Throughout most of my life, I have always been one to follow the rules and do what was asked of me.   Throughout my years of school, I was a respectful, hardworking, and quiet student.  Therefore, teachers liked me.   However, when I was in graduate school, I had a professor who appeared to have something against me from the very first class. Still, I went about my business as I would in any other class.

One of her policies was that you could turn in any paper early for her to edit and make suggestions about.   She also mentioned to us that you could do this as many times as you wanted to get the grade you wanted.   So what did I do? I wrote the major paper weeks, if not months, early.   It sounds crazy but that is just how I operated.

When I first handed it to her, she tore it apart with words.   There were so many red marks and comments everywhere! (Some of which I did not agree with.) However, I made all of the corrections and resubmitted it the following week, just to get it back again covered in red ink.

(Hey, I thought they taught us not to use red ink when correcting anyways?)

Once again, I made all of the suggested edits and turned it in.   This continued to happen a total of five times before finally the last session of the semester class had come. As we were packing up to leave, I went to get my paper afraid to see what was now written in red across the text.  Instead of seeing the crimson color I had become familiar with, I saw a line that would stick with me the rest of my life…

“Your perseverance alone is enough to make you successful.”

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I am far from the smartest…far from the strongest…far from the most talented….far from the most successful …far from the absolute best at anything…However, the driving force that has always been present in my life throughout all the ups and downs is my perseverance.   If I teach my son one lesson in this world, I hope it is the will to persevere no matter what because with that anything is possible.   We smile on because perseverance moves mountains and defines strength…

“When fear feels bigger than my faith
And struggles steal my breath away

When my back’s pressed up against the wall
With the weight of my worries stacked up tall
You’re strong enough to hold it all

I will cast my cares on You
You’re the anchor of my hope
The only one who’s in control
I will cast my cares on You
I’ll trade the troubles of this world
For Your peace inside my soul

This war’s not what I would’ve chosen
But You see the future no one knows yet…”

– “Cast My Cares” by Finding Favour

Source: https://www.air1.com/music/artists/finding-favour/songs/cast-my-cares-lyrics.aspx