There are brave people in the world. Thankfully, luckily, I haven’t had to be brave all that often in my life. I hope this never changes, as I am not sure how I would respond to a threatening situation. I may have some bravery bones, but I’d rather not find out.
At present, we see bravery everywhere, especially in the news. We have watched Ukraine come under attack, and we have seen, time and again, those people who were living their ordinary lives, now destroyed. Amazingly, they are brave, and they have transformed themselves into Superheroes of the highest magnitude, fighting to defend their homes and their country.
I am not sure Americans would quite have this in them. But I suppose I could be wrong.
Yet. People have been challenged in this way all throughout history. All of this current hatred is reminiscent of Nazi Germany.
I was recently reminded of Mordecai Anielewicz, as his birthday fell on May 8, coming to this earth in the year 1919. Born in Poland.
You may not recognize his name initially, but he was the leader of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
The year was 1943, when his bravery showed the most. Anielewicz stood up and became a hero who forcibly resisted the mass deportations taking place in Nazi Germany. He resisted. He said, “Hell no. We won’t go.” I think he was the first person to ever say that, by the way.
The Nazis were not used to receiving any pushback when it came to ushering people onto trains and hauling them off to concentration camps. They had a choice — get on the train or be shot. However, Mordecai Anielewicz formed a group of fighters against this. This unexpected resistance stymied the Nazi efforts to clear the Warsaw Ghetto for months. It was not easy going for Anielewicz and his friends. They suffered heavy casualties throughout the fighting.
Eventually, the small Polish faction was outnumbered and overpowered. More Nazi troops were sent in, overrunning the remaining fighters. During the last stand, it is suspected that Anielewicz committed suicide rather than surrender to Nazi troops that had surrounded his command bunker at 18 Miła Street.
He coordinated the largest Jewish armed resistance during the Holocaust.
Since that time, several memorials have been dedicated to Anielewicz in Poland and Israel. For his bravery.
He died on May 8, 1943, at the age of 24.
This is one story. There are thousands upon thousands of stories about bravery all throughout our world history. Soldiers in war. Explorers versus the elements. People fighting adversity. The proverbial Davids fighting the Goliaths.
But we should not. There are also many kinds of bravery.
Sometimes, in our everyday lives, we have to find courage of our own. Whatever that may be. Perhaps we are fighting depression or anxiety, and we draw on our inner courage to even move through the day. Or maybe we are caring for a loved one who is ill or suffering, and we have to be brave for them. Perhaps it is we who are physically impaired, and it takes courage to do simple tasks around the house.
Yes, bravery comes in many forms. And while we may not be pulling people from a burning building, maybe, just maybe, we are saving lives all the same.
I believe bravery and courage appear in all different shapes and sizes, and most of us are truly amazing when it comes to finding our valor at all the right times.
So today, give thanks for the hero in you. Give thanks TO the hero in you.
Have a cookie in the shape of a Medal of Honor. Or three. Dip them in milk.
You deserve it. And listen closely as the fanfare begins.
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“Courage is found in unlikely places.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien
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“Scared is what you’re feeling. Brave is what you’re doing.”
― Emma Donoghue, Room
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“You can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will.”
― Stephen King
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Brave, like you.
