As so many of us are only too aware of this, the holidays can be an extremely joyous time for some.

Personally, a fresh blanket of white snow on the ground along with decorated trees and houses can really bring out the holiday spirit in a lot of us.

Whether we care to admit it or not, there is always going to be at least one Christmas song that we’ll ruefully turn up just a bit when it comes on the radio.

For this reporter and for some reason, Frank Sinatra’s holiday hits always seem to do the trick. 

But that’s a different conversation entirely and perhaps we can dive into that at a different time.

Those things being said now, as always we have to take a look at how it is for all of us this time of year.

Like we talked about last time, each year is different for everyone and we are quickly approaching an end to this one.

So many of us are going to look back on this year and think about all the good things that have happened. Maybe the kids finally got their grades up to passing. Maybe you finally got that raise you’ve been hoping for. 

Some of us probably had the wonderful fortune of welcoming their first child, or even grandchild into this world.

As usual we always take the good and hold onto it for as long as we can. Congratulate yourself because good things can and do happen.

Heading into a new year and saying goodbye to the old one can certainly leave one feeling a bit uncertain, even vulnerable. Once again we are trying to take away all the lessons we have learned this past year, but we don’t quite know what the new one is going to hold for us. 

Sometimes the older we get, uncertainty can be quite a thing to deal with. And as well all know absolutely nothing is for certain.

This is what has led us to talk about one thing we really haven’t before.

Have a little courage.

Think about it for just a moment, and really try to grasp what it is we are talking about. Each and every one of us, right now as we speak, has something going on that we don’t want to face or we are truthfully scared to face it. Don’t be too hard on yourself about whatever’s going on. Trust this, you are not alone.

It takes a lot for us to admit we need to have a little courage from time to time. We can try as hard as we can, do all the right things and do as much as we can for ourselves and the person next to us all we want. The truth is we just can’t control everything that happens to us, no matter how hard we try.

Sometimes when these things happen, for some cruel reason they seem to like to happen around the holidays more than any other time.

What is the reason for this? Unfortunately we probably will never know.

Once again, have a little courage.

Whatever is happening is out of your control. The only thing you have to do is face it and see it through. It truthfully is the only way it will ever go away, so be brave.

All of us have the will deep down to do this. How often though do we actually reach deep down into our own soul and tell ourselves, “This is scary, and this is probably going to hurt. But I have to face it because there’s nothing else to do.”

The answer is probably not too often. Be rest assured however, all of us have this instinctual quality. It’s just up to us whether we chose to use it or not.

Have a little courage.

When we hear that word, chances are we probably think of The Wizard of Oz for obvious reasons. As wholesome and as true as the message is in the timeless and beloved film, we often times don’t stop to think about what it means to be brave.

Having courage, or being brave when we know we have to go through something has nothing to do with an absence of fear. Courage is doing something we know has to be done despite the fact that we are scared.

Time to share something from the past.

There is a documented story from Europe during the 1940’s. For all of those who are familiar with history, you of course know what was going on in Europe during the early 1940’s.

Amidst the brutal and demeaning crimes being committed during the Holocaust, there is one account of a man who showed incredible courage and sacrifice despite knowing full well what was waiting for him.

This particular man was in no position of high authority, had no immediate family, no political influence and was not wealthy by any means.

In all actuality, he was a quiet simple man that happened to run an orphanage. All the children he looked after had either been abandoned, had run away, or had physical and mental disabilities. All were children that nobody wanted anything to do with, and they certainly weren’t what that particular regime wanted.

Obviously children like this were considered undesirable, or vermin according to those in charge at the time. Needless to say the say the orphanage was shut down by the Third Reich, and all the children were eventually ordered onto the trains for extermination.

When the man was told that his orphanage was no more but he could still pursue other ventures, his response to the SS officer was a prime example of courage and human dignity.

He calmly said, “What kind of person would I be if I left them now?”

He then joined his children on the trains, knowing full well he was going to the gas chamber with them.

Try to remember that little history lesson in the coming weeks, or even months. The holidays can be very tough for some. Throughout the year some of us have certainly experienced some loss here or there, and can feel the uncertainty of the brand new year ahead of us.

Don’t worry and have a little courage. Face it and go through with it.

You will be just fine.

Have a little courage.