In a box of dusty papers lay a treasure buried years ago:  a poem from Mother on the importance of both strength and courage.  Her hand-written note across the top of the page made this an even greater treasure, “For Barbara, who exemplifies this better than anyone I know.  Lovingly, Mom.”

From Mother’s hand and my dusty box, from my heart to your eyes, words on strength and courage:

Strength and Courage

It takes strength to be firm.
It takes courage to be gentle.

It takes strength to stand guard.
It takes courage to let down your guard.

It takes strength to be certain.
It takes courage to have doubt.

It takes strength to fit in.
It takes courage to stand out.

It takes strength to feel a friend’s pain.
It takes courage to feel your own pain.

It takes strength to hide your own pains.
It takes courage to show them.

It takes strength to endure abuse.
It takes courage to stop it.

It takes strength to stand alone.
It takes courage to lean on another.

It takes strength to love.
It takes courage to be loved.

It takes strength to survive.
It takes courage to live.
(Author Unknown)

*Personal Update:  Some people tour national parks during the summer.  I toured emergency rooms and urgent care clinics, instead.  I recovered quickly from a round of pneumonia, thanks to care I received in an Omaha hospital.   Outpatient cataract surgery gave me better vision than I’ve had since high school.   My recently broken foot has mended. An adrenal deficiency is still problematic and its cause undiagnosed.  Heart and lungs are behaving well.  Next summer I want to visit parks.