Good • Strong • Safe

published on July 17th, 1:08 p.m.

Definition “To go on resolutely or stubbornly in spite of difficulties. To continue to exist.” In the old style of martial arts, the only way you were ever going to learn a technique was if you were persistent enough to go after it. It took years and years for students to learn a certain style of martial arts and they steeped their whole lives in it. It wasn’t something they did as a hobby. They lived that martial art 24/7. Today we don’t have the time to learn only one thing for 24/7. We have jobs, a house to keep, children to raise. But persistence is still a necessary trait for us to have and to teach our kids. If we don’t have persistence, we never truly feel good about ourselves, about our achievements, It’s the hard work we put into something that makes us appreciate what we finally get, whether it’s an education, strong, safe kids, a longed for house, or career. When we teach our children persistence we are also giving them the skills to have a happy and fulfilled life. If they only got instant jobs, instant marriages, instant belts in martial arts, then most likely they aren’t going to be satisfied with the results. A fast belt in martial arts means you missed a technique along the way. Too many missed techniques and you reach black belt status without knowing how to defend yourself in a dark alley. Those quick punches you throw on the heavy bag were nothing compared to fending off the real bully on the street. Teaching persistence to our kids means we have to model being persistent ourselves. Do our kids see us working hard for a degree? Saving for a bigger house or a fun vacation? Do we encourage them to really do research on their school papers, look up the facts and search several sources instead of cutting and pasting the first thing they read? Do we model a positive attitude about working hard for the things we want? Persistence works our brains as well as our bodies. It gives the brain exercise and strengthens the neurotransmitters. Persisting in learning new things, new ideas helps our brains grow and keeps us healthy. Persistence also helps us over discouragement. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again as the old verse goes. It’s always encouraging to read about persistence in the Bible concerning the poor woman who kept hounding the corrupt judge about being fair to her case. She needed justice and she was going to keep bugging him about it. The world can seem so bad and gloomy but it’s important to keep teaching kids how to be good, strong and safe.