I can see it in her eyes. She watches him play with his vehicles, her eagle eye studies every track he aligns and the motion of the toy train as it chugs along his makeshift route. She watches him talk. Every word digested, stored away , catalogued internally.
Determination 101.
My little Liberty Elizabeth is all but eight months fresh on this planet and she wants to do everything her three years senior Maximus does. She studies, she absorbs, she believes she can (even when she really cannot).
Lately she pulls up on every piece of furniture, she turns around to see what he is doing and dramatically face plants. She is totally convinced that she can stand and walk like her big brother.
determined
brave
fearless
What changes as we grow from brave, risk taking infants?
We become cautious, fearful, debilitated women.
Negative words absorbed,
Failure that overwhelms,
Embarrassment etched from moments of shame,
Cynical pieces of advice accepted.
What did you believed you could do, that you now don’t?
What clouds that place of risk and courage?
My encouragement to whoever is reading this story today, wherever you are, find that child-like determination again.
Step over, dig beyond…
The fear, words, cynicism, deep hurts and try again.
Step forward into those new places, even if you wobble like a newborn learning to walk and face plant in the process.
New days need new ways.
Try again, believe you can, trust One who is far greater than you could ever be by yourself.
Step out and be brave.