What Puts the "Ape" in Apricot?

Thanks to girlfriends in my same "age bracket" I got back out there today! You encouraged me just by your enthusiasm for running and I didn't want to get left behind. I think once I spoke the words "I'm only running once a week" I actually believed that was okay and started falling into the pattern. And yet, it often became LESS frequent than once a week because "things" kept coming up and the good intentions got shoved aside for something else that seemed more interesting and easier. So, with a coolish, mistyish morning, I ran about 2.5 miles in the neighborhood with no music. My nano had lost its charge and I DID IT ANYWAY.

I needed something to keep me going and so I tried concentrating on a word. COURAGE. It was sort of a prayer time and sort of just thinking about the word. I don't know how that word popped into my head. I actually thought first about "peace" and then "love" but "courage" came next and it stuck.

God...grant me...

the courage to parent well.

the courage to respect all.

the courage to be a good wife, daughter, sister, and friend.

the courage to keep going and the courage to stop.

I think it's pretty cool that the word "courage" is in the word "encourage." I'm appreciative of all of my family, friends, co-workers, authors, bloggers, and twitterers who encourage me. But I believe that true courage comes only from God because true courage is grounded in love.

What do you need God's granting of courage for today?