“Courage is grace under pressure.” — Ernest Hemingway
Grieving the loss of a child demands a kind of courage no one ever asks to possess. Every day becomes a test. Simple tasks become mountains. Getting out of bed can feel like an impossible climb. Courage is not loud or bold in this kind of sorrow. Courage becomes quiet endurance. Courage becomes holding space for tears without apology. Courage becomes walking through the day while carrying the weight of love that has nowhere to land.
Many grieving parents do not feel brave. Grief feels nothing like strength. Grief feels like unraveling. But grace can still live in the unraveling. Grace is found in the moments we allow ourselves to cry without shame. Grace is found when we speak the name of our child out loud. Grace is found when we sit with another grieving soul, not trying to fix anything, just being with them. That kind of grace is courage. That courage keeps us human.
Grace under pressure does not mean pretending to be okay. Courage is not found in pretending. True courage grows in truth. Courage accepts that we are broken and still shows up anyway. Grace allows our wounds to remain open while offering kindness to others. Living with grief teaches us to carry both pain and compassion. The pressure of loss shapes us into people who feel more deeply. And that deep feeling becomes our offering to the world.
Thought for today: Courage does not mean being strong. Courage means being honest, being soft, and showing up with grace under pressure.