Brave

Last Friday's Five Minute Friday topic was Brave. But I wasn't around to write. I started two new jobs in the past week. And boy have I been busy and tired. But I still wanted to write about Brave. So here it is, on Tuesday :)

GO

Brave is usually thought of as being heroic. The hero of the movie. The heroine of the novel. They're the recognized, and often fictitious, brave ones. Occasionally you get the real-life recognized hero. The newspapers and news stations turn them into temporary celebrities. But what about all those unrecognized, uncelebrated heroes? The brave ones who go on being brave every day without fanfare.

Brave is fighting for your country and not knowing if you'll make it home.

Brave is fighting flames and rescuing people from burning buildings as your day job.

Brave is putting on the badge and getting in the squad car, not knowing if today will involve just another traffic ticket, or maybe a dangerous drug bust or a school shooting.

Brave is crossing the globe to work for God in dangerous places.

Brave can also be... mundane.

Brave is home schooling your kids.

Brave is starting two jobs in one week.

Brave is not knowing how you'll pay for next month's rent, next week's groceries, or the gas for tomorrow's drive to work.

Brave is sticking to your beliefs and morals when it seems like the whole world has thrown them away.

Brave is holding onto a dream for the future, while others tell you everything has to be now.

Brave is adopting.

Brave is writing a novel.

Brave is being married to one person for your whole life.

Brave is starting your own business and/or working from home.

Brave is saying hello to the new people at church or smiling at strangers on the street.

Brave is getting through high school.

Brave is that girl who chose not to abort her baby, even though her parents threw her out and her boyfriend wants nothing to do with her.

Brave is graduating college and looking for a career.

Brave is going on with life after a loved one dies.

Brave is trusting God when you can't see any way out or any way forward.

Brave is anyone who faces something scary, something dangerous, something uncomfortable, or something unknown, and continues on.

There are so many ways to be brave. So many forms of every day bravery.

Here's to the ones who don't give up.

This is your anthem.

In what ways are you brave? Maybe you never thought you were. But I know you are brave.

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