Courage & Heartsongs: e-Peace Update (March 2026)

A Time for Courage - A Mama Peace Post

Did you know that the word courage
comes from the Latin cor – meaning heart?

I wonder if Mattie

knew this when he called
“inner purpose – intended

for sharing” a “Heartsong.”

Mattie taught us that a Heartsong is a gift –
something to be offered to others,
and to be accepted from others,
and to be woven into the

greater good of humanity.

It takes courage to live with purpose
in ways that balance our

own needs and desires with
the needs and desires of others.

Courage is not the same as “not being afraid.”

Rather, courage is acting (despite fear) –
with purpose to do what is

right or necessary or good.

Mattie’s entire life was a testament to courage:

believing in his own Heartsong,
choosing to embrace hope
amid challenges and loss,
responding to bullying and unkindness
with resilience and compassion, and
offering messages of peace
again (and again and again) –
even in a shattered world.

In his book,

Just Peace: A Message of Hope,

Mattie writes:

“Courage is being brave when
there is something to fear.
Right now, we need to be committed
to the strength of courage.

As we move forward
in a world filled with the
fears of unknowns and differences
and war and poverty,
we need to be brave in our
commitment to planning peace.”

– Mattie J.T. Stepanek

Clearly, Mattie understood that
courage comes from the heart.

As we explore our 2026 theme
– “A Time for Courage” – we will
offer “reflect, respond, and reach out”
conversation starters as well as simple activities
that can help youth adults practice courage.

In practicing courage, it can become a habit –
who we are, not just what we do.
And habits shape realities.

Let us choose to practice courage this year
– and make it a habit that shapes
more and more peaceful realities –
for ourselves, and for our world.

Peace matters, and so do you…

Mama Peace (Jeni Stepanek, PhD)