It Takes Courage To Show Courage

It takes courage, To refrain from gossip
When others delight in it,
To stand up for the absent person
Who is being abused.

It takes courage, To live honestly
Within your means,
And not dishonestly
On the means of others.

It takes courage, To be a REAL man or a TRUE woman,
To hold fast to your ideals
When it causes you, To be looked upon
As strange and peculiar.

It takes courage To be talked about,
And remain silent,
When a word would justify you
In the eyes of others,
But which you dare not speak
Because it would injure another.

It takes courage, To refuse to do something
That is wrong
Although everyone else
May be doing it
With attitudes as carefree
As a summer song.

It takes courage, To live according
To your own convictions,
To deny yourself
What you cannot afford.
To love your neighbor
As yourself!

----Courtesy : Anonymous