Did you know-
She lost two husbands in the Revolutionary war? (Yes. I said two husbands! Can you believe it?)
She lost her house and nearly everything she owned when the British confiscated them for their officer’s lodging quarters.
Was one of our nation’s first “working women.” She found the strength to develop a thriving business despite the incredible odds of living in a time where women were thought to be second-class citizens and through a war (fought at home).
She managed to raise 8 children and survived the terrible loss of two of them.
Apparently, Betsy had that “something special” that kept her going during the most terrible and tumultuous of times.
This leads me to ask-
What was the magic thread sewn into the fabric of Betsy’s character that gave her the power to create a “star-spangled” life during trying times?
A. A beautiful dream.
B. A closely-knit family.
C. Courage.
D. The unwavering belief in a cause.
If you answered-
A. While it is important to follow your dreams, many times they change as you grow or are easily shattered when life throws the unexpected or overwhelming your way. Dreams may point the way to “star-spangled” life, but they are not the path. Only strength of character has the power to walk you through tumultuous times.
B. A closely-knit family is one of the essentials to bearing the burdens of life, but no matter how close they are family members cannot make our choices for us. Our strength truly comes from within.
C. Correct. I have come to believe courage is the “magic thread” sewn into the character of those who find the power to persevere. When we encounter even the toughest challenges in life, it compels us to muster Betsy’s response in the old school song- “I am not certain if I can; At least I’ll gladly try.” It is important to remember courage is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of it. Sadly, if we haven’t been forced to find our courage on the battlefield of life, we learn to discount, disconnect and finally delete every act of courage we have ever evidenced.
Without courage, we encounter each new challenge confused, helpless and hopeless. It is as if each new obstacle is our very first and we have no experience from which to draw.
The real tragedy is that we all have that “magic thread.” Our courage is always ready and waiting to spring into action. Like a needle and thread, however, it will lay dormant unless you pick it up and use it.
Do you want to pick up and use courage? Here are strategies I have seen work:
1. Refuse to limit courage- Courage is just as much the domain of the frightened child walking into class as it is the war hero or rescue worker.
2. Realize courage is a decision- Any time you make the decision to meet your daily adventures and struggles full on, you are committing an act of courage.
3. Reclaim your acts of courage- Go back through the story of your life and carefully record any time you were felt overwhelmed or scared to move forward, but found a way. Fully embrace your incredible ability survive any circumstance. Celebrate this strength by creating a “courage time-line.”
4. Revitalize your life with courage- By choosing to flex the emotional muscle we call courage, we move automatically into new arenas of growth.
D. A strong belief in a cause is like sewing with brightly colored thread. It is beautiful only when, and if, it matches the fabric of your life.
As we approach our nation’s independence day, declare your independence from confusion, helplessness and despair. Sew courage firmly into the fabric of your life. You will quickly find that your power to create a “star-spangled” life has always been there, ready and waiting, for you to proudly wave high.
“Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret to happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty.” (Louis D. Brandeis)
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