Bravery

When we think of bravery most of our minds travel in specific directions. That direction is quite often associated with wartime actions or local security scenarios that include the police or the fire department. It could at times involve a family emergency situation where a parent rushes into a dangerous situation to save a child. Be honest now, how many of you hearing bravery think of Mel Gibson in Braveheart or the firemen at the Twin Towers on 9/11?

Let me tell you a couple stories of bravery. When my son was two years old he had to have surgery. I recall sitting in the hospital with him on my lap while they drew blood. He looked at me with tears in his eyes as I held him and he acted in brave fashion. It has been exhibited in actions twice now by my grandson Gavin whom I wrote about yesterday.

A little over a year ago as we began this ordeal where we have been concerned with his lack of growth, Gavin sat on my lap while they drew blood for the first round of blood tests. Yesterday, he did it again. This incredibly brave little boy sat on his mother’s lap while an IV was inserted and then he lay on a hospital bed for two and one-half hours while on 18 different occasions blood was taken to monitor the results relating to his pituitary gland stimulation tests.

Here is where Gavin’s situation and my son’s are distinct from the ones mentioned in the first paragraph. Each of those two little boys had absolutely no understanding of what was taking place. A wartime or police or home act of bravery is made with knowledge and then action disregarding the risk. Gavin acted with great bravery while not understanding the risks. His bravery was a result of his trust. He trusted those whom he loved to be doing what was for his best.

Have you ever thought that trusting God to be about our best in situations we do not understand is an act of bravery? How often do events happen in our life that we do not understand? Daily? Weekly? Monthly? Annually? Yes? How do you respond? Do you look up with teary eyes into the face of your heavenly Father and trust – even though you do not understand?

Bravery. That is what it is. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. Some will argue to call that faith. I challenge us to really analyze if there is a difference.

We will not know the test results from Gavin’s tests on Wednesday for 2-3 weeks. For now he is playing at the playground, observing the world around him, quizzing each of our behaviors and in general making the world a better place because he is in it.

Those who love Gavin on the other hand are praying and planning next moves. But for now we wait. Is this a test of bravery on our part? Perhaps. We are indeed looking up into the face of our God and trusting when we do not understand. However, in my opinion, it pales in comparison to the bravery of Gavin.