PERSISTENCE | GNOMIC Motivation
September 20, 2021
The story is told that Andrew Jackson’s boyhood friends just couldn’t understand how he became a famous general and then the President of the United States. They knew of other men who had greater talent but who never succeeded. One of Jackson’s friends said, “Why, Jim Brown, who lived right down the pike from Jackson, was not only smarter but he could throw Andy three times out of four in a wrestling match. But look where Andy is now.” Another friend responded, “How did there happen to be a fourth time? Didn’t they usually say three times and out?” “Sure, they were supposed to, but not Andy. He would never admit he was beaten; he would never stay throwed.’ Jim Brown would get tired, and on the fourth try Andrew Jackson would throw him and be the winner.”
Picking up on that idea, someone has said, “The thing that counts is not how many times you are throwed,’ but whether you are willing to stay throwed.'”
In life, we are bound to encounter several challenges. Our eventual success— regardless of whatever venture we may engage in— is dependent on our willingness to persevere… to go the extra mile.
“The next mile is the only one a runner really has to make”
— Danish proverb
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent”.
— Calvin Coolidge
“… let us strip off every weight that slows us down.. and let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne”.
— Hebrews 12:1-2, NLT
Keep fighting. Keeping going. Keeping rowing. It gets better.
