Courage Does Not Always Roar

I received the poem below, written by Paula Fox, for the book Courage Does Not Always Roar, in my inbox this morning from Simple Truths. It was my dose of daily inspiration. What I love about my daily inspiration emails is that they are always exactly on the topic I need at that moment. I'm not sure how that happens, but it does.

It got me to thinking about courage and all the courageous women I know. It's not easy being courageous. In fact, some days, the most courageous action is just agreeing to try again tomorrow, even in the face of overwhelming odds, fear and complete despair.

Little Merry Sunshine is dedicated to women of courage today.

When life gets you down and the problems you face
are certainly more than your share...
When you run out of strength and you want to give up
because it's just too much to bear...

I want to remind you, my precious friend,
that you have what it takes inside...
extraordinary courage that may not ROAR
but it doesn't cower and hide

It's the quiet voice inside you that says,
"Tomorrow I'll try again."
It's the courage to keep on going...
to see things through to the end

You are not defined by this moment in time.
You are not what has happened to you
It's the way you choose to respond that matters
and what you decide to do

Courage is not the absence of fear,
but a powerful choice we make...
the choice to move forward with PURPOSE
...regardless of what it takes

It's the courage that's found in ordinary women
who are HEROES in their own way,
exhibiting strength and fortitude
in life's challenges every day...

Valiant woman of exceptional courage
with enduring power to cope...
taking each problem one day at a time
and never giving up HOPE.

We're encouraged by the faith of others
to survive and overcome,
with the courage to say, "I may be down...
but the battle is not done!"

For the WOMAN of COURAGE is a winner...
regardless of what she loses
She displays amazing beauty and strength
with the attitude she chooses

She gives herself the permission she needs...
to feel disappointed or sad.
But then she empowers herself with faith...
to focus on good things...not bad

Her story is one of gentle strength
reminding us all once more...
Steel is sometimes covered in velvet
and...
COURAGE doesn't always roar

By Paula Fox for Courage Does Not Always Roar by Bobi Seredich