Character of Courage

The Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz was in search of something that he was lacking in his life...courage!  It is natural for us to look for those things that we think will make our lives better and in some cases easier.  Truth be known we have more courage than we think.  We have what we call adrenaline kick in during scary times and we show courage in the middle of fear.

Courage is defined as... the ability to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Courage is acting in spite of fear. "Physical courage" is courage in the face of physical pain, hardship, death, or threat of death, while "moral courage" is the ability to act rightly in the face of popular opposition, shame, scandal, or discouragement. (Wikipedia Encyclopedia)

It is interesting that this is the character that I was writing about tonight and wondering what I could say that would touch your hearts.  The news came on and I was reminded of the great courage that a mom displayed this week in Indiana.   I've decided to share this story today to show the real courage of a mom.

• "An Indiana mom who saved her children's lives by shielding them with her own body during a tornado has lost parts of both of her legs. 36-year-old Stephanie Decker said in an interview with Fox59 that she picked her children, 8-year-old Dominic and 5-year-old Reese, up early from school when she heard the storm was approaching. They were in the family's basement when the storm hit. Decker made a split-second decision to save her children, tying them up in a blanket and throwing herself on top of them."
• Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/03/06/indiana-mom-loses-legs-after-saving-her-children-from-tornado/#ixzz1oUrzTlEQ

This is the ultimate example of courage and love of a mom!  She showed courage in spite of her fear...she showed physical courage in the midst of physical pain, and now will have to have moral courage in the midst of pain and questions during her learning to live without her legs.  Wow! 

May God be with this precious family ... may they feel the love of family and friends and know that God loves them.  He didn't cause this to happen, but is there to help them pick up the pieces of their lives after this devastating tornado.

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