On Fridays, we gather at Lisa-Jo’s place in reckless
abandon with words and hearts and comment love for as many as we can
visit. Some are bleary-eyed from a late
night gathering we call #FMFParty on twitter.
Some are scraping to find the 15 minutes it takes to write, find the perfect
right photo and then post. Whatever your
situation today, I’m glad you are here and I offer you a cupcake as a
reward. Enjoy!! It has ZERO calories or fat!
Here are my five minutes on: BRAVE
Most days I don’t feel brave at all. I don’t feel cowardly or fearful, just not
brave. I don’t feel I need to be
brave. I’m not doing anything courageous
or out of my comfort zone.
Then there are moments in a few days when I feel like my
stomach has joined the U.S. Gymnastics Team.
I wonder if my insides have been turned into a bounce house and
decisions are in there having a grand old time.
I then tell myself, it’s not real bravery. My life isn’t at stake. I’m not in any real physical danger. I don’t want to devalue real bravery, the
kind where life and limb are put at risk.
Risk is at the heart of bravery.
If there is risk, then there is bravery.
While not wanting to devalue the bravery of others I am
devaluing my own.
So I wall claim the bravery in myself when I put myself
out there to lead or to sell or to write - or to protect and serve.
Fantastic post.
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you so much!
DeleteSo true. It's ALL brave!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I feel I back pedaled a little, but we all have different situations we are called to and different strengths to wlk on. So gald you stopped by.
DeleteHi Amy! loved this post.. Its exactly what i wanted to say but I struggle with being long winded. gotta focus more on the "5" in my Five Minute Friday posts. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDelete"Wrapping it up" is definitely not my strong suit. That's part of why I love these five minutes. I learning to be more economical with words. Thank you for leaving this encouragement.
DeleteWOOHOO! Good for you Amy! Before I got to the end I was thinking "BUT YOU ARE BRAVE!"
ReplyDeleteYou are too sweet! Amazing how far my mind can wander and back in 5 short minutes.
DeleteI think we so often discount our own bravery... comparing it to others' 'real' living Brave - but only He can know what we overcome... in the end, we are all Brave... we all - at least - have the choice, in every day - sometimes in each moment - to choose Brave! Love this sweet friend!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that the truth, and something I always have to remind myself. there is no way to know everything another person has gone through - no matter how close you are. Thank you!!
DeleteAww you are brave my friend. Brave to share your soul and life with us so we know we are not alone. Love this Amy. And that little one of yours how stinky cute is he.
ReplyDeleteThanks, he is pretty cute. :) We are never alone. The more people that share their stories, the more we know this. Bravery is contagious!
DeleteOh, Amy, risk is SO at the heart of bravery. It's only taken me a few decades to figure that out. Thank you for writing the truth and encouraging us all to claim the bravery that flits in and out of our days.
ReplyDeleteI think it has taken me a few decades, too. I'm not sure I've even fully convinced myself yet. :)
DeleteGirl. I have seen you choose bravery. I have seen you look the lies of the enemy in the face and choose to believe Truth. I have seen you do the things that scare you. You are brave.
ReplyDeleteThis is humbling and I'm not quite sure how to respond other than thank you for being you and cheering so loudly.
DeleteI find it interesting that sometimes when we are being the most brave, it seems the least obvious. This has been a huge year of brave for you and I can't wait to see the next chapter unfold. Love you!
ReplyDeleteWhen I think back to just over a year ago, I hardly recognize my life it is so different. Your bravery has inspired me and been so constant. When I hear about Jumping Tandem, I sometimes think it could refer to us! So still no baby, huh? :)
DeleteAll too often we miss the good parts of ourselves because we're too busy comparing ourselves to everybody else. There are lots of ways to be brave, some more obvious than others. Love it!
ReplyDeleteI think you just clearly stated my point. Thank you! :)
DeleteOh you are, girl. You are.
ReplyDeleteyou know, my Great-grandpa ... when he would tell the David and Goliath story...he would always end it with "So remember, bravery is found in little packages." and I never got it. I thought he was always talking about how I was still little...
but now I see.
I love that story. Little packages of bravery to open when we need them - such a good illustration. everyone who plays along on Fridays and dares to leave a comment is brave in my book!
DeleteName it and claim it girl, that bravery is yours! Just following where we're lead when it sets us out of our comfort zone is brave.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right. Easy is just that, easy!
Delete