Have Courage

I’d been debating what to write about. The first post of 2022 has so much potential. Should I write about goals and planning? Maybe a self-help guide? Or perhaps a reflection on 2021? Although I may write about these topics at some point, none of them seemed to match the feeling in my heart as we start the new year. And then it came to me.

Over the past few weeks Caleb and I enjoyed several discussions about courage. Of course, what instantly comes to my mind are people who have accomplished incredible feats such as: Alex Honnold, Harriet Tubman, or Amelia Earhart.

The dictionary defines courage as “the ability to do something that frightens one.” Another definition I found said “Courage is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation.”

As Caleb and I talked, we both agreed that there are many wonderful examples of courage in history. But perhaps we are actually missing the point. I often see courage as a momentary choice – a quickly made sacrifice. And while I don’t want to downplay this in any way, if I am honest, I tend to miss the everyday acts of courage that surround me. I believe that the courage to get up and face a hard reality is just as important as the courage needed to enter a burning building. Choosing every day to do the right thing is arguably much harder than a split-second of adrenaline.

Life is hard. It has a way of grinding you down. As I was pondering this, I started to think back on 2020 and 2021. Truthfully, I don’t have many fond memories. The first words that come to mind are: uncertainty, chaos, and fear. So many of the things we enjoyed were simply gone overnight. And yet, we had a choice. A choice to show courage, to show kindness, and to do our best in uncertain circumstances. I must say, there were many times when we could have done better. But may the failures of past years encourage us to create a better future.

All of this to say, for the start of 2022, I would like to propose a new definition of courage: Courage is continuing in the mundane. It’s getting up and faithfully going to a job you’re not passionate about. It is speaking up when it's easier to be silent. Courage is choosing to do your best, whatever your circumstances. It is getting out of your comfort zone. It’s living with a chronic disease. Courage says yes to what’s right and no to what’s wrong. Courage is continuing on without a spouse. It’s loving a wayward child. Courage is doing the thankless task for the 100th time without expectation.

As we begin a new year, I want to leave you with this message. Take heart! You are more courageous than you realize! Lift your chin. Fight the good fight. And may we have the courage to continue in the challenges that have been given to us.

Thanks for reading,

Abby