Braverhearts

Several years ago I read Sharon Hersh's book "Bravehearts", it is excellent and well worth taking the time to read.  I went through it with many of the young women I was meeting with at the time and the conversations sparked by the book were intimate, deep and provided opportunities for life change.  As I think back on that time in my life it was sweet and there is an element of sadness I feel about that season of my life, with those young women, ending.

Last week I picked up Sharon Hersh's newest book, "Begin Again, Believe Again".  The note near the title reads, "Embracing the courage to Love with Abandon".  As I opened it up and began to read through the introduction I highlighted these words...

 "A braverheart surrenders to the process of believing that if she had all the wisdom and power of God and could truly see the scope of her entire story, she would choose exactly the path that she has been on, because the end of that path is Jesus.  You can see why that perspective requires bravery, supernatural bravery, because we naturally want good but lesser things: a kind and attentive husband, children who do their homework, and a small group at church that actually meets on a regular basis."


I long to be a braverheart, a woman with a heart that is surrendered to the beauty of who God is and the story He is writing with my life.  I long to live for the more, not the good but lesser things. 

When I hear the word braveheart I can't help but think of William Wallace (actually I think of Mel Gibson playing William Wallace) yelling "Freedom" as he rides on his horse in front of an army of men about to go into battle. 

Today in America we are celebrating the 4th of July.  We are marking the date that our freedom began, and remembering the bravehearts who fought to purchase it for us. 

It is a good day to ponder being a braveheart, in between the moments of cooking burgers, cutting up watermelon, enjoying friends and family and lighting a few fireworks.