Many people think that being brave takes some tremendous act of uttermost importance to the entire human race. Those who are in the position to have that kind of opportunity and choose to do something monumental are indeed brave. However, bravery has multiple other definitions. A person is brave when they choose to tell the truth even though it is difficult and comes with painful consequences. It is brave to share your story with others when doing so will encourage others. It is brave to do the thing you are scared to death of because you know it is the right thing to do. It is brave to follow a path that others dare not take because it is steep, rocky, and difficult to traverse. Bravery is shown when a person stands in the rubble of what used to be their home, their business, their town and says, “I will do whatever it takes to rebuild and to help those around me. Brave looks like the person who walks onto an airplane terrified but who stays anyway because what lies at the end of the plane trip is too significant to miss. Bravery is choosing to feel joy when every circumstance around you screams of sadness and fear. Brave is the person who chooses to continue to fight in the face of insurmountable odds. Brave is the person who chooses to stop fighting when it time and instead focuses on making memories and loving others well as long as possible. Bravery is doing what is hard even when you are terrified and exhausted and heartbroken.
This post is written with tears as I think of the people I know who are showing bravery during the most difficult times of their lives. It is written to honor those who have shown bravery in every part of their lives. It is written to the families of those same people who themselves are responding with bravery in the midst of unimaginable heartbreak.
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