Strength, Courage and Confidence

Eleanor Roosevelt:
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do."

How powerful is that? It surely spoke volumes to me. When I REALLY stop to look fear in the face, I realize that I can overcome every fear with courage, strength and confidence. Kinda reminds me of the story of the Little Engine that Could. Remember him? He went around saying "ithink I can , I think I can," and before he knew it HE COULD! Sometimes we all have to get back to those childhood nursery rhymes to find that courage which our parents instilled in us as young children. I actually like to visit those corners of my memory. There is comfort there.

Similarly, I gain so much confidence and courage and strength from a conversation Bob and I had several months before his death in which I said "Honey, I don't know how I'll ever live without you." and Bob replied without a moments hesitation, " You'll be fine because of your faith and because you are the strongest woman I know." Now how on earth do I even go one minute without being strong and faithfilled and determined? When your spouse and the only man you've ever loved says that, you're in it lock, stock and barrel !

I suspect that Eleanor Roosevelt had quite a distinguished life, but most definately had some tragedies in her life whereby she clung to her thought hard and fast. Being the wife of a high level Army Ofiicer was challenging and required a lot emotion from me. I can't even imagine what being the wife of our country's president must have been like. If I ever had one bad day where I felt like throwing in the towel or throwing my hands up and yelling "forget it," then she had 10. And yet she faced her challenges with grace, honor and diplomacy and in a real ladylike manner. I want to be like her. I want to be remembered by all who know me as a woman who stood by her man, who loved life and exemplified grace, honor and diginity. I want to be the woman who was fair and honest and kind. I want to be a woman who is loved and who always sets the example to do what is right whether I like it or not. I want to be a woman who loved herself enough to lay aside her selfishness and often her vindictiveness to forgive and forget.

If I can live but one day and gain but a thimble full of courage, strength and confidence from such a great role model, then I feel well equipped to carry on and make the best of myself.

Let us not forget those who walked these paths before us and gave us such wise words and so much to model life around. May I always remember to look fear in the face and never be afraid to call on the courage, confidence and strength that comes from that. God bless Eleanor Roosevelt and God bless us all.

~~ Rayne ~~