The right thing will make you a hero

ALISTAIR is a young soldier just back from a tough tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Desperate to see his sweetheart he hired a car and prepared for the long drive from Brize Norton to Glasgow.

But before he left he heard another soldier being quoted a substantial train fair to get home.

He couldn’t see a comrade being hit hard in the pocket like that, so he gave the trooper a lift.

“Was it on your way?” I asked Alistair after he’d finally returned home.

“No,” he replied, “it was at least 100 miles out of my way.”

“That must have cost you a fair whack in petrol,” I winced. Alistair said nothing. “But you were in a hurry to get home,” I persevered. “Weren’t you champing at the bit to get back quickly?”

“Oh I couldn’t wait to get home,” he said. “But it was just the right thing to do.” And the conversation was over.

I’m sure Alistair did more heroic things in Afghanistan, but this simple focus on “just the right thing” inspired me.

If there are many more like him in the armed forces – and I am sure there are – then this country is in very good hands indeed!

Oh, and you don’t need to be a soldier to carry out small acts of heroism like this every day . . . HOW do I know Kyle will make a good father?

He and his wife had just been for a 3-D scan. Seeing his unborn daughter as clearly as that had quite an impact on him. Riding his motorbike to work the next day he was unusually aware of how vulnerable he was. Then he started thinking about other risky behaviors.

Within a few days his motorbike and his rock-climbing equipment were up for sale.“Won’t your life be boring now?” I asked.

“Are you crazy?” Kyle laughed.“I’m going to be a daddy. I won’t have time to get bored.”

She’s a lucky little girl – already!

If you see an empty can Or wrapper on the ground, Take the time to pick them up, Don’t leave them strewn around.

If litterbugs won’t use a bin The good folk can still put it in.