PERSEVERANCE By Jerry O’Meara
A QUALITY ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESS
Many years ago, a professional football player spoke at my high school. His name was Lou “The Toe” Groza a Hall of Fame Kicker for the Cleveland Browns and a man of high character.
It was 1964 and I do not remember much about the speech except for the main topic which Mr. Groza reiterated throughout the talk. He was speaking about the quality of Perseverance.
I learned from that speech and have never forgotten that Perseverance can overcome almost any challenge.
Perseverance can help us when we receive a bad report from the doctor. It teaches us to keep working and keep believing.
Perseverance teaches the athlete in many of us that arduous work can sometimes overcome a lack of talent.
Perseverance is a worthy antidote to hopelessness and depression.
Perseverance will not allow us to give up but to readjust if we realize a goal is unattainable.
My ever-astute Mother called it by another name and told me our family possessed it. She called it “Stick-to-itiveness.”
As I write the final chapters of my life, I often reflect on Mr. Groza’s and my mother’s wise words.
I never achieved fame as an athlete, artist, or scholar. I reasoned that maximizing the gifts I was born with should be satisfying enough.
I know people from all levels of society who possess gifts I do not. Now that I am a mature person, I do not envy them. Perhaps some envy me because I have gifts they do not possess.
I wish that I had recognized my gifts at an earlier age. Due to a lack of self-confidence, I did not.
The wonderful news is that now I “get it.”
Each one of us is a unique creation. Do not denigrate your gifts in pursuit of gifts given to others.
But with Perseverance, you will maximize your gifts to honor and respect yourself, your parents, and your maker.
Each one of us possesses wonderful gifts. If you have not yet realized how special you are, I implore you to dig a bit deeper and be amazed at who you are and how you can make our world a better place.
(321) 360-4814 • Toll-free (800) 742-0060
