Brave - Linking with Five Minute Friday



http://lisajobaker.com/2013/05/five-minute-friday-brave-2/



unscripted, unedited writing for 5 minutes.  Go...

Brave, to me.  From my earliest memory, it is shaky knees in the pew standing up anyway and going forward into the arms of my Grandpa Coons to become a Christian.

Brave, as a teen, was finding an outlet for my shyness, surprisingly on stage.  Miss Elmore, aka "Elmom" helped me to be brave.

Brave.  A young mom looking down into the eyes of her firstborn and wondering how I'd manage the next moment, much less the next day.  And finding unbelievable joy along the way.

Brave...beating the odds and not just surviving in our marriage, but thriving.  20 years strong this June.

Brave.  A word I've heard so often the past four and a half years, after the loss of my 14 year old son, Austin.  A word that people use to describe me when I feel anything but. 

Putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward, even on days when I wanted to do the exact opposite.  Holding it together for the sake of what was left of my family.  Prayer.  Lots and lots of prayer.  With giant heaps of faith in trusting that God would carry me through this nightmare.  I'm only brave because of Him. 

Brave...writing that first post to tell Austin's story.  Healing.  Transformation.
Eventually, slowly...turning to JOY. 

Stop.