Courage

Whenever I think of the word courage, I think of the cowardly lion from The Wizard of Oz. It's so ironic that a lion, who would normally be the king of all the animals, would be such a coward and have no courage. 

It's also sad to think that we, as sons and daughters of an Almighty God, would be cowards and not have the courage to do hard things.

I don't want to let fear hold me back from doing things that will help me grow and become a better person. I don't want to be a coward! I want to have all the courage I can muster to do hard things!

Here is a sad and embarrassing confession: When Brad and I were in college and I was working, every day after work I would stop at a gym on the way home to exercise. I loved it. It was convenient, easy and predictable  Then when we moved and I could no longer afford a gym pass I decided to try going running outside. I was so nervous to do it the first time for some reason. I didn't want to go alone, I didn't know where exactly I should run, I felt weird knowing that people might see me running by their house.  There was a list of cowardly reasons as to why I would have preferred just going to a gym. But I stepped out and did it anyway, and now it is one of my favorite ways to exercise! I would much rather go running outside than have to go running on a treadmill in a gym.

There have been many other times where I've been too afraid or nervous to do certain things, but I've found after you take that first step, it gets easier and easier each time you do it.

President Thomas S. Monson said:

"Courage is the word we need to hear and hold near our hearts - courage to turn our backs on temptation, courage to lift up our voices in testimony to all whom we meet, remembering that everyone must have an opportunity to hear the message."

I shared this scripture yesterday, but it is one of my favorites so I want to share it again:

2 Timothy 1:7

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

I am going to have more courage. I am going to let go of my fears and do hard things. I don't want to do these things just to benefit myself, but I want to do them so that my children will see that example and have the courage to do hard things themselves.