{"id":772,"date":"2013-08-08T08:00:04","date_gmt":"2013-08-08T08:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=772"},"modified":"2013-08-03T19:10:27","modified_gmt":"2013-08-03T19:10:27","slug":"you-are-brave","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2013\/08\/you-are-brave.html","title":{"rendered":"You Are Brave!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Maureen<\/a>You might not have rushed into a burning building, or swam out to rescue someone drowning in choppy surf. But you have gone into the proverbial lion’s den – and you are brave!<\/p>\n

You live with chronic illness daily, pain is your constant companion. Your body betrays you often – you cannot do things you would like to do, and those that you can do sap your energy and challenge your spirit.<\/p>\n

But, you move on. And more, you keep the faith!<\/p>\n

With “sickness” often associated with “weakness,” it’s hard to think of an unhealthy person as being particularly filled with courage and acting bravely.\u00a0 Certainly, we do not get medals for our activities, nor do we get our names engraved on shining silver trophies after a particularly difficult patch.<\/p>\n

No, we don’t exactly get rewarded for living our lives with as much determination and drive as we can. But, I think that makes us all the more brave and our lives all the more rich.<\/p>\n

For example, you know that when you can accomplish something, even a small thing, such as remembering to send a birthday card to a friend, or pray long and ardently for someone else, you have crossed the finish line after a long and hard race. When you get up in the morning and face the day with a smile, and bestow that smile on others, you have achieved triumph over tragedy. And when you gut out a difficult day, and you know that you’ve done your best, and you feel God comforting you and bringing His calm, well, you’ve made your own “personal best.”<\/p>\n

For all the obstacles you move over and through, and for all the times when you praise God despite your pain – you are brave! And you show the world that faith fosters strength, and courage stems from it, too.<\/p>\n

Yes, you are brave! Rejoice!<\/p>\n

Blessings for the day,
\nMaureen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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She expected to be writing scripts. God had other plans. A few years after her graduation, Maureen was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of organ-involved lupus. Her life turned upside down as she grappled with the effects of the illness and other health conditions that ensued. She was no stranger to serious health challenges; even as a child, Maureen had survived numerous bouts of pneumonia, flu, and other infections. But lupus made her take a fresh look at her life goals - and took herlifelong, strong Catholic Christian faith and writing in a direction she'd never imagined. Today, Maureen writes and speaks about walking with the Lord while living with chronic pain and illness. Her most recent book is \"Don't Panic!: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough (Franciscan Media). She is also the author of, \"Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness\" (Image Books\/Randomhouse), \"Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy\" (Twenty-Third Publications), \"The First Year: Hypothyroidism, Second Edition\" (Perseus) and \"Taking Charge of Lupus: How to Manage the Disease and Make the Most of Your LIfe.\" She writes the syndicated column, \"Living Well,\" for Catholic News Service, and has also written for Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine, Journey for Women Magazine, The Upper Room Magazine, LupusNow, and Arthritis Today. Maureen's health continues to be a challenge, however she feels honored to be able to bring her perspective, from experience and knowledge, to others. \"Good Days...Bad Days with Maureen Pratt\" is a new way for Maureen to reach people who carry the burden of illness and pain in their lives, or who care for someone who does. 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