True Courage

So, the New Year is upon us…another page, another day.. I really disliked New Year’s Day as a youth. It was the last day of Christmas vacation; back to school the next day, and, worse than that was that I had usually done NONE of the assignments due, which meant that I’d have to spend the entire evening racing to get them done, and mentally beating myself up because I’d let this happen again this year! And, we took out the beloved Christmas tree and accompanying decorations. I think that it is sometimes hard to face a new year because we drag so much baggage with us from last year; all of our failures and disappointments, and we beat ourselves up by telling ourselves that we never change, we never keep resolutions, and the new year does not really symbolize any form of HOPE. But, it should. We need to have the courage to have faith, which breeds hope. That’s what this poem is about:

True courage is found beyond our fear and our worries in this life.
Hope builds true courage to do what’s right in our times of strife.
Real courage is not thrill-seeking found in foolish vanity.
With hope, courage stands for the right, against inhumanity.

True courage is to speak up when we feel something is unfair.
True hope gathers allies, if we seek in sincere prayer.
The Holy Ghost will help us to grow strong, firm and true.
If we have faith in Jesus, His light will see us through.

True courage comes with knowing we are in the right.
When we stand for righteous goals, we will win the fight.
Let us gain true courage through each humble prayer
And we will have hope, when hate fills the air.

We choose true hope and courage; it heals each troubled soul.
As we give our fears to God, He helps us to grow.
He gives us strength to stand against hate, sin and insanity
And gives true courage to us to help save humanity.

We read in the Book of Mormon (Ether 12:4) that, “whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world…which hope cometh of faith…which would make them sure and steadfast..”

The Bible (2 Timothy:7)…”For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

And, finally, Elder Neal Maxwell, a former apostle stated, “Hope stiffens, not slackens, the spiritual spine.”

http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2010-12-21-new-years-look-not-behind-thee?lang=eng

May you all find joy and love in 2018!!!