More Brave

My Mom asked if Haley would be interested in singing her song, "Dear Jesus, it's your Birthday" (see link to the right) for the Christmas Eve Church service in Guymon. I thought it was highly unlikely considering she cried at the school Christmas program. However, we got her a little play microphone and she was singing and dancing like a rock star all day Christmas Eve. We went up to the church for a trial run that morning and it was terrible. She wouldn't even hardly stand on the stage. Oh well. It was worth a shot.

That evening, there were a few other children sharing a song or piano piece and it came time for Haley to go up and she insisted that she was ready to sing. I was skeptical as we ascending the stairs on the stage. I went with her holding her hand and sitting beside her as she stood on the top step. I started to sing and she just looked at me. I whispered, "If you don't want to sing, it is ok we will just go sit down." Well, she wasn't going to sit. She was going to sing. She grabbed the mic (which unfortunately wasn't working) and sang her sweet little song about Jesus' Birthday.

As we were driving home I asked her how she found the courage to go up on stage in front of everyone and sing and she said without hesitating, "God sent me more brave...a NEW brave!"

Isn't that what we all need sometimes, a little more brave. More brave to love others, more brave to step out and share our lives with those in need, more brave to follow God's will or more brave to just be who God created us to be.

That's my prayer for the New Year... that God would give me a New brave like He did for Haley to step out and be radical for Him!

(The picture is Haley after the service at home leaving a cookie out for Santa with a note she wrote herself: That night she prayed, "Thank you God for this wonderful day and thank you for the birth of Jesus at Christmas. AND, please help Santa have a safe trip as he delivers all the presents. Amen.")