Bon Courage!

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You don’t need luck. You need courage.

Bon courage! You don't need luck. You need courage.

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Years ago I stopped using the phrase, Good luck. Unless I was being sarcastic, of course. “Good luck with that” is probably a pet saying of mine, but I don’t use the phrase seriously. I don’t really buy it.

Yes, there is chance, but I don’t think that things are as random as some might think. I think God has a hand in our lives. Sometimes He lets bad things happen. I don’t think it’s bad luck. I think there’s a purpose, but probably one I won’t understand in this life. So good luck is off my list.

I was reminded of this recently when a schoolmate from my high school French class said bonne chance to me. It took me back twenty years to France when I learned that the French prefer the term, bon courage. It means “take heart,” or “have good courage.”

Have good courage.

I’ve been thinking about this all week. I don’t need luck. I need courage.

Bon courage! You don't need luck. You need courage.

I woke up Wednesday morning thinking about a health issue in one of my kids (he has short tendons) and that worry morphed into what if he has bone cancer and what if someone breaks a leg before our trip?

The worries, I tell ya, they come at me in all forms and from all directions.

Really? Bone cancer? Broken legs? Let’s just try to get all the reservations made and get all six kids on the plane!

We don’t need luck. We need courage. Hard things will come. We don’t need luck to avoid them as much as we need courage to face them, to endure, and to conquer.

We need courage to love that unlovable person in our path, to use a soft voice, to return good for evil. Loving people is not weakness. In fact, I think it takes great courage to put someone else ahead of you — especially when it doesn’t feel like they deserve it.

As moms, we get many opportunities to practice this, don’t we? Ha! We could be the bravest people on the planet!

Let’s be brave and faithful that God really does have the world in His control. To read the news it would seem that maybe He doesn’t. But, I know that He does. I just don’t always feel like it.

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. — 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

This week I’m praying for more courage. To be on my guard. To stand firm. To be strong. And to do everything in love.

May you have the same!

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17 Comments

  1. Hadn’t really thought about it, but you’re right. We say bon courage often, Bonne chance not much. Just “merde” when “luck” is needed. Ha ha! I also like the phrase “Bonne continuation” which we say as well, for instance if we won’t see someone again for a long time, or they are starting out on a new road, project, etc. It’s sending someone off with nice, positive thoughts and energy.

  2. Great post! When I speak to women at events, I speak about overcoming fear (worry) and being courageous because we serve a big God!

    On another note, I actually got injured on a trip to Europe…on the second day of a twenty-one day trip (six countries, nine cities) I sprained my ankle on the uneven cobblestone in front of the Arc d’ Triomphe. I was wearing pretty sturdy tennis shoes too…I don’t know how those Parisians do it in their nicer shoes! But I still managed to have a fantastic time (although my ankle has never been the same since…Europeans are not big fans of ice!)

  3. How nice to come read this this morning. I went to bed overwhelmed by life and told myself to have courage…and then to see this post this morning. It was just perfect. Thank you.

  4. I so like your post today. I have the habit of using the word worry and thinking the worst when thinking a head.
    Great verse!

  5. One of my pet peeve phrases is “take care”. Do I really want someone to take cares into their own hands?? NO, I don’t! I want them to leave their cares for God to care for them. Great post…and another great reminder that a our words have meaning!

  6. You’re so right. No need to worry that bad things are going to happen… they will whether I worry or not… and so what I need to have is courage to face them! From one mama who has a tendency to worry, thank you!

  7. Great reminder! We don’t need to live in fear, but take courage. 🙂 I’ve been thinking about that lately as we face an uncertain situation. But life is never really certain or guaranteed, but we do have the guarantee that things are in God’s hands.

    1. Sometimes, it’s really hard to believe it. We actually have a pending sale on our rental property. I’m afraid to hope, but know that God has better ideas than I do. 🙂

  8. This came at such a necessary time in my life today! Thank you for your kindness and sharing your life.

  9. Incredible! This is almost the same direction my morning prayers & study went! Our family needs love and to love each other! May we also have courage to be on guard, to stand firm, to be strong, and to do all in love. Thanks for this.