Perseverance Pays

Consider the postage stamp, its usefulness consists in sticking to one thing till it gets there.

Josh Billings                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

To get through the hardest journey we need to take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping. Because there is occasional low spells of despondence, don’t despair. The sun has a sinking spell every night, but it rises again all right the next morning. A ship has no need of oars when the wind swells the sails, for then the wind gives it sufficient power easily to navigate the salt sea of passions. But when the wind dies and the ship stops, it has to be set in motion by oars or by a towboat.

It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who is the best known in the end of the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least failed while daring greatly; so that his face shall never be with  those cold and timid souls who know neither defeat nor victory. There are but two roads that lead to an important goal and to the doing of great things: strength and perseverance. Strength is the lot of but a few privileged men; but austere perseverance, harsh and continuous, may be employed by the smallest of us and rarely fails of its purpose, for its silent power grows irresistibly greater with time.

Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “Press On” has solved and always will solve the problems of human race.

King Robert Bruce of Scotland was pursued after defeat in battle, and hid himself in a lonely cave. He tried o plan his future course of action, but was tempted to despair. He had lost heart and had decided to give up, when spider caught his eye, the insect was carefully and painfully making its way up a slender thread to its web in the corner above. The king watched as it made several unsuccessful attempts, and thought, as it fell back to the bottom again and again, how it typified his own efforts. Then at last the spider made it! The king took courage from the spider’s success and persevered. The example of the spider brought its reward.

Energy and perseverance conquer everything.

Sr (Dr) Lilly Thokkanattu SJL