On this day in 1820 Susan B. Anthony was born.

What do you know about Susan B. Anthony, besides the fact that today is her birthday? (And the only way you know that is because you just read it. You probably haven’t planned a party!) Maybe you’ve seen Susan B. Anthony’s image on a dollar coin (you know, the one with the odd shape about the size of a quarter). Several years ago she received the honor of appearing on our money. During her lifetime, she worked hard to free slaves, improve education, get better pay and working conditions for laborers, stop drunkenness and alcoholism, and give women the right to vote. No wonder she’s famous!

Every one of those actions took courage. Imagine the opposition she must have faced from people who were against those causes. In fact, just for her work against slavery, she encountered angry mobs, armed threats, and objects thrown at her. A dummy of her was hanged and, in one town, her image was dragged in the streets. Some people were really upset at Susan. But she kept working.

Courage means doing what you know is right, regardless of the cost or danger.

It means telling the truth when others are lying, sticking up for a friend, reaching out to someone who’s not popular, and taking a stand for your beliefs. It means telling someone that you trust in Jesus when you know that person might make fun of your faith.

The Bible is filled with stories of courageous men, women, boys, and girls who made a difference for God and for good in the world. You can be a person of courage too, like Susan B. Anthony.

But now take courage, says the Lord. . . . Take courage all you people still left in the land, says the Lord. Take courage and work, for I am with you, says the Lord Almighty (Haggai 2:4).

To Do

Look up Susan B. Anthony on your computer and read about her life. If you can, get a silver dollar with her picture on it and keep it as a reminder to be a person of courage.

Also on this day . . .

This is National Gum Drop Day.

1564—Galileo was born.

1758—Mustard was advertised for the first time in America.

1903—Morris and Rose Michtom, Russian immigrants, introduced the first teddy bear in America.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.