Remember watching The Wizard of Oz when you were a kid? Dorothy and her loveable sidekicks were on a journey, each seeking something special which they could only receive from the Wonderful Wizard. Dorothy and Toto wanted to go home to Kansas. The Scarecrow wanted a brain. The Tin Man, a heart. And then there was the lion, who for being the most ferocious of beasts, considered himself a coward and sought to gain courage from the emerald city.
At some point in our lives we all face a time when we wish we had more courage. It takes real courage to do things we are afraid of. Since having courage, and being brave enough to do something different or difficult, is so important to achieving a goal, we’re going to discuss the meaning of courage, this week’s Weekend Word.
cour·age
ˈkərij/
noun
noun: courage
- the ability to do something that frightens one.
- strength in the face of pain or grief.
Nelson Mandela once captured the true meaning of courage…
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.”
Just because you are afraid to do something, doesn’t mean you don’t have courage. It is the ability to face adversity, fear, etc. head on and follow through with an action that makes one courageous.
The orphans at our schools are some of the most courageous people we know. They have suffered some of the worst pains that a kid can go through – hunger, homelessness, loss of a parent… the list goes on. Yet they were courageous enough to seek help to overcome their situation. Every morning they get up and show tremendous strength by participating in the classroom, furthering their education so they can build a better tomorrow.
In the real world, there’s no magical wizard to save the day. All you can count on are your companions to help see you through. And as Dorothy pointed out when the Wizard ran away at the end of the movie – her companions, including the cowardly lion, really had what they were looking for all the time – including courage.
May peace and love follow you on the yellow brick road to living out your dream,
Cristen
