How to Live a Brave Life
The mother of two of my closest friends in high school passed away unexpectedly a few weeks ago. As I have thought about her these past few days, I remember three things in particular: her smile, her laugh, and her strength. She was a tough cookie! They were a Navy family, and one of the ways she showed strength was by holding tightly to her children and marriage as they moved from country to country to country. Now that my own family has moved from country to country to country--and back again--I know what that feels like. It ain't easy. Her daughter, my friend, is a tough cookie, too. This past year, she faced a living nightmare as her youngest girl contracted a life-threatening infection. She was med-evac'ed to a hospital and spent 140 days there--nearly five months. My friend stayed with her daughter day after day, praying for her, encouraging her and holding out hope as her child went through a coma; a tracheostomy; several close calls; and relearning to s...