Quite possibly the most underrated character trait is perseverance. Its that grit. Maybe you prefer the word determination. Regardless of your word choice, it is how you show up when you face roadblocks.
Keep on keeping on.
When I was little my dad always encouraged three things: self discipline, respect and perseverance. He promised that with these three things you could do or change anything. And now that I am older, I do understand them better and see them as a foundation for anything great that I could ever hope to accomplish.
I can’t hear or say the phrase keep on keeping on with out hearing it in my dad’s voice or seeing him at different points in my life.
The first time was when he was encouraging me to be a good girl as he was leaving on an extended Navy deployment to Iceland. He was in his flight suit and I was in my jammies holding my dog Butch – I might have been 4 or 5 … You keep on keeping on baby lady. I remember the encouragement as we were having our first morning in Texas – I was starting a new school and he was heading out for his first flights with Braniff. I remember him encouraging himself as he and my mom were flying out to be with grandpa and grandma after a horrible car accident that killed my uncle … No matter what we face, we have to keep on keeping on.
So many times through high school, college, becoming independent, getting married …. every high and low, no matter the emotion – the guidance was the same – keep on keeping on …. don’t stop. Get to the other side. Its part of your journey.
Whether he said it through the laughter of a watermelon seed spitting contest during the summer or through tears in the ER while we were waiting for word on my husband after his accident, its the same message … God’s got this. God will grow you through this … Let Him!
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. ~Romans 5:3-5
