C -COURAGE

     My A to Z Blog this morning is about "Courage." Courage is defined as "a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear."

  Courage is not the absence of fear but rather acting in spite of that fear. People are often courageous without knowing that they are in fact courageous. I am thinking of a parent who has a special needs child. This month is Autism Awareness month. Parents of an autistic child display courage every day of their child's life. These parents must contend with medical authorities to insure that their child gets proper treatment. They also must contend with ignorant people who criticize their children who appear to be out of control or who criticize them for failing to keep their child under control. Their courage is born out of a selflessly devoted love. I say "Bravo" to these exemplary parents.  

Other displays of courage are more obvious. The firemen who rush into a building that is engulfed with flames to try to rescue it's inhabitants. The police officers who run towards the sounds of the guns when everyone else is running away. This was on display yesterday at Fort Hood, Texas, where the has been another shooting rampage.

The American people, despite their flaws, are a noble and courageous people. We have expended more blood and treasure in the cause of trying to secure liberty for ourselves and other people around the globe than any other nation in history.

Where does courage come from? Can it be simply a matter of making a choice or is there something more to it? What do you think?

Enjoy your "C" day!