Today we are continuing to look at brave that keeps us right where we are. It is not the big step that is headline worthy or the kind of brave that has you shaking in your boots at the thought of it. This kind of brave looks ordinary to most and for others you would question rather it fits into the same category as “leaping from tall buildings”. But to those living it out, this brave is extraordinary. When God calls us to be brave at home, He knows He is calling us to put our dreams on hold to fulfill His will. It’s when brave is the life you never imagined!
Join my friend, Jen Daugherty, as she describes the brave journey that took her away from home only to bring it full circle to where she started.
I didn’t want to move back to my hometown. Ever. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy growing up there, but rather that I saw no future there. I equated moving back with failure, because nobody ever wanted to move there. Everyone wanted to get out.
And so I graduated from college and moved abroad, looking forward to visiting home, but never living there again. Now, 4 years after leaving, I’ve found myself living back in my hometown, holding a permanent job, and planting deep roots. Almost unwillingly at first, but now eagerly looking forward to investing in a community I’ve come to love. Staying was difficult. It was most certainly unwanted. And it took a whole lot of brave to choose to stay.
Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is stay where we are. Some people live a life of planes, suitcases, and new languages, and that is brave. But some people live a life of community meetings, walking, school buses, and movies in the park. Living well where you are takes a lot of bravery, especially when it was never the life you imagined. Growing roots and investing in those around you takes courage. But the power of being brave right where you are? It’s incalculable.
[Tweet “Growing roots and investing in those around you takes courage. @jen_daugherty #bravefaith”]
“Jen is a twenty-something , small-town gal from Iowa who, despite fleeing America after college, is learning to embrace the bravery of staying and growing roots back in her hometown. She loves long chats with friends, photography, harvesting fresh veggies from her garden, and relaxing with a good cup of coffee. Jen writes about living the “kinda crunchy” life on her blog, where traditional living crashes into the modern world. She can be found online at www.faithmustardseed.com or on Twitter: @jen_daugherty.”
Let’s all be brave today!
Mary
Great post, Jen! I have moved around so much that I don’t really have a hometown. But I definitely agree that setting down roots and investing in the people right here takes a lot of courage. I try to practice it and rejoice at my baby steps.
Jen spoke bravely just by sharing her words. Thank you for stopping by.
I left my childhood hometown for more than 20 years to work and travel. I’m back now and I really love the feeling of belonging somewhere familiar. Thanks for sharing. I’m visiting from 31 day facebook.
There is something so comforting about the familiar. Home to me is where my people are and right now they are scattered across the U.S. God is teaching me that I can still carry them with me in my heart so home is with me all the time. Thank you for being here.
I totally agree. There truly is courage in staying where God has planted you, especially when opportunities beckon somewhere else. It takes trusting God and listening for His directives before considering what we want or think makes sense. Great thoughts, Jen and thanks to Mary for sharing them with us!
Trusting God and listening to His directives means we need to let go of our own agenda. Sounds easier said than done. Jen is a beautiful example of listening well. Love having you here Beth!
Love Jen’s words so much! There is indeed power in staying exactly where God has planted us.
Yay for Jen! She said something we all needed to hear. I love how you are faithfully stopping by here each day. Hugs friend!
Oh you both are such a blessing to me!
🙂
Beautiful, Beautiful post! It is so true. It takes bravery to stay put – especially when you would rather be elsewhere or doing something different. And it is in that very place where we find the greatest blessings. Thank you Mary, for sharing Jen’s post.
Don’t you just love Jen’s words??? She provided a perspective that I had not really thought of before. You are brave Jen! Thank you for joining us today Joanne!
I love how brave is lived out in small yet meaningful ways, in staying put, in blooming where we’re planted rather than yearning for something more.
When we look at Jen’s brave perspective, it seems like something we can do, right Linda? Brave is anything but easy for me but God has my back every time. Blessings and hugs!
Hi Jen, I am excited seeing here with Mary.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful words here. Something I took home today, “Living Well where you are takes being brave”.
Sometimes we forget to live well right where we are now instead of being lost in thoughts about where we are not or where we wish to be.
Loads of Blessings to you Mary and Jen
Thank you for being here, Ifeoma and thank you for “meeting” my friend Jen. I also was impacted buy her words to live well right where you are planted. Too often we are just truing to get by and forget that where we are is exactly where God needs us to be. Blessings to you, Ifeoma!
Jen, you are a brave woman if I’ve ever met one!! So love your heart and your obedience to God’s will in your life. You are an inspiration and I miss your face! 🙂 xoxo
Jen is amazing and we both witnessed that firsthand this summer. Thank you Holly for being here and thank you Jen for willingly sharing your words. Love you both.