Bravery Is Overrated & Underrated at the Same Time

“You don’t like memoirs, do you?”

The question threw me for the proverbial loop.  Where’d she get that idea?  Because I really wanted to know, I asked. The answer shocked me.

“Most of the ones you review don’t get very good ratings.”

I hadn’t noticed that.  In fact, I could name several I’d loved. Bones Washed in Water and Wine, Adventures in Poverty… the list continued.

Still, the statement stuck with me for a while and then, with the chaos of the last few months, I forgot about it.  Until I finished Made for Brave last night. I’d requested a review copy, and though I hadn’t been thrilled to need to read it right then, by the time I got a chapter in, I couldn’t put it down.

Note: links are likely affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no expense to you. I also requested and received a free review copy. The opinions expressed weren’t influenced by anything but what I read.

Bravery Is Overrated & Underrated at the Same Time

Made for Brave. Just like the title, this book is bold, gripping, demanding, even.  It reaches into your heart and says, “Yeah. This thing happened. What’re you going to do about it?”  There’s no room for “If you” or “Will you.”  It demands that you allow the God who orchestrated the events of Ms. Galios’ life–yes, even the difficult ones–to make the same impact on yours.

And Made for Brave leaves you wanting it, too.

The story plays out like a well-crafted women’s fiction novel.  Told in first-person, as any memoir should be, the narrative seeps deep into your soul and takes up root there.  You care about every person in it.  I’ll even go so far as to say that you can’t help it.

This isn’t just the story of a woman with a pain-filled past.  She’s more than a widow–more than a cancer survivor.  Oh, yes. I call her that.  She may not have physically endured the presence of that horrible thing in her body, but she survived its brutal attack on her life just the same.

Alyssa Galios is a hero–that person who steps out and despite fear, unpreparedness, and uncertainty to tackle the attacks this world flings at her.  She conquered single parenting, grief, identity crises, and even her own health attacks.  If that’s not bravery, I don’t know what is.  Even just fighting back would have been brave.

My only quibble is actually something I leave between her and God.

My understanding of scripture doesn’t allow for some of the “discussions” between her and God and the “signs” from her husband.  I have to say that just because I don’t find support for those in Scripture doesn’t mean she’s lying or that I am even right.

I only point it out so folks who are bothered by those things know that they do appear (however briefly) in the book.  It didn’t detract from my enjoyment at all. Not sorry I requested the free review copy–love the result.

Therefore, I said it before, and I’ll say it again. Bravery is both overrated and underrated.  Overrated in that one usually has to endure some tough stuff to actually have a chance to be brave.  And underrated because we tend to assume bravery requires some extraordinary event instead of making it through the difficult days.

Made for Brave 

About the Book

Book:  Made for Brave

Author: Alyssa Galios

Genre: Christian Memoir, Widowhood, Cancer

Release Date: November 2019

From the testimony viewed over 100 million times on the internet:

“I am so sorry I have to deliver such awful news.” Shaking his head, the doctor muttered, “You are both so young.”

A young woman in her twenties with a future and a plan for her life comes up against a tragic nightmare when her handsome and otherwise healthy husband is suddenly diagnosed with a rare inoperable cancer. As her husband’s beliefs grow stronger, Alyssa’s dreams evaporate, and her faith slips away when the worst happens.

Experience soul-searing pain and miraculous moments of joy in this poignant true-life account. Journey with Alyssa as she grapples with life and death, faith and unbelief, disappointment and hope in a search for answers that takes her beyond grief to peace and surprising new love.

Along the way, you’ll find answers to the questions you may be asking in your own life:

• Where is God when it hurts?
• Why doesn’t God answer my prayers?
• Can God make something good come out of bad?
• Does true love ever strike twice?

Made for Brave is a striking example of how God can create overwhelming good from even the worst of life when we choose to partner with Him.