“For God hath not given
us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”--2
Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
The Bible is
full of examples of courage. Prominent figures worked through feelings of
inadequacy, bullying, and the fear of failure. Each story highlights underdogs
winning—from Esther to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Let’s examine what they had
in common, as defined by Google Dictionary and sayings found online:
The Definition of Courage
(from Google
Dictionary)
|
“the ability to do something that
frightens one.”
|
“ability to act on one’s beliefs
despite danger or disapproval.”
|
|
“strength in the face of pain or
grief.”
|
“moral strength in the face of danger.”
|
“Courage isn’t the absence of fear, but an
urgent impulse to do something despite fear.”—Todo
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“Courage is
moving forward even when you feel afraid.”—Joyce Meyer
A Modern Twist on the Cinderella Story
I have
always resented many things about the story of Cinderella. (Sorry, Walt Disney). The story would resonate more
with me if the main character hadn’t been born a wealthy, gorgeous lady.
There was conflict. She was abused by her
stepmother and stepsisters. The prince also had to go against his parents’
wishes, at first, to marry her.
In real
life, there would be much more trauma and drama. Here’s a modern update to the story: Cinderella
is homeless and unattractive. She has no options. Her journey to homelessness
includes the following:
- Bullying
- The loss of family members
- Battling various illnesses and limitations
The
well-educated Cinderella refuses to be kept down. For months, she searches for employment.
The hopeful lady goes daily into the Human Resources Department of a certain
company. She even waits outside just before work hours to see if she can plead
her case to the top employees.
She’s about
to get thrown out and banned for life from the building property. The Human Resources
Department is tired of dealing with her. They hand the problem over to
Security.
Naturally, the
handsome son of the Chief Executive Officer makes his entrance at that exact
moment. He sees beyond her homeless, limited exterior. Prince Charming
initiates her glorious transformation.
Now that’s
courage! That’s a modern fairy tale!
How Does Courage Help us Overcome
Fear?
“What if the
greatest opportunities ahead are wrapped up in the things that scare us the
most? Don’t let fear keep you from greatness!”--@CoryLebovitz
******************************
“Now, every
time I witness a strong person, I want to know: What darkness did you conquer
in your story? Mountains do not rise without earthquakes.”—Katherine Mackenett,
from Today’s Inspirational Quote Facebook Community
Queen Victoria of England (1819-1901)
(Story taken from the Travel Channel’s
Mysteries at the Museum series)
This great-great
grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II reigned for over 63 years. She married a
German noble, Albert, in 1840. She
immediately gave her husband the title of “Prince”.
Early in their marriage, Albert wanted to go
ice skating on the frozen river. The queen wasn’t familiar with that sport. She
hadn’t been allowed to learn anything that could possibly harm her. She was
willing to watch her husband skate, though.
Unfortunately,
the prince fell through the ice in a spot where it was too thin. Victoria had
only moments to choose between protecting herself and trying to save her
husband. It was no contest. With the help of her maid, the queen pulled her
drowning spouse out of the river.
My Conclusion
It doesn’t
take bravery to do difficult things, if our circumstances are perfect. Courage
is riding out the storms that come our way.
Related Posts
Are you ready to fight your tempests?
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