CBS Sunday Morning is the “news” I try never to miss, as it always has something that helps me to feel positive about this crazy world of ours. As usual, it was well worth getting up for to watch the inspiring and sweet story by Steve Hartman about a 3-year-old boy, whose motto has become, “Don’t Be Afraid!”
It began when little Bridger was staying overnight with his grandmother. It was dark when they were about to walk into the house. His grandma, Sharon, tripped on the concrete step, hitting her head and bleeding. She couldn’t get up, nor call for help. Neighbors were out of earshot, even though little Bridger tried calling out, “NEIGHBORS” in his loudest 3-year-old voice, but they couldn’t hear. Sharon realized that she didn’t have her cell phone, having left it in the car a little distance away. Bridger was her only hope, but he was terrified of the dark and had never even opened a car door on his own.
Bravely, Bridger kept telling himself, “DON’T BE AFRAID” as he slowly walked down the driveway and reached the car, somehow managing to open the door to find the phone inside. He then walked back in the dark to his grandma, where she was able to call for the help that she needed.
In the interview later, Bridger was asked if he was a little afraid, and he said, “I was a LOT AFRAID!” but he did it anyways. And now his whole family has been inspired by his bravery. In fact, his mom, has decided to perform her own act of bravery by getting her ‘special education’ license. And she now has a tattoo on her arm, “DON’T BE AFRAID!”
Perhaps we can each find a way to be strong when we are scared. “True courage is being afraid and charging into the darkness anyway” – Steve Hartman.
Have you ever had a frightening experience that tested you and brought out your courage?
It reminded me of a time in my life when I was afraid to be at my Colorado cabin in the mountains alone. I had been unpacking my belongings, opening the cabin for the season and it was late. I noticed that the clock had stopped, so I climbed on a chair to get it down, when the chair flipped one way and I went the other, landing on my back with a loud crack. I thought about going to sleep and calling someone in the morning, but I worried, “What if I don’t wake up?” I felt the break protruding from my collar bone and didn’t know what to do. I could try to call, NEIGHBORS!!! as Bridger had done, but they wouldn’t hear me. Luckily, I had a land line nearby and could reach it to call my elderly neighbor, Paul, who came over. He then contacted another neighbor, a nurse, who said, “You need to get to the ER!” and drove me down the darkened mountain roads.
Around midnight in the ER, I called Francesco, a fairly new relationship . . . but several states away. I said, “I’ve never needed anyone as much as I do now.” And although the original plan was for him to come out for 2 weeks to visit, it ended up being almost 3 months. (because I learned that I also had a flooded condo to deal with).
But all dark clouds have a silver lining, and in this case, it was a rainbow lining. We got to know each other well and have not been apart since . . . many years later!
So “Don’t Be Afraid” to take the next step, to open your heart, or ask for help, or try something new . . . You’ve got nothing to lose and so much to gain . . . starting with confidence, hope and love.
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