In Mark Twain’s book, Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, I read a passage about brave little Joan, beautiful and self-possessed, asking the govenor for soldiers to escort her to the Dauphin. Believing that it was the Lord’s will and at the tender age of 17, she held supreme command of the military forces of a nation.

I am a mother of three beautiful, strong girls. Each of them has talents and challenges. I think of them as little warriors. I hope they see themselves as little warriors. I want them to be armed and prepared to meet the challenges in their future. I know the future is unpredictable. I’ve learned that some challenges are brought on by our own choices and some are forced upon us by choices of others. Either way. If we, like Joan, have courage, we can be little warriors.