Monday, January 26, 2009

Courage


I took Laila to see
THE WIZARD OF OZ for her birthday. We had a great time together. I really liked the Cowardly Lion. The actor was wonderful. Funny and spunky and timid and shy-- all of the stuff the cowardly Lion should be. All the Lion wants from the Great Oz is some courage. He doesn't want to be afraid of his shadow or of life any more.

I love at the end of the show, how his courage has always been there.
The Lion just needed to act.

Action cures Fear.

Courage:
–noun
1. the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.

I've been impressed, lately, by how many Courageous women I know. I want to mention four of them.

I can't believe how determined my friend Laura is to get out of the wheelchair, off of the walker and on to a one arm cane. It's been 7 weeks-- and she is amazing. Willful but amazing. It took such great courage on her part just to make it home from China in so much pain. I don't think I could have done it. She struggles daily, but she wants to get back to driving, get back to bathing, and get back to walking.

I have a friend who has had such a difficult time getting pregnant and then once pregnant, she has trouble sustaining a pregnancy to full term. I -- who can get pregnant if Wayne just looks at me in that "way" -- have a hard time identifying with this. Monson was actually conceived using 99% fail-proof birth control-- he is the 1%.
But this friend has miscarried many times, has buried a beautiful baby -- and has an 18 month old who is a Miracle. It's amazing he is with us and thriving after being born at just over 1 pound. I look at the courage of this positive- fun--loving mom and I'm awed by her.

At Relief Society yesterday, one of my best friend's daughter shared what was in her heart....and how hard it is when a marriage falls apart. I'm amazed at her-- her insights about her life, her testimony and her ability to move forward. So courageous!

My mom is slowly losing her eye sight-- she doesn't complain, just moves forward with courage. She has always been a visual learner and person, and this really is a difficult thing for her. She is fiercely independent. Now she is dependent on so many. She continues to do choreography, teach drama classes, teach relief society, take care of her mother and love all of us. A wonderful example of courage.

I hope to be as courageous....to move forward with Action. To move forward with Faith in all the areas of my life where I need some added courage.
.

1 comment:

Melanie said...

You have just as much courage or more than me. You are an inspiration in so many ways. Thanks for being you, I guess since we are almost twins that is saying thanks for being like me!