Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord you God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6
The football season is upon us, and in true form, it has already given us some exciting moments – great wins and tough losses. The first weekend of games were some of the best in years!
Although the Bulldogs had a great win, the game that was most exciting was the FSU-Notre Dame contest. My brother in law is a staunch fan of the Seminoles, and some of our dear friends are now living in Irish country, so our interest in the game was peaked.
The game did not disappoint, but the story was not the final score, but rather a young man by the name of McKenzie Milton, a backup quarterback for the Seminoles. The scenario played like this. The starting quarterback for FSU received a blow to the head and had to leave the game. Milton came off the bench to lead Florida State back from a ten point deficit and force overtime against the ranked Notre Dame team. The team lost, but Milton got a resounding win!
This scenario occurs in football all the time, but Milton had not played a game since November 24, 2018 when he sustained artery and nerve damage to his right leg along with a dislocated knee and torn ligaments. This injury was catastrophic and almost caused the amputation of his right leg.
Through the efforts or many surgeons, trainers, physical therapists, family, friends, and others, Milton did what others thought impossible. Dr. Levy (his orthopedic surgeon) is quoted as saying on the first day he met Milton after the injury, “Even if you miraculously get back and do what no one else has every done before, you have to ask yourself, do you want to?” Milton never hesitated and said, “Doc, I know I’m playing football again. I just know it.”
The courage. bravery, and fortitude of this young man brings to mind other situations where these qualities have been a factor in life’s situations. General Robert E. Lee used these sentiments in his Farewell Address to the Army of Northern Virginian at Appomattox, Lou Gehrig’s Farewell to Baseball address used them, and Winston Churchill’s We Shall Fight on the Beaches addresses these characteristics.
Fortitude is defined as mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, danger or temptation courageously. Personally, I think physical strength could be added.
In these last few weeks, I have learned a lot about folks who are poster men and women for fortitude. On June 8, 1967, as I was entering my senior year in high school, the USS Liberty was cruising in International Waters in the Eastern Mediterranean when it was attacked without warning or justification by air and naval forces of Israel. They were 294 officers and crew on board. Of these 294, 34 were killed, 174 wounded, and the ship was so severely damaged that it never sailed again.
Fortitude is a word that should be used for the surviving crew members who kept the ship afloat, cared for the injured, tended to their friends who were killed, and had no aid for days. The atrocities of this “incident”(as the government called it) are unbelievable and unfathomable, and they have never been fully acknowledged by our military and government. Many of us are guilty of being totally unaware of sacrifices and fortitude such as this, and the suffering that occurred.
The average person will never be able to exhibit this kind of fortitude, but there are so many incidences in life where we see people going about their lives with this strength every day. I see it in my own life. First, there’s my friend and college roommate who has been caring for her husband with Alzheimer’s every day of her life for ten years. Although he is now in a facility for round the clock care, her devotion, love and care continues daily. Her fortitude is evident in her devotion.
Then there’s the mother who endured the pain of watching her daughter courageously fight cancer for years and lose the battle. This mother swims in honor of her daughter’s fight and to raise money to fight cancer so that one day, when a cure is found, other Mother’s might be spared the pain she suffered. She is putting her fortitude into action for a cure and a promise!
There’s the young doctor (who happens to be my nephew) who is on the front line in a hospital fighting to save the lives of his patients who are suffering from Covid while hearing cries of “Help me, please.” His fortitude is making a difference and saving lives.
There’s an amazing thirteen year old young lady who suffers from autism. She is now using her new found “voice” to help others understand the trials and triumphs so that they may find hope and courage. Her fortitude is inspirational and courageous.
There are men and women who still live with images of the horrors of war, those who suffer ramifications of 911, and those who live with PTSD. Their fortitude is courageous.
The stories of fortitude can be found among us every day. God speaks to fortitude when he directs us to be strong and courageous as we know He will go with us. God bless all who set the examples of fortitude for others every day.
It’s not life that counts but the fortitude you bring into it. John Galsworthy