Courage

I was assigned the lesson for the Fonty Family Cedar City Chapter Sunday Evening Meal tonight.  I was also assigned bread and a bag of Costco rolls made light work of that assignment.  Not that I was able to eat any of those rolls.  Anyhow, I got on LDS.org and took a gander at the message from President Monson for this month and decided to spend a little time on one portion of his talk.  Some may recall that he discussed or shared his ABC's for living an abundant life.  It is a great talk, the ABC's standing for Attitude, Belief, and Courage.  We spent a little time on Courage.

There were some things that he said there about courage that moved me.  When all hell breaks loose in your life and you want to give up it takes courage to keep going, to keep trying, to remain faithful.  It takes courage to trust that the Lord will not leave you comfortless, that he knows who you are and that he will deliver you.  I can tell you that the adversary works extremely hard to discourage you, to lead down a path you do not want to go.  He knows your weaknesses and he attacks.  There were times when the picture painted by the adversary were so much more attractive but I have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I have a testimony of a living prophet on the earth and of the Book of Mormon.  I know that the Church is true.  It is that testimony that strengthened my faith, that gave me courage to continue no matter what.

Here are the thoughts President Monson shared on courage:

Face Challenges with Courage

C is for courage. Courage becomes a worthwhile and meaningful virtue when it is regarded not so much as a willingness to die manfully but as a determination to live decently.

Said the American essayist and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide on, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.”

There will be times when you will be frightened and discouraged. You may feel that you are defeated. The odds of obtaining victory may appear overwhelming. At times you may feel like David trying to fight Goliath. But remember—David did win!

Courage is required to make an initial thrust toward one’s coveted goal, but even greater courage is called for when one stumbles and must make a second effort to achieve.

Have the determination to make the effort, the single-mindedness to work toward a worthy goal, and the courage not only to face the challenges that inevitably come but also to make a second effort, should such be required. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, “I’ll try again tomorrow.”

I am grateful for the Prophet.  I am grateful for this message and find strength in it.  When the days are long and difficult sometimes it is that hope for tomorrow and that attitude, the "I'll try again tomorrow" attitude, that give you the courage to carry on.