Courage Network

I remember a show called "Barney and Friends" that came on television a few years back. Barney was a big purple dinosaur that came into your home via televison to spread manners, love, and education to your child(ren). One of the ways he was able to do that was through singing. One of the messages in his show was "Caring Means Sharing."

As I look at this world that we live in, I am amazed at how many adults seem to have difficulties when it comes to following that very same message that was intended for children. We often tell each things like, "if I could I would, " "let me know if you need anything," or "I'm here whenever you need me." Here's the thing, why do we need to wait for the "person in need" to contact us first before we reach out and share.

Whether if it be advice, information, or a physical thing if you have something SHARE. You never will know if that person or group will be able to benefit from what you possess if you simply never do it because you are waiting for them to reach out to you.

I remember when I was going through what I would like to call my "Emancipation" process (walking away from my ex-boyfriend/abuser.) During this process, I spent some of my time in a hospital room learning how to do the "simple things" again (breathing, walking, utilizing my fingers, etc.) At no particular time did any one feel the need to SHARE information with me that I would have consider to be important information. If I didn't ask, I wouldn't know. Just typing that statement makes me shake my head in disgust at how selfish people can be whether knowingly or unknowingly. Still to this day, I seem to experience the same thing from people especially in regards to domestic violence.

Domestic violence is a very serious situation that is growing consistently by the second. So many cases are being added to the files of unreported. So many restraining orders are being dropped on a daily basis while others are not even being filed. It's not because our fellow sisters and brothers do not want to change their situation. It's because the information needed to reverse this process isn't being SHARED with them. it doesn't take much at all. Every little bit amounts to a lot.

I remember I met a woman back in 2002 at the courthouse in Newark, NJ. She was so nervous and afraid, yet steady telling herself as she tried to convince me that it would be best if she dropped her restraining order because the guy didn't seem to be the type to do anything worse than fill her gas tank with sugar and bust out all of her windows on her car. Because I cared, I shared! I shared my personal photo album with her. This photo album contained photos of my mother's kitchen where I was stabbed 13 times  in front of my children, as well as photos of me hospitalized with a chest tube connected to me. By SHARING the information I had, another life was able to be saved. Another person was able stand firm with their "gut feeling" and not allow fear to intimidate them and change their mind.

The bible talks about how people are destroyed from lack of knowledge in Hosea 4:6. What you don't know can literally kill you -- I know from experience. It doesn't have to literally kill you as in death. It can kill your self-esteem, your goals, make you depressed, bitter, angry, or lonely. Together we can all put an end to selfishness and start SHARING. Please understand that it's not about you alone, it's about helping others which also helps you.

I decided to write this because it was on my heart and because I care I decided to SHARE.

Be a blessing, because you are already blessed.
Princess Grace