I stood in her kitchen eating a handful of candy corn and peanuts soaking up the encouragement she so easily handed out. I was avoiding the obvious and acting like my husband was not in fact in our van waiting for me to come back in the five minutes I had promised. My friend Lisa was our last stop on our way out of town. We were moving our little family south and I was picking up a box of maternity clothes that would be just what I needed for warmer weather.
“You are going to be fine. In fact, great.”
I teared up and she hugged me.
“Really? Do you think so?” I choked out.
“I know it.”
Lisa was helping me do the bravest thing I had ever done in my life. And she made all the difference in the world twelve years ago when I thought I couldn’t leave her kitchen and and start a new life in Florida.
I learned a valuable lesson that day:
Behind every brave girl is at least one friend who thinks she is brave.—even when she doesn’t believe it herself.
I think you know what I’m talking about because I’m guessing you have at least one friend who has done the very same thing for you. It is just so easy to get swallowed up by the next thing coming down the road and forget why we are there in the first place. We need sisters to walk with us. Friends to tell us we are doing fine. And women who let you hide in their kitchen for a few minutes to gather the courage to walk out the door.
We all need that.
Girl. I need that right now. See, I have a few things coming down the road that look a whole lot like big scary monsters in my life. Oh, they aren’t really, but I am getting those same feelings I did when I was chomping on that candy corn at my friend’s house. It is super easy to avoid the calling when fear is crouched nearby.
But the calling can’t be avoided. Just like I knew it then, I know it now.
This Friday I’m going to send out a newsletter to anyone who wants to help me be brave over the next few months. You can have it delivered to your email by joining the Coffee Club. I’m going to ask a couple things from whoever opens that newsletter and reads it. So, if you are one of those girls who know a little about being brave herself, well, I’d love to make sure you get it. Just follow this link and you can sign up. If you are already part of the Coffee Club, then brave girl, I’m so grateful for you.
Thanks for being awesome.
xo,
Stacey
P.S. Can I help you be brave, too? What do you have coming down the road? I’l love to hear. Just leave a comment.
Testify in front of a grand jury
Mary – praying Joshua 1:9 for you!
Oh my friend! You are the friend behind me whispering, “Moses, stop making excuses. Just go!!” and I’m so grateful … I truly cannot imagine my life without you in it. That God would wind our two cords together with His own is one of the most beautiful gifts He has given me.
And I’m with you … on this scary journey to lands unknown but promised and full of blessing! We’ll hold hands and take each step together.
xo,
Teri Lynne
I just love when you flip my encouragement! Thank you friend. Yes, let’s be Moses and Aaron or something like that! Love you!
I have a lot of stuff coming up. But most importantly, my autistic son is being bullied at schoo. I’m not only having a difficult time trying to prevent it, but having a hard time with it personally and with the staff themselves. I feel so led to start a rebellion against all of the types of bullying in our world right now and I’m struggling to find what God is asking of me and what my actions need to be.
Thanks for offering up prayers. I feel so alone in this right now.
xo Leigh
Leigh that is the toughest kind of brave when it involves our kids! Praying for you girl!
I loved the line, “Behind every brave girl is at least one friend who thinks she is brave.—even when she doesn’t believe it herself.” It made me think of who they are in my life.
Maggie that is a great idea!
Thanks so much for your words Stacey. Jesus is a friend indeed.
Some days I wish that I have that one friend in my corner cheering me on. I love your article today. Please pray for me.
AnnMarie – I am asking God to send you a friend with skin on, but even if he does not, know that Jesus is a friend who always stays by our side and he is praying for you. (Hebrews 7:25)
ooh I posted at the wrong spot. Thanks so much for your words Stacey. Jesus is a friend indeed.
I currently don’t have any friends that you describe in the quote: “Behind every brave girl is at least one friend who thinks she is brave.—even when she doesn’t believe it herself.” Unfortunately, our lives have all turned in different directions and that’s probably for my own good. I am praying HARD, though, that the Lord will send me the friend I need to talk to, pray with, encourage, and vice versa. Thank you for offering up prayers – Life gets extremely lonely at times!
Oh Ashley I have been in the lonely days too. But I treasured this verse “but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” Proverbs 18:24 – Jesus is that friend and HE is praying for you!
Looking forward to braving this thing together! Thanks for including your readers on all the exciting, and even scary, stuff happening in life 🙂
So proud of YOU for embarking on this my friend!! I’d be honored to join you in being brave and cheering you on while you run the race!!
I have a job interview it would be a life changing job for me. This is my third interview. It is today at 11:45 AM….
Prayed for you Marlisa!
I love, love your honesty when you share. Thanks for being real with us and God. What is ChooseHope?
Prayers,
Jane Johnson
Choose Hope is a video series inspired by “Hope for the Weary Mom”. You can find out more about later this month if you are a Coffee Club Member!