at the time. As the two walked down the street to the store all they wanted were a few small items, not knowing how high the cost would be that day.

A man dressed in all black came through the corner store doors. He went up to the cashier, pulled out a gun, and demanded all the money the store had. After the robber snatched up all of the money, he took much more than that. He pulled the trigger on his gun, aimed at the cashier, and the other people in the shop. My great-grandfather took a bullet in his heart for his son that day, pushing away my Tio so he could keep his safety, life, and future together. People put others in front of their selves (such as explained) for all different reasons. One may do it because they feel it is the right and honorable action to take. Others, like my great-abuelo, would risk their own lives because the deep love and passion they have for another’s life. My Tio Juan wept more than ever that day, for it all happened so fast. Through all the pain, one thing he can never deny is the love his father had for him, and how grateful he is to him (along with others who were saved from the risk taking by another) and forever and always he will be.

Sadly, such heroic moves are not always taken. For others in near death circumstances where one has to decide “others and possibly me” or “most-likely me only” people take the choice to save their selves. Personally, I think it a selfish choice to leave others to die because you are too worried about your own life when you would hate for another to run past you in a near to death situation, but you cannot make everyone see the same. All I know is life can literally change forever in one split moment, choice, and/or action. There will be choices one will have to make from the true instinct of one’s heart. Now I ask myself, would I be ready to make the leap for another before hiding myself? And how many other are with me?