Courage

12/16/06

Have you ever been over taken by an unexpected event?  An event that seemed to tear at the very heart of your being and required you to be more than you ever thought you could be, or even wanted to be; a situation that presented itself without invitation and surrounded you with constant opportunities to be terrified, to give up, to quit?

There is a saying that has presented itself in many forms by several authors over the years but its truth is constant: Courage is not acting without fear but acting in spite of it.

Courage is waking up in the morning during the lowest time of your life and getting yourself out of bed. Courage is going to bed at night and allowing yourself to fall asleep, even though you know you have to face another day again tomorrow. Courage is allowing yourself to find great encouragement in the smallest of accomplishments. Courage is feeling your heartache even as you begin to embrace a dream again.

Courage brings a bit of wisdom; the wisdom is realizing that your pain and your happiness live side by side in a tender relationship that breeds amazing determination and strength, compassion and love. Courage will rest, but it will never give up.

Do not give up. What ever you are facing that causes you to be afraid, big or small, know that you are surrounded by a community that cares. Be courageous, reach out.