DETERMINATION

I ran and ran and ran every day, and I acquired this sense of determination, this sense of spirit that I would never, never give up, no matter what else happened.

Wilma Rudolph

The determined individual doesn’t give up and never quits, even if the thing they are determined to do takes a long, long time.

Submit your personal story or favorite illustration, quote, Bible verse, etc. that illustrates a specific virtue to [email protected], then click on the virtue of your choice on the Virtues page to see your story or the stories and illustrations of others.

May 19, 2021

Carry On!   By Robert Service

It’s easy to fight when everything’s right,

And you’re mad with thrill and the glory;

It’s easy to cheer when victory’s near,

And wallow in fields that are gory.

It’s a different song when everything’s wrong,

When you’re feeling infernally mortal;

When it’s ten against one, and hope there is none,

Buck up, little soldier, and chortle:


      Carry on! Carry on!

   There isn’t much punch in your blow.

You are glaring and staring and hitting out blind;

You are muddy and bloody, but never you mind.

      Carry on! Carry on!

   You haven’t the ghost of a show.

It’s looking like death, but while you’ve a breath,

       Carry on, my son! Carry on! 


And so in the strife of the battle of life

It’s easy to fight when you’re winning;

It’s easy to slave, and starve and be brave,

When the dawn of success is beginning.

But the man who can meet despair and defeat

With a cheer, there’s the man of God’s choosing;

The man who can fight to Heaven’s own height

Is the man who can fight when he’s losing.

   

      Carry on! Carry on!

   Things never were looming so black.

But show that you haven’t a cowardly streak,

And though you’re unlucky you never are weak.

      Carry on! Carry on!

   Brace up for another attack.

It’s looking like hell, but – you never can tell:

      Carry on, old man! Carry on!


There are some who drift out in the desert of doubt

And some who in brutishness wallow;

There are others, I know, who in piety go

Because of a Heaven to follow.

But to labor with zest, and to give of your best,

For the sweetness and joy of the giving;

To help folks along with a hand and a song;

Why, there’s the real sunshine of living.


      Carry on! Carry on!

   Fight the good fight and true;

Believe in your mission, greet life with a cheer;

There’s big work to do, and that’s why you are here.

      Carry on! Carry on!

   Let the world be the better for you;

And at last when you die, let this be your cry!

      Carry on, my soul! Carry on!

July 4, 2021

Voice (Justin Hayward, Moody Blues)

“Won’t you take me back to school?

I need to learn the golden rule.

Won’t you lay it on the line?

I need to hear it just one more time.

Oh, won’t you tell me again?

Oh, can you feel it?

Oh, won’t you tell me again tonight?”

“Each and every heart it seems,

Is bounded by a world of dreams.

Each and every rising sun,

Is greeted by a lonely one.

Oh, won’t you tell me again?

Oh, can you feel it?

Oh, won’t you tell me again tonight?”

“Because out on the ocean of life my love.

There are so many storms we must rise above.

Can you hear the spirit calling, as it’s carried across the waves?

You’re already falling it’s calling you back to face the music.

And the song that is coming through.

You’re already falling the one that it’s calling is you”

“Make a promise take a vow.

And trust your feelings it’s easy now.

Understand The Voice within.

And feel a change already beginning.

Oh, won’t you tell me again?

Oh, can you feel it?

Oh, won’t you tell me again tonight? Tonight?”

“Oh, won’t you tell me again?

Oh, can you feel it?

Oh, won’t you tell me again tonight?”

“And how many words have I got to say?

And how many times will it be this way?

With your arms around the future and your back up against the past.

You’re already falling it’s calling you on to face the music.

And the song that is coming through.

You’re already falling the one that it’s calling is you”

“Each and every heart it seems,

Is bounded by a world of dreams.

Each and every rising sun,

Is greeted by, a lonely, lonely one.

Won’t you tell me again?

Oh, can you feel it?

Oh, won’t you tell me again tonight?”

“Won’t you tell me again?

Oh, can you feel it?

Oh, won’t you tell me again tonight?

Tonight

Oh, can you feel it?

Oh, won’t you tell me again tonight?”