Brave?

"Everybody's been there,

Everybody's been stared down by the enemy,

Fallen for the fear,

And done some disappearing.

Bow down to the mighty

Don't run.

Just stop holding your tongue.

Maybe there's a way out of the cage where you live

Maybe one of these days you can let the light in

Show me how big your brave is."

Sara Bareilles

I think some people are born braver than others.

At least, I'm going to let myself think that.

Because I have never been naturally brave.

No.

I weigh my words, gauge my audience and aim to please.

I was born cautious. Emotionally cautious.

And I was raised to be extreeeeeeeemely polite.

So...

I've done my share of tongue holding. 

And disappearing.

I need people in my life who call the brave out of me.

Who shine the light, let me know I'm safe

and open the cage door

so I'll come out and show them my brave.

As an adult I've found those people.

Or they've found me.

When I think back to my childhood,

I don't remember much bravery at all.

But I do remember Sue.

Sue Freeman

was one of my first safe places.

She was the mom of the kids next door.

Her door was always open.

She trusted me to babysit her brood.

I got to hold her baby girl when she was very first home from the hospital.

She listened to me.

Heard me.

Supported me.

Traveled to my wedding...

Truth is...it's way less about what she did and more about who she was. 

For me, she was an early call to be brave.

She called the brave out of me, 

because she provided a safe place for me to be me.

We lost her yesterday.

Brave, tenacious, maternal, funny and wise...

through a painful battle with cancer...

She showed us her brave right to the end.

Her daughter posted this sweet childhood photo of her this week

as so many of us were praying for her

and for her family.

Thank you, Sue.

I love you. 

I promise to do my best to show you my brave.

Joining my friends for

Song-ography