When you hear the story of John Moyle, as told by Jeffrey R. Holland, you cannot help but think that your own problems are nothing. (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2014-06-1190-only-a-stonecutter?lang=eng) I almost felt stupid for the way I felt about the problems I am persevering through (This is a writing I did for college in 2017). I could not imagine losing a leg, or even part of one, and not cursing God in some way. Perhaps, I would be able to do the same, but even without the problems with having a single functioning leg, he still put forth more effort than I feel I do. I am humbled by his strength and tenacity to fulfill his calling.
My mother uses that word to describe me-tenacity. I have been persevering for a long time, in my opinion. I have seen a couple times when I could have retired from the efforts I have put forth into investing. I have also seen those good times turn into rotten times. So rotten, that in the last year alone, I have had 2 warrants out for my arrest, a contractor I paid to do work on a house not doing anything for 8 months, a building inspector threaten to make me tear down my house, and I moved in with my in-laws. I am still very positive about the future. I am very stressed about the present, but because of my vision of the future, I am able to persevere.
I have a great job. Even though I had warrants out for my arrest, it was for stupid things over which I had no control. It was due to inspectors pushing their bounds regarding properties I own out of state where I’m not able to physically be all the time. I couldn’t show up to court on the days they gave me, because they informed me of my court date the same day as the court date, on 2 different occasions for 2 different offenses dealing with my properties being “out of order” or “unsightly.” After hounding my contractor for 8 months and finally finding a replacement, he nearly finished what I hired him to do. I have since hired others who are actively working on my home and making very speedy progress. The work being done should make the building inspector satisfied and allow me to keep rehabbing, and as soon as the house is finished, we’ll sell it and use the proceeds to buy a house we can move into. I try to stay positive all the time. I often have fears that pop up regarding the way I provide for my family. Deep down, I know that the Lord has a way for me to be prosperous, so I have decided to not give up. That, in my opinion, is perseverance. Every time something knocks me down, I try to see past it and I push harder than I did before.
How could I persevere better? I don’t think I could. Perhaps, if I had a little less complaining. What difference would it make if I had more perseverance? I truly feel that I have plenty of it and often, it is my tenacity and strength that gives strength to others who lack perseverance and patience. My service to others is based on my ability to bolster up the pessimistic. I see a vision of the future as a bright future. I give words of encouragement and try to point out the kinks/holes in the idea that all is bleak and dreary. The sun is shining behind the clouds if we’ll just keep looking for it. God will provide. In the scriptures, it is most commonly said, “And it came to pass.” This is not by chance, I think. All that we’re experiencing now is for but a moment and it all will pass. We just need to keep our heads high.
----- This was for an assignment I had to write about perseverance specifically after watching the video in the link above and on how I could persevere better. The assignment was in 2017. It's a great topic to write on and I encourage any who read this to write on how they persevere and how they could do it better. The follow up to the story in this writing is that I finished the house, sold it for 3.5x what I bought it for, paid off all my debts, bought a house to live in that is over 2x the size, and the warrants were dropped. Great things are happening...
