This is yesterday’s Facebook post from Oklahoma State Senator Rick Brinkley. It spoke to me….and I wanted to pass it along. Here’s to courage. Here’s to Hope.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen the government shut down, neighborhoods in fear because of so many shootings, outrage over the beating death of a 2-year-old, and a nation with its priorities so out of whack that it’s government thought it could shut down open air memorials and not pay the death benefits of its soldiers. Benefits that go to the most vulnerable of our society….the spouses & the children of soldiers who gave their full measures for our freedom while the government they are fighting for “forgot” about their children, spouses, and parents.
We all whine about the “way things are.” But, this nation was not founded, designed, nor defended by whiners. In the formation of our nation, our Founding Fathers may have momentarily felt like victims, but they summoned anger & courage to change things.
From Facebook to the 24-hour cable news channels and the older men drinking coffee at the doughnut shop to the young moms in the carpool lane, we are a nation that is becoming increasingly angry. At least we are moving from complacency.
We must find our Hope, again.
Many of you know my favorite quote is by St. Augustine who lived from 354 to 430. He said “Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are.”
Our anger keeps us in Hopelessness. Courage brings us to Hope.
Our nation. Your Family. You. They will all remain in a hopelessness as long we remain in Anger. We must summon the Courage of our forefathers and of our soldiers, if we want to regain our Hope. If we want to “see that (things) do not remain the way they are.”
In order to move toward Hope, you must first move from Anger to Courage.
You. Me. We. Must start today. Leave Anger. Embrace Courage. Regain Hope.
stuff i tell my sister 
Wow…what a message. That’s a beautiful way to frame it…
He shares wisdom and humor from the heart almost daily. You might want to follow him? But then of course, you’ll wanna move here! 🙂
he’s a blogger too! 🙂 You find such creative ways…impressive! 😀
It even took courage for your Senator Brinkley to say those words. I totally agree with him. Maybe we ordinary citizens think we have no say in the way our country is being managed. It’s a scary thought that we have no control. The people we have elected aren’t living up to their promises. Again I say “God Help Us”. Loved the photo of the U.S. flag and the beautiful sunset shots.
I agree, Delores….it did take courage. Hope your writing class is going well!! ♥
Standing O for the OK Senator. And Bon’s right Paula, beautifully framed. xo
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Finding courage from anger in order to change is the hardest and most important step in life. Thanks for this message today.
So well put…..it needed to be shared. Thanks for reading! paula ♥
Wow – well said – and I love that quote!
A good one for certain!
A blogging senator? How great! I’m gonna look to see if mine do that. I do get a monthly newsletter, but I’m sure he doesn’t see it.
His message hit home with me. Think I’ve been in anger mode.
I think we have all been in a state of anger and frustration! Yep….a good message.
its a beautiful message, im gonna reblog it becasuse your right we do need to r.egain our hope
Thank you for reblogging…. and glad it spoke to you, too! ♥ paula
Reblogged this on hopeandloveradio.
Great message. Thanks for sharing this.
and thanks for reading 🙂
Great message – thanks for sharing! I would give him a big AMEN too:)
I second that Amen!
I love this!
Agree! Good words.
Reblogged this on Through The Lens and commented:
This is from my friend Paula (Stuff I tell my sister), which she posted from Senator Brinkley – It really sums up what we need to be feeling.
I agree with Delores that it took courage for him to say what he did. I think we are on the brink of moving from hopelessness to hope. The most encouragement I saw was when a guy from Georgia was seen mowing the lawn at a government site. It spoke to me – he wasn’t going to let an incompetent Congress shut down the things that needed to be done. He would take care of it himself.
We saw that as well…and were frustrated when he was asked to stop. Really??? 60 seconds of courage. It’s what we all need.
I’m sure he was asked to stop because of courage. It sends a message to the rest of us – to do what our own government can’t.
I agree.. Proud of this man…regardless.
A great message.. glad to see there are those over there prepared to make such statements…
Yes…me too!
I love this message.
Thank you Linda….me too.
Great message …. and thanks for passing it on – because I know the American people need to get the hope back. Last night I saw a very disturbing TV program about peoples situation in Oregon people that through unemployment has lost everything, had to leave their homes, no water, no electricity, food tickets … and do you know that there 9.4 million children in US that don’t live in a proper home – it’s the same amount as the amount of people living in Sweden. While rich companies are getting richer, but not investing in people. A unemployed mother with 3 children and one of them very sick – she has a hospital bill on $49.000, how is that possible in the most powerful nation in the world???
The American dream is really on rocky grounds. Good luck to you all, I really mean it.
So much that makes no sense. I read where the state we live in is at the top of children going hungry in the U.S. Again….how can this be? I don’t ask for God to bless us….but simply to wake us up so that we can be saved…..♥
Paula, it was a truly chocking program and that was only in one state. They played phone calls to 211 – people begging. There was one family that lived in a beautiful house, he had a well paid job … suddenly he became unemployed and he couldn’t get a new one. They had to leave their home and move in with the wifes mom in a 2 room apartment, 6 people was going to live together. But then they send people out in the space … instead of taking care of them on earth first.
So much money wasted and at the same time throwing lives to the wolves….. I live here Viveka….and I can make no sense of it. Not at all….
I truly wish that …. things will become better over there.
me too ♥