Elaine's Courage

Kaplan University: CM-107 College Composition

Eliane’s Courage

Richard Brandon Greene

Kaplan University

Being courageous is something that you are not born with. It is something that is gained when faced with adversity in your lifetime. It is facing the unknown with your head held high and you chest poked out. It is knowing that the path that lies ahead is not paved with gold, but with fog and uncertainty. Elaine Thrift was faced with the death of her husband and the realization that she would be caring for her six grandchildren by herself.

It was November 31, 1998 when Elaine’s husband of 44 years passed away in his sleep. They had been married since they were 16 years old and know, all of a sudden, Elaine was alone for the first time in her life since she was a child. They had two daughters together and a total of six grandchildren. Like most families from the south the grandparent’s house was the place to be, and Elaine’s house was no different, only now it was grandma and grandpas it was just grandmas. Elaine had to deal with cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the kids. She had to deal with trying to teach the boys in the family how to grow up and be a good man. She had to install in them the core value of putting God first in everything you do. This was hard for Elaine to do since she had always had her husband Charles to help. She made the determination that she would not let adversity take her over and ruin her outlook on life.

Now it is 2013 and Elaine is doing just fine. She still puts God first and is now caring for her great grand children every chance that she gets. Most of the grandchildren are gone and have families of their own. It may seem that Elaine was not as courageous as some other stories that have been told, but it takes a certain special kind of someone to not run away from kids when faced with doing it alone. She is not only an inspiration to her grandchildren but she is an inspiration to everyone.