Persevere

This was a birthday card for my husband from his coworkers. I thought the picture was so funny I put it on the fridge and it’s been there since August. By definition: If you can do something standing on your head, you can do it very easily. Well, I don’t think I can do anything standing on my head except look back and what the picture looks like to me is a frustrated monkey! Whatever the case may be, it does make me smile.

We’re all going through a difficult and frustrating time like most of us have never seen before. Pretty much everything has been impacted: routines, priorities, places we want to go, new safety measures, etc. However, the biggest impact is evident in peoples’ behavior. It’s typical that the most challenging times will bring out the best in some people and the worst in others. We are fortunate to have so many at their best and as for the critics, being critical is just about all they’re doing.

Irving Stone studied the lives of some of the greatest and most interesting characters in history and he wrote biographical novels about them – people like Vincent van Gogh, Michelangelo and Abraham Lincoln. After years of research, he concluded the individuals were unique because they had a vision or dream of something that should be accomplished, so they went to work. Each one met challenges and at times they appeared to be failing but, every time they were knocked down they got up. They persevered.

I study, pray and continue to write without knowing if I will be a successful writer or not. Much of what I have written has come from looking back but I’m always looking forward. I can’t live in the past – only learn from it and hope. And one thing I know for sure is that no matter what, God is faithful and in control.

“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:4 NIV 

Endurance and perseverance are at the heart of character. The Bible tells us that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Have faith, hold on to hope, dream and find all you can to smile about!

Please also read “Dare Greatly,” that I published in November. The part of Theodore Roosevelt’s speech called “The Man in the Arena” is so powerful. It’s all about endurance, perseverance and character.