It’s January 4th. Have you set any goals or made any resolutions yet? I shared with you in one of my previous blog posts that I like to choose a word to help guide my goal setting when a new year begins. I struggled to find the perfect word for 2018. I came up with several but discarded them; none really captured the essence of the changes I wanted to make. Then a few days ago, I was standing at the kitchen sink, pouring some tea down the drain, when I saw my African violet. And as I looked at it, I finally came up with the perfect word.
My mom gave me that violet four years ago to mark my one-year anniversary of getting sober. Within days of its arrival, its white flowers turned brown and died, and its fuzzy leaves started getting crispy. We moved it from place to place in our house, trying to find the right balance of sunlight and nutrients to revive it, but it stayed a sad, wilted little plant. When we moved here, we put it in our sunny new kitchen window, and it began to recover and even flourish. And then—we brought little Carrick home. He immediately decided that the kitchen window was an excellent vantage point, and while he sat there, he chewed on the violet. He ate the flowers, rubbed his face all over the leaves, and covered the whole plant with his fur. We tried to move it to different places in the house where Carrick couldn’t get to it, but it would start to wilt almost overnight. So back to the kitchen window it went. And to our surprise, it turned out to be as stubborn as Carrick—no matter what he did to it, it persisted. When Mackin followed Carrick’s example and started snacking on its leaves, the violet persisted. When Seamus tried to do the same but knocked it over in the process, it persisted. When I decided that I wanted it in a prettier pot, it survived the transplant and persisted. When winter comes and our drafty window lets the cold air in, it persists. From nearly dying to recovering and even blooming, my sobriety violet persists.
And so, looking at my violet, I chose the word “persist” to be my word for 2018. Dictionary.com says to persist is “to continue firmly or obstinately in an opinion or a course of action in spite of difficulty, opposition, or failure.” To persist is to have the dogged determination to push yourself through obstacles to reach your goals. You might remember the popularity of the word “persisted” from a political situation almost a year ago. Republicans in the Senate used a rare and somewhat obsolete rule to interrupt and silence Senator Elizabeth Warren’s speech. When the public found out, there was a huge backlash. To defend his party’s actions, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made this statement: “Senator Warren was giving a lengthy speech. She had appeared to violate the rule. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.” Those last three words became a rallying cry for feminists and started appearing on everything from T-shirts to coffee mugs and bumper stickers: “Nevertheless, she persisted.” I’m not going to take any political sides in the situation—I would say the same thing no matter who was involved: I think those three words are a wonderful compliment. What an inspiring statement—she (or he) stubbornly continued in the face of opposition. I even think “Nevertheless, she persisted” would be an excellent epitaph on a tombstone. And as I think about the coming year, I know that I want to be able to say on New Year’s Eve 2018 that nevertheless, I persisted.
Nevertheless. That’s where it gets difficult—because that means “in spite of,” which means some sort of roadblock must be passed. I already know what some of my roadblocks will be: pain. Fear. And my own thoughts and habitual reactions. So often, my automatic response to a challenge is I can’t. It’s too hard. I’m not nearly strong enough. And if I’m in a fight or flight situation, I flee, with every fiber of my being crying out, Feet don’t fail me now! But just because that has been my automatic response doesn’t mean I can’t change it. And I have two advantages here: God’s strength, and my own stubbornness. Now is when I can use that stubborn streak to say I can. I will. And I will persist.
A year from now, I want to be able to look back and say:
The pain was nearly incapacitating sometimes. Nevertheless, I persisted.
I doubted the path God was leading me on and wanted to quit. Nevertheless, I persisted.
I seemed to meet temptation at every turn and felt like my sobriety was in jeopardy. Nevertheless, I persisted.
I felt so tired from the daily fight to stay sober and keep my thoughts in check. Nevertheless, I persisted.
Changing my response from I can’t to I will was a constant battle. Nevertheless, I persisted.
And because I did, my life has changed in a million beautiful ways. My faith is deeper. My relationships are stronger. My path is clearer. My spirit is lighter.
That’s my vision for myself. I know it will require an enormous amount of work—but anything worth having does. And it all begins with a choice: I will persist. Like my violet, I will bloom and thrive, no matter what’s happening around me—nevertheless. I pray the same for you as you choose a word to guide your actions and your goals this year. I pray that you will flourish and grow as you persist in 2018—and I pray that the changes that come from your persistence bring you a million beautiful blessings. Happy new year to us all.
By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward–to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.Philippians 3:14 (The Message)
An anthem of persistence:
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Comments 13
Well written and thought out Renee. Just like that wee violet or for that matter Elisabeth Warren, both had strong roots. I think it may be worth thinking about the fact that sometimes we don’t look like much on the outside but on the inside of us or that little plant there are strong roots and it is the root that sustain us even when adversity changes the outside of us. Like the violet which you moved from spot to spot so it would have enough sunlight or nutrients, nevertheless it persisted when it did not have that, because it’s root was strong enough to withstand the adversities. Same with Elisabeth Warren when they tried to shut her down in what she had to say, because of her strong roots ( belief system) she persisted and stood her ground! You too shall persist because of your strong roots and even as you may droop a little once in a while you will come back and bloom just beautifully, just like the rest of us. And when we forget we need only to remind ourselves that after every winter in which so much dies, the strong roots still survive and bring new blooms in spring!
Oh, I love the idea of a strong root system helping me to persist. Especially when, as you said, I may droop. Also–love the reminder that after the winter when things die–spring always comes. Thanks so much, Klara, for reading and once again adding to my words.
Was an avid gardener for many years in this Co-op until they uprooted all the work without regard all that was planted so lovingly over the many years, especially by me for nearly 18 years with 4 large plots– it broke my heart! We had to install new sub-floors around the whole building and instead of removing/digging up the plants they just bul-dozed it all down and cut all the trees? Your post reminded me of so much in the form of plants and as people who get bull-dozed down by society–yet if our roots are strong we not only survive but persist into growing again! One of my bigger plants, an anemone shrub has come back–amazing–its roots must have been very deep to survive! So we too can survive if we persist. Hope you don’t mind I sometimes add to your posts–the writer in me can not help myself–I start dreaming?
Klara–I never mind! And I would have been heartbroken, too. Bulldozing plants and cutting down trees? I feel your pain! I’ve been thinking about your comment on roots–if our roots are strong enough, and we’re rooted in the right things–we do survive and persist. I’m so grateful for that.
Perhaps a new idea for a blog?
Great advice! So may times I choose to turn and run rather than face something I don’t think I can do. What if I fail? Then fear grips me. I will claim persist also. Thank you
Susan, you’re so welcome! I think I have those “what ifs” hundreds of times a day. And so–we will persist! Thank you for taking the time to read my words.
Renee, another meaningful,powerful message. Keep your eye on your Goal. My Reading In The Upper Room, todays topic, Resisting Temptation. Ironic for me, as throughout my life I have let myself travel The Temptation Road, many times. 2018, My Goals are to Resist, when I get weak, I will keep this forefront. The thoughts of Temptation, like Your Cats nipping on the leaves., I will keep My Eyes on The Prize. My Prize? RESIST TEMPTATION. I cannot express my thanks Renee, for your Daily Powerful Writings. God Bless You.
Hal
Hal–thanks so much for reading. Sounds like your word for 2018 might be “resist.” Temptation is everywhere, and resisting it is so very hard. I’m rooting for you! And God bless YOU, Hal.
Persist…a perfect word to describe where I am. Once again you nailed it!
Love you!
Thank you so much, Lora. And I love you, too.
Renee,
Another winner!
Never the less is weak. In spite of is to be spiteful in a situation. I prefer the later in a confrontation. Then I am not the Christian man but I am the man living here and now.
I do have forgiveness in my heart for those who request forgiveness. I do not for those who don’t and trust me when I say I have many people especially relative who abuse our good nature.
Hard life lessons.
Youth of given lessons should always remain in the forefront of your mind.
Perhaps your examples could have comingled.
Still an awesome twist on the thought.
Oh btw. Your meanings are awesome.
Always an enjoyable read.
Make them longer. Spill your heart out hon!
Steve–thank you for your insight, as always. Hard life lessons, indeed! Thank you for reading and for sharing your thoughts. I will continue to “spill my heart.” Thank you.