Courage is my word of the year and yet here I am in November wondering if I am really any more courageous or not. Has this word made a difference in my soul? What have I learned? Have I wasted my time?
So today I reread all my posts and quotes from the start of 2025, pondering once again this curious word that chose me. Here are gifts Courage gave me this year that surprised me the most.
- Courage can be quiet. “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow.”- Mary Anne Radmacher. Courage is a persistent whisper of encouragement – a word that encompasses “courage.”
- Courage is daily. Courage isn’t necessarily the once in a lifetime stand up for something act. Often it is simply getting out of bed each morning and facing a new day which can be the boldest act you can do. Small steps matter.
- Courage can walk with fear. Fear won’t completely go away, but courage can hold its hand and lead the way.
- Courage grows. Like building muscle strength. The more we are brave, the braver we become. “Courage is like a muscle. We strengthen it by use.” Ruth Gordon
- Courage arises out of discomfort and risk. I get too comfortable at times; no wonder I seldom feel courageous. Stepping out of our comfort zone requires us to feel vulnerable, but well worth the gamble in order to try something new, to grow, to make a difference, to transform the world.
- Courage doesn’t have to done alone. Strength can be drawn from God plus from friends and family too. I am learning to have the courage to ask for help when I need help.
- Courage can be letting go and stopping doing something. The courage to say it is time to quit. A new season has arrived for me. Courage can mean to be still, not just to do.
- Courage births self-awareness and self-discovery as we find our true identity as God’s children and what a delightful surprise gift this is!
I am sure other lessons will continue to unfold but these are just a few. What do you think?
And I will be traveling next week so there will be a one week break from posting here until I get return home and into the routine of writing once again. Blessings!
You have clearly illustrated that courage comes in many forms. I’m blessed to have learned alongside of you.
Visiting from One Word 2025 (November)
Thanks Barb. This has been a challenging word but insightful one too
So many valuable lessons here, Jean. I love the things that you’ve learned and have taught us this year about courage. I still admire you greatly for choosing it (that itself is an act of courage!), and you’ve helped me see that courage is possible for even the scaredy cats among us. 🙂
Your continued encouragement each month helped keep me on track with my word of the year for sure, Lisa. I know if I didn’t pause each month and consider what am i learning about courage and how I am growing with this word I don’t think I would realize what I was learning not would I go deeper with a word. thank you for the encouragement!
These bits you’ve shared help me see that we’re all more courageous and more frequently so than we realize. That second quote especially, about getting out of bed in the morning got my attention. I’m thinking of those early years of parenting when sleep-deprivation dragged us down. Or facing a day at work that we knew was going to be extra-challenging. Or when were sick but still had to fulfill our responsibilities. That all takes courage–and a whole lot of prayer and leaning on Jesus!
I am really dragging now with jet lag after our trip so getting out of bed is very hard! Courage just to keep my eyes open. LOL. This word has been quite the challenge to me and has made a difference in my life. I do see things differently after sitting with it deeply for this year.