While Katie gave iron pills to Lynn in the novel Kira-Kira, she noted that she had to "steel my heart to her [Lynn's] crying." I think that this is referring to how she had to act strong and not back down when she was faced with the task of forcing Lynn to take her pill, which make her feel sick and nauseous. Giving Lynn pills required such a level of will and courage because of her reaction to the medicine. She would often bawl and act like her life was coming to an end just taking the pills. When have I had to "steel my heart"? That was when my grandma died and I had to say something at the, um, stand where you talk and say a speech or something like that. As I spoke I had to steel my heart against crying in front of all those people. I can , in a way, sympathize with Katie because I know what it feels like to have to steel your heart.
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Steven, you have a good sense of what is means to steel your heart. I think it is a way to separate yourself from your emotions temporarily in order to be able to perform a task. Thanks for sharing that example with your grandmother.
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