Don't Quit!

I don't know if it's just the long dark days of January or if life really is bearing down on people more than usual, but I've talked to a lot of people recently who just seem to be getting worn down by the ongoing cares of life...the drama, the never-ending responsibilities, the bills, the family situations...and the list goes on and on. 

Well, I hate to break it to everyone, but this is called life. It's extremely doubtful that any of us is facing a unique situation. It might be a new one for us, but it's not unique in the whole scheme of life. 

But that doesn't make it any easier to bear just knowing that others face these situations. Seems we at our house have been in discouraged mode for a year now...with no relief in sight! Health, finances, and just the ongoing struggles that make up our lives seem to be taking their toll.

I wish I could offer some kind of magical advice that would set everyone on a path to peace, health and prosperity, but that's not the way life works. I was pondering this whole "life struggle" thing this morning and a poem from my grade school days popped into my mind. Just by way of information, I have no idea who actually wrote it. I see one version is attributed to John Greenleaf Whittier and another to Edgar Guest...and yet another says "Author Unknown". So I guess it's not clear whose inspiration this is but I hope it encourages you to keep on keeping on!

DON'T QUIT

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit-

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a fellow turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out.

Don't give up though the pace seems slow -

You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than

It seems to a faint and faltering man;

Often the struggler has given up

When he might have captured the victor's cup;

And he learned too late when the night came down,

How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out -

The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It might be near when it seems afar;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.