Courage, dear heart

Last post I talked about courage and kindness, and I have had so many experiences revolving around these, too many to share. I've discovered the most innocent kindness, and the hardest bravery of all.

Maybe you can stand up to someone who isn't being kind. Maybe it's easy to take a stance on something you care about. You can find the courage to try something new, to jump off the edge, to overcome the obstacles life puts in your way. You can be brave against the monsters that terrorize you each day.

But the hardest time to be brave is when you are facing your own monsters.

Maybe your heart is locked down, squeezed into an infinitesimally small space to try and contain the monster that rages inside. Maybe the skeletons in your closet keep falling out and scaring you in the night. Maybe you put both hands on your head and curl up in a little ball when you cry, trying to hold in the memories that threaten to claw their way out and destroy you.

Maybe it's time to face your monsters.

We all have them: dark spots on our timeline, scars on our skin and hearts, red in our ledgers. We all have problems, past or present, that at times feel too much to bear. We all sometimes feel like we can't defeat the monsters that leer from the shadows of our doubts and fears.

Courage, dear heart.

Pick up the sword you haven't touched for fear of hurting yourself. Shake off the phantom feeling of chains that have long ago rusted away. Open up the cage you've kept yourself inside, having forgotten all this time that you were the one who had the key.

It's time to face your monsters.

It's time to forgive yourself.

It's time to open up your mouth, to stand on two feet, to light the flame that has been extinguished for so long.

I've had to face some of my monsters this week, monsters I'd hoped to just hide from for the rest of my life. With the love and kindness of others and with the loving hand of God, I have been able t o face some things I was too fearful to before.

With a crumb of bravery, you can feast on redemption.

With a drop of kindness, you can wash away your fears.

Sometimes all it takes is a tender mercy of the Lord that reminds you that he cares about you. Sometimes you just need someone who will listen without judgement, who will just hold your hand and let you snuggle like you're a child again.

Sometimes you just need to remove the burden you've been carrying on your back for years and hand it over to God.

So be brave. 

Take a breath, reach under the bed and pull out the monsters that have been hiding there.

Wield your sword with the strength that God gives you.

Find your bravery.

Courage, dear heart.

Courage.

Have Courage and Be Kind

As you all probably know by now, I am very much drawn to the fairy tale romanticism stories such as Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast offer. I love the idea of dreams coming true and true love persevering through incredible odds, and who wouldn't want ball gowns and a bit of magic in their lives? Hopefully many of you have also seen the trailer for the new Cinderella movie coming out in March. If not, here it is! I am so excited!!!!

What I love most about this, however, is not the gorgeous ball gowns, the magical night of dancing, nor even the happily ever after that is bound to come. What I love most is the advice Cinderella's mother gives:

I've decided to make this my motto for this upcoming year. It goes along with another of my favorite quotes, which I've posted about before: "Sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it." I know that courage pays off, even if you don't get what you were going after, and I always have believed that a little kindness goes a long way.

So be courageous this year. Tell that guy how you feel. Go after the job or major or college that you want. Go skydiving or mountain climbing or bungee jumping or ice skating or skiing or do that one thing you've always wanted to do but have never done for fear. To heck with the reasons why it might not work out. To heck with reasons why it shouldn't be you.

Take a breath and take the leap.

Be kind this year. Smile, especially on days you don't feel like smiling. Be patient with the person running the cash register. Offer to carry someone's groceries or give them a ride to the airport or babysit their kids while they go to a job interview. Always keep in mind that everyone is going through something that you can't see. Try to see the good in people, don't just latch onto the bad.

Be kind to others and be kind to yourself.

May 2015 be full of acts of courage and kindness.

I love you all and I pray that you love yourself.

Do something courageous or kind today and let me know what it was!

I will do likewise and update you in my next post with what I did and some great things others did!

Share your bravery and share your kindness, and this world will be a brighter, more beautiful place.