A Gentle Courage

By Barbara Robbins-Ripps

Even at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, you could see the compassion of Jesus in medical workers around the globe—as well as in everyday citizens who pulled together in a bid to end the virus.

Barbara Robbins-Ripps, who wrote this book during the pandemic, pays tribute to these heroes while also honoring our Lord and Savior, who is with us always.

Her testimony is an invitation for everyone to reflect on their journey, even when going through challenging and uncertain times.

Throughout the book, she highlights individuals in her life who’ve made a difference. With her heart aching over seeing so much death and uncertainty, her intent is to call attention to heroes that make a difference on a daily basis—even when it means risking their lives.

Through sickness, health, death, and everything in between, there is always hope in the promises of God. Look to His love to overcome obstacles and move forward with courage.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Aug 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9781973697503

Barbara Robbins-Ripps

Barbara Robbins-Ripps is a wife, mom, and grandmother. She has worked in public schools, operated a registered daycare in her home, and has worked in the church as a director of religious education and youth minister. She has volunteered in prison ministry as a spiritual companion and catechist. In this book, she shares personal experiences of Jesus through the many individuals God has blessed her with on her journey.

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Copyright © 2020 Barbara Robbins-Ripps.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by

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without the written permission of the author except in the case of

brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-9749-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-9751-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-9750-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020913135

WestBow Press rev. date: 07/30/2020

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1    Jesus

Chapter 2    My Parents

Chapter 3    My Children

Chapter 4    Special

Chapter 5    Service

Chapter 6    Heroes

Chapter 7    Memories with God

Poetry

Afterword

Introduction

Welcome~ thank you for spending this time with me. I am a 63-year-old wife, and mom, step-mom, and grandmother. I grew up in San Antonio, Texas. I come from a diverse background of farmers, general store owners, brewery workers, truck drivers, bankers, nurses, and much more. I was employed in the Northside Independent School district as an instructional assistant in the Special Education department for several years. I also ran a registered daycare in my home while my children were young. I worked for the Archdiocese of San Antonio for eleven years as a Director of Religion, Coordinator for middle school and high school, youth ministry in several parishes, and was even a Pre K teacher for a year. I also volunteered in the prison ministry for eight years. It was a medium-security prison. My eyes were opened up to a special group of people. I taught sacramental preparation, shared Jesus, and prayed with the inmates that attended our classes and Mass. God has just blessed me in so many ways by allowing me to get to know many amazing people throughout my lifetime. I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt I have seen when someone’s heart is touched by Jesus. In the pre-school and prison the look on someone’s face is so beautiful and so similar. There are peacefulness and stillness that seems to overcome them. I have seen a very active four-year-old become so still during meditation and then ask if we can do it again. I have seen a room full of prisoners become still and quiet while listening to a Matthew West song and then have several ask the name of the song so they can tell their sons to listen. Amen. I have seen so many faces that have been touched by Jesus and then seen them stand taller and stronger and face life with the Gentle Courage that only comes from Christ.

This book is dedicated to the people God has placed in my life and the gentle courage displayed through them as they met the many challenges of life. The first chapter is dedicated to Jesus. There are so many ways that gentle courage was lived out in His life on earth but I will focus on one that has inspired me and given me the strength to face difficult circumstances in my life.

I pray more than anything that you receive hope and are empowered by the stories of connection to God that give strength beyond words to go forward every day even with the greatest challenges.

The other theme that will be woven through these stories is being seen with compassionate eyes and heard with a listening heart. In our busy world with distractions that are all around and in our pocket in the form of a phone we can become blind, deaf, and have tunnel vision. Our world is so driven by e-mails and the internet that we seldom look at each other in the eye.

When we don’t look into someone’s eyes we become complacent and distant. We don’t see eyes that are sparkling with excitement or saddened with deep pain or isolation.

I invite you throughout this book to reflect on your story and spend some precious time with our Heavenly Father.

My prayers are with you ~ Enjoy the journey recalling sweet and even the painful memories where God was so present.

Be still and know that I am God

Psalm 46:10 NIV

Chapter 1

Jesus

I am with you always

Matthew 28:20 NIV

I am sitting at my table in my prayer room so excited and nervous to begin writing