Oprah Winfrey: Today’s Thank You Game challenge is to thank someone who has helped you be brave.
I most want to thank Maya Angelou (who’s in the photo above) for helping me to be brave. In my most fearful moments, she has been the one I relied on most, and called first.
Years ago I phoned her complaining about what I’ve now long forgotten. She shared these words, “Courage is the most important of all the virtues, without it, you can practice no other.” It takes courage to be kind when others are not. It takes courage to be truthful when a lie might suffice. It takes courage to keep moving forward, when you’d rather quit. I’ve learned that courage, or opting for bravery, is feeling the fear and still doing what is necessary to overcome it. And in the very act of bravery you don’t feel brave but just feel what is true and most real.
Ironically one of my most desolate moments, barely being able to speak in between sobs of despair, I called Maya looking for comfort and sympathy. Instead she sternly chided me, “STOP IT” she said. “Stop your crying right now and say THANK YOU!”
“Why would I say thank you for this?” I said. “Say thank you because you know God, and you know He put a rainbow in every cloud. The rainbow is coming. Say thank you even though you can’t see it. It’s already there.”
So in the worst of times, I still remind myself of that great lesson and say “Thank you”…and then prepare to see the rainbow.
Today’s rainbow was Mastin Kipp’s post on The Daily Love. I took the dogs out at 6am. Sat quietly under the oaks I call the Apostles, (because 12 of them together form a beautiful canopy). It’s my favorite spot to Be.
Came back inside read The Daily Love and found the rainbow.
It was exactly what I needed to hear and be reminded.
Thank you Mastin Kipp for helping me be brave.
