I see the word prompt, and I feel the dread rise because how do you write brave? For that is the stuff of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Corrie Ten Boom and Mother Teresa and those putting themselves in the way of harm and releasing slaves and risking life and laying it down to speak and to save.
If I’m honest, I fear that I will minimize bravery by talking about everyday types among the relatively comfortable. The kind of bravery that is sometimes more about simple truth telling and kindness and ordinary acts of love.
I look up the definition of brave and see two from Merriam Webster: the first, having or showing courage (courage being the ability to do something that frightens one) and the second, making a fine show.
That second one makes me feel a little sick because I want nothing to do with the type that’s veneer and bravado (bravery gone puffed up with self), but that first definition seems the heart of brave and for all of us.
To do something that frightens. Yes, I’m guessing we all know a thing or two about this.
I recall conversations this week — one with a mom as our children played, in which I translated some of the pain I’ve grown to know a bit more through our church’s dialogues about race. I spoke about lack of access and definitions of “success,” wondering if she might reject me for speaking into the middle of our entitled circle. (Small, but honestly frightening for me in that moment.)
I think of the intense conversation our family shared around the dinner table when young friends challenged the bags we give to those in need on the side of the road, how I worried our girls would back down and instead saw them take a stand as they shared from hearts about why we do what we do.
“Everyone needs love and kindness,” J said. “That’s why.”
I think of the extraordinary and the everyday….bravery, all.
Geesh, five minutes passed far too quickly. That took me longer than five minutes, and I just brushed the side of brave. So many types of bravery, friends. Truth telling, tenderness, sitting with those in pain, choosing to be invested in the sorrows of the world, receiving love even when you feel undeserving, listening, letting go, forgiving, asking forgiveness, climbing the hill, doing the next right thing to help, putting one foot in front of the other. What is your brave today?
Joining this morning with the Five Minute Friday community at Lisa-Jo‘s where we write for five minutes, refrain from extreme editing and encourage one another’s offerings of free flowing words. Join us? Today’s prompt: BRAVE.
Connecting through the power of stories written, spoken and lived
Visiting from FMF. I so understand where you are coming from. Great post!
Thank you, Nancy! Nice to “meet” you. :-)
Dear Ashley
Bravery, dear friend, is doing the mundane every day stuff, day after day, with a song in the heart. For me to get up in the mornings is VERY painful, so I consider myself brave by doing it every day! You were brave when you left your family at home when you went to Nebraska.
Blessings and love
Mia
Mia, your daily getting up is bravery indeed. I so commend your courage, friend, and I love what you say about bravery, “doing the mundane every day stuff, day after day, with a song in the heart.” What a beautiful description.
Great kids you have!
They teach me so much.
Not all of us can be the heros in stories that are created – but each of us can show our own facet of bravery in our everyday lives.
Yes, Colline. Facets of bravery distinct to the life given to each one. Thank you for that.
Beautiful!!! It’s those conversations and every day unfoldings that prove – later on – to really have been Brave after all!
Good point, Karrilee. So often the effects of bravery are not seen or appreciated, even recognized as such, until years down the road. It’s good to remember that like many good things, the fruit of courage takes time to develop.
I think brave is taking it on, whatever it is, with all you’ve got…and I think you are one of the brave ones for sharing here as you do, straight from your heart.
Brave and heart are definitely connected for me, Abbey. I think sometimes I give it all I’ve got, and other times I just want to take a nap. But thank you for cheering me on…it means so much!
I felt the same about trying my hand at “brave”. {confession: last week’s prompt at “friend” i just sailed right over, just didn’t have it in me}. But then i watched her youtube clip with Sarah Barellis and it just broke me and lit a fire all at once. In today’s -blend in and try to keep up society -it takes singular bravery to strike a different and deliberate chord.
I enjoy what your perspective,
Cheers,
Leah
Leah, I went back and watched that video at Lisa-Jo’s (I missed it the first time), and I was moved, too. I love how that video rendered you vulnerable, tender, aware, and from that came strength and fire. We’ve got to keep fighting for these girls of ours.
Brave is doing something anyway even though all of your doubts and fears are telling you that you will fail.
I just wanted to “like” your comment. thank you :)
I love that too, Annie. Those doubts and fears can be huge bullies. Standing up to them and doing that thing can be so hard. I’m proud of you for pressing on, feeling the fear and doing it anyway. Keep pressing on, friend.
You’re right, Ash – it’s so hard to dive into the depths and breadth of brave in such a short amount of time, but I love here how you opened the door to conversation. Beginning to flesh out some of the ‘ordinary’, everyday acts of brave, for this is what most of us know. And I, too, wonder if I cheapen the word by giving such mention to these things that are more familiar to us… and I wonder if the measure of bravery isn’t so different with each person. Reading your heart here, it always makes mine fill with joy. Love you.
I loved how you wrote that, Amber. Those different pictures of brave in those various people in your life. Yes, I agree – that brave is different, depending on the situation and the one facing it. And I wonder if for all of us, brave might be where our trust in God and our will join to move forward and do the next hard, good thing.
Hi Ashely, Good to see your smile shining out on your homepage.
Good words on bravery—good heart-deep words that spill on past the five minutes, and are certainly more than five minutes deep. Love what one word can open up.
Mari, so happy to see you here! Isn’t it something — one word, so many facets. After the Jumping Tandem retreat, I feel I’ve got so much more to explore in that one word, brave.
Love this. Thank you for the post – made me think differently about bravery.
Also, love the pic atop your blog :). Found your blog from FMF.
Thank you for your visit and kind words, Julie. I must say I really do love the header, too. Fun with clipping and snipping and placing glossy paper….ahhh, collage. :-)
Oh Ashley, wow, just beautiful. Love your heart, new friend. I hope I can come back more often. (((hugs)))
So great to see you, Nacole. Thankful for our growing connection and for your words and all the places they touch.
I love your way of just brushing the side of brave, Ashley. Your acts of bravery in no way diminish what look like “greater” acts of bravery because they, too, all began with a word of justice and grace, with a hand reaching out in service, no matter how small the word or act seemed. Keep being brave! Stopping by from FMF and glad I did!
Elizabeth, what encouraging words, and how beautiful….I love what you’ve said here. That bravery, no matter the size, begins with a word of justice, grace, a hand reaching out in service. Such a beautiful summary. Thank you!
“Everyone needs love and kindness. That’s why.” Oh J!!!
If love could break a heart, that just broke mine! xo!