Courage

Well, here we are again. This month, Grandpa is going to focus on the character trait called "courage".

Courage is a very worthwhile trait to have. Here are a few definitions of courage that I like.

"mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty"

We also use the word "Brave" (like Easton's middle name) when we speak of courage. We often say, "they are a very courageous person", or "what you are doing is very brave". We also speak of a specific act, like a "one-time event" as being a courageous act.  I would like to share with you a few short examples of what I think courage looks like. Later, I will give you the bigger examples of courage and bravery I have seen in my life, or the lives of others.

Grandpa's short examples of what is a courageous act or person.

• When a person does not want to do something because they are afraid, yet they decide to do it anyway.
• When a person hears another person being mean to someone else, and then they speak up to say "don't be mean". That takes courage.
• When a person has never tried a certain food, but decides it is time to change and give it a try.
• When you are having a hard time smiling because it hurts so much, but you do it anyway.
• When you would like to try to do something new, but you are afraid to, and you end up doing it.

Grandpa's short examples of things that are not courageous:

• When a person hears another person being mean to someone else, and you don't speak up.
• You know you should do something more, or better, or different, but you just choose not to do it. Maybe it is too hard and you are just "not feeling" it today, so you decide you don't want to do something that you feel would be a good thing to do.
• Sometimes we choose the easy thing to do instead of the hard thing to do, just because it is easy. That is not always bad. However, if you could learn more, grow more, become better at something even though it is harder, choosing the easy path is not courage.

Also, don't get courage mixed up with "idiocy" (that is a nice way to say "dumb"). Some people decide they want to jump off a roof to show others, or themselves, that they are awesome. This is not courage, it is idiocy.

Examples of Courage

There are so many examples of courage in our family, but I will use just a couple

Katy Marrying Jason

Katy may not like me using this as an example, but it was one of the first thoughts that came to my mind, so I am putting it in here.

Katy married Jason, knowing that he had two children (yes, that is Ezra and Bellamy). She was going from being single to automatically having not only a new husband, but also having two new children to build a relationship with. She had no idea how well Ezra and Bellamy would accept her into the family. However, Katy loved Jason enough to want to marry him and be a mother to Ezra and Bell. So, Katy was (is) courageous.

Quinn and the School

Recently Quinn decided he wanted to play one of his favorite songs on the electric guitar in front of many students and teachers at his school. Quinn practiced a lot. I don't have a lot of the real back story of this, but I thought it was very brave of Quinn to share one of his talents with other people. Great job on being courageous Quinn!

Grandpa's Early Flight Home (yes, I decided to use myself on this one)

Many years ago, when Grammy was almost ready to give birth to Nick, Grandpa had a big sales presentation to give to the State of Virginia's Department of Revenue. It was in partnership with a company called IBM, and a large collection agency. Grandpa's company and these other companies were going against other competitors for a huge contract that would change the face of our company.

Grammy went to the doctor prior to me leaving for this trip to see when the doctor expected Nick to be born. He said it would probably be around April 1. Grammy told me that she really wanted me to go on this trip because she would be OK, and that this was important to us. I decided to go, but I took another person from my company with me just in case I had to come home early so they could stay and do the presentation. It would not be quite the same as me doing it, but it would be second-best. The other two companies agreed with what I was doing as I told them what was happening.

The presentation was on March 25th. The morning before the presentation, I had the feeling that I needed to return home. I called Grammy and she told me to stay, and that she was feeling fine. I still felt I needed to come home. So, I told all the team members (there must have been about 13 in all, that I was leaving right then. They, somewhat reluctantly supported my decision. (mainly because I couldn't tell them that I had that good of a reason to fly home.)

I quickly got on a flight and arrived home at around midnight on March 24th. I got up early the next morning. There was a slight earthquake. Grammy woke up and said, "Bruce, we have to go to the hospital, I think we are going to have a baby. That day, March 25th is when Nick was born.

Our presentation didn't go as well as planned and we lost the sale. I knew we would have a better chance if I did the presentation, but I certainly did not blame my fellow company employee. He was doing the best in his situation. That took courage. The other two companies we partnered with had the courage to let me go home right before the sale. That was not easy for them, but I had prepared them for that and they agreed to it, no matter what it would cost them. I believe, I had to have some courage to do what I felt was right, no matter what the consequences were. I was there to see Nick born and to help Grammy go through his birth.

Nick at 3 years old with me writing Nick on our driveway I was pressure washing

Here are a few other old family pictures you might like.

August 30, 2022 - Sleepover at Grammy's

Bo - 1995