A women of courage......

 Courage: quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty , danger  or pain with out fear.
 The word courage has been on my mind often over the past year 2016........we are coming up on the 1 year mark of my Moms stroke , Jan 30 2016. This has been a year of changes for all of us but also a year where God once again proves His faithfulness and goodness everyday. My Dad left my mom with the instructions to go out and continue to serve others and be there for us girls and our families. She was our cornerstone and faithfully lead us and others with her servant heart and her busy hands and feet. And then her life changed.

Our lives changed, and many others life changed but for mom every single thing she did became hard work. She has improved in many ways over the last year but everyday...everything she does takes courage. I marvel at her strength....her faith....her perseverance ....her spirit. But most of all I am so blessed by her courage. It humbles me.....I become overwhelmed by it.

Just this week Aspen Heights (the wonderful assisted living place she now lives) held a Holiday open house. All the residents have been faithfully practicing the bells to perform that night. I went there (seems like I am always in a hurry) and I stopped and marveled at the tables full of Christmas goodies, hot appetizers, hot  soups and sandwhiches that were made for all the residents and their families. It seemed to hit me right in the heart...... for many years it was my moms joy to create all these fun traditions of foods and her biggest joy is to serve us yummy things and bring goodies to others. Now I saw her come walking slowly down the hallway...with her cane...her left hand hanging tightly to her side. She very proudly took her chair among the other residents, she picked up her left hand with her right hand and laid  it in her lap. They handed her 1 little bell......the music began...and she played her bell. To me it was more clear and louder than all the rest......that little bell .....that was courage.

Yes mom lost physical things and the ability to care for herself but she is the strongest person I know...she still is my cornerstone...her faith still leads me....she teaches perseverance and she still teaches us to serve others....she teaches me to love the Lord and she teaches me that God leads us thru the valleys and He never leaves us.

Finding courage can be as simple as ringing one little bell.....
Yes .....God is faithful

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