Where no oxen are, the trough Is clean; but much increase comes by the strength of an ox» (Proverbs 14:4).
PERSEVERANCE
Nadia Elena Comäneci was born in One;ti, Romania, in 1961. From childhood, she showed an enormous skill for gymnastics. When she was only six years old, she was recruited by her coach, Bela Karolyi. Three years later, she started to win competitions. In 1974, she was already a world youth champion. But Nadia did not stop baining and focused fully on her exercises. Many times she had to repeat things and overcome bad times, but she kept going and did not let herself be overcome by discouragement. In 1976, she achieved a big win during the American Cup held in New York, United States, and became the first woman to perform a complicated double back flip in the exit of the asymmetrical bars. The Romanian girl arrived at her best at the Olympic Games in Montreal (1976), where she astonished the world by achieving perfect qualifications in her gymnastics exercises, something that no one had obtained as an Olympiad. Nadia received three gold medals and a silver medal. Her personality and charisma led her to be one of the most popular athletes in history and a heroine in her country. Behind her, a generation of brilliant Romanian gymnasts followed her example and, to this day, continues to give great victories to her people.
Perseverance is a virtue learned from childhood. But when this ability is not developed, the long-term consequences are terrible.
«Many children, for want of words of encouragement, and a little assistance in their efforts in childhood and youth, become disheartened, and change from one thing to another. And they carry this sad defect with them in mature life. They cannot make a success of anything they engage in; for they have not been taught to persevere under discouraging circumstances. Thus, the entire lifetime of many proves a failure because they did not have correct discipline. The education in childhood and youth not only affects their entire business career in mature life, but the religious experience bears a corresponding stamp»—Christian Education, ch. 1, p. 15.
It is incredible to note the enormous vulnerability that thousands of young people show and how easy it is to give in to everyday challenges. At times, they seem to demand optimal conditions—which will hardly be given—to cope in the best way possible. But this is the time to learn to persevere!
Ask the Lord today to help you overcome the moments of discouragement and to not bury your dreams.
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Take From: Daily Devotions for Youth 2020
«A New You»
From: Alejandro Medina Villareal
Collaborators: Gezer Noria & Misael Morillo
