In my life I have seen so many people start things and never finish them. Even my own Father started a family and then one day decided to quit, never to be seen again. We seem to live in a time where quitting is the norm. Not only in the areas of education, the work force and attempting to be mature, responsible adults, but in so many aspects of life nowadays. Quitting is what is expected and therefore quitting is what we have as a result. It seems society itself at times has a desire to see failure in others. The negative outlook many have, runs not only their lives, but the lives of the generations after them as well.

Perseverance in something can be as simple as making an Oath to do daily devotions and DOING them or something as vast as desiring a college degree and working hard for many years to achieve it. I think what really becomes important is not doing these things to impress or appease someone else, but doing them for yourself because YOU alone feel it is for the betterment and growth of your soul to achieve that goal, no matter what obstacle is placed before you. I work with mentally retarded adults. Just today one of my favorite clients walked into my office and informed me she thinks God had his eyes shut when he made her because he messed up and now she can never get married. She faces more struggles and obstacles than many could begin to imagine. No one in her life had ever given her the slightest bit of encouragement or hope that she could achieve this goal. I simply told her I don’t think her God messed up at all and the only thing stopping her is herself….if she wants it…she alone can overcome her Father, Brother, and the majority of society and have it. I guess there are some of us who do have that desire to see others persevere. “Steady persistence in adhering to a course of action, a belief, or a purpose; steadfastness.” With this definition, along with desire and sometimes encouragement, perseverance could be possible to most all in any situation.

As a virtue, I can see where this would be very important in following a particular belief system or spiritual path. To achieve what you desire from that particular Path, one must set goals, be persistent, have the belief and follow through….no matter what obstacles are tossed before them in the process. Sometimes the best things in life take the hardest work to achieve.

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