Persistence

Persistence – keeping on in spite of whatever

If anything, I am persistent and have been since birth, according to my mother.

As she tells it, I was a two days from being one (1) and still nearly bald when “Santa” brought me a roll toy. It had a long handle with an oblong, rolling enclosure at the bottom filled with colorful balls and the like. It was meant to be rolled around the room.

Did that seem fun to me? No. What fascinated me was the colorful balls it contained. Despite mom showing me over and again how to roll the toy, I spent hours trying to pry the balls out of their enclosure. When I didn’t success, I would pick it up, throw it across the room, then crawl to it and try again.

Finally, my mother saw I wasn’t going to give up on my quest any time soon. Fearful I might damage something like the new television daddy had written from Korea instructing her to purchase, she hid the toy in the closet.

I’m still persistent today. Is that a good thing? Maybe. I’m closer to playing the guitar than I ever imagined even though I just started learning last year. On the other hand, I’ve endured problem people much, much longer than I should have for my own health.

What’s your story about persistence?

Sacrifice

Sacrifice – give up something.

My dad served our country in the Army Counterintelligence Corps. I was a small child when he was sent to Korea. While he was gone, I kissed daddy’s photo good night instead of daddy. When he returned I was confused by all the different names people were calling him, so I called him “daddy, honey, Gene.” And when I went to bed I kissed both daddy and the photo goodnight.

Last night as I slipped into my soft pillow-top bed covered in beautiful white Pottery Barn linens, I remembered that others, folks like daddy, but who I don’t even know and may never meet, are sacrificing their sound sleep in their own homes to stand watch in protection of mine. Like this amazing soldier formed of rocks that I saw in west Little Rock recently, I salute you men and women of the U.S. armed forces, present and past.

What have you sacrificed?