Can we teach courage? Can we help our children to develop moral courage, the courage to stand up in the face of adversity, staying true to both themselves and the things that they hold dear and true? As we look around, it’s easy to see that our society is struggling to not only identify moral conviction, but to also identify when and the best way to stand up and be a voice for good, a voice against oppression of the weak, and a voice of strength for all that is right.
I believe that we absolutely can teach moral courage to our children who will need it to be engraved upon their hearts and minds in order to leave this world better than they found it. We start, like with all things, when they are very young. We start by helping our children to notice injustices, those in need and those who need an advocate. It’s more than just noticing, but it realizing that we as individuals have enormous power to cause change.
Unless we believe that one can make a difference, than we might shrink at the opportunity to do so.
A great way to start is to continually find and read about and discuss others from the past who have done just that. There are so many books to read to our children, but why not be more purposeful in the books that we choose, starting when they are very young. Look for books about common people who have demonstrated great courage, moral conviction and impeccable character and because of these qualities have made a huge difference in individual lives. We never want to underestimate the importance of the single individual.
Another wonderful thing we can do to teach courage to our children is to help them overcome things that they are afraid of. Teaching our children to do hard things is imperative to their success. Such things might be: going over to another child on the playground and introducing themselves and inviting them to play, role playing with our children what to do when they see another child being teased or bullied so they are prepared to defend those who need defending, teaching our children to speak for themselves at a very early age by refraining from speaking for our children, and many other things.
Finally, it is important to help our children to identify their own strengths, talents and abilities that God has given them. As they identify their unique abilities, as parents, it is our duty to help them to understand that the reason God has blessed each of us with these talents is to bless the lives of God’s other children. When our children better comprehend that they have the power to do great good on this earth, it unlocks the doors of compassion, service and advocacy.
Courage is to act, even when we are afraid, but it takes practice. Start today.
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