Courage

The man gazed curiously at the boy; he was so small, so frightened; cut, bruised, covered in dirt.

“You have a lot of courage, you know...” said the man.

The boy's downcast eyes filled with tears.

“No, I don't.” he said quietly. “I thought I could be brave. But I'm not. I thought I could do this, but I'm scared to death.”

The man gently placed a finger under the boy's chin, lifted his face, and saw the shame in the boy's eyes.

“Courage,” the man smiled, “has nothing to do with being brave. It's about being scared to death... and doing it anyway.”

  ~ Andy Clemence