Being Weak and Giving Up

Thomas A. Edison told us that “our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” Marilyn Vos Savant tells us that “being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.” The Bible tells us in Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Everywhere we look, everything we read, and everything we hear tells us to be tough, never give in, always go forward but our society is not listening or paying attention because we have relationships ending, we people giving up on life, we are watching our countries history being rewritten and no one does anything. How many times each year do we hear and watch couples stand eye to eye and swear before all to take so and so for their husband/wife and before God and these witnesses promise to be faithful and true and then with a ring promise to give their worldly goods, to keep in sickness and in health, in poverty or in wealth till death do them part. And before the warranty has expired on the wedding gifts one or the other or both have given up and wanting a divorce. An article by Dennis Prager in the National Review reports that nearly half of American children are born to a mother who is not married. Forty-three percent of American children live without a father in the home. About 50 percent of Americans over 18 are married, compared with 72 percent in 1960. Americans are having so few children that the fertility rate fell to a record low 62.9 births per 1,000 women in 2013. And in an increasing number of states, there are now more deaths than births. This is a frightening statement about our country and our families. But I still maintain that we as a Nation and as Individuals can still overcome the terrible times that we are in.
Ronald Reagan said, “live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, and leave the rest to God.” I also remember reading Roy Bennett saying “Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life. Keep going. Tough situations build strong people in the end.” I have seen many married couples that gave it just one more chance and let their marriage last for many happy years. Giving up and quitting is easy. But I always have to wonder and ask what could have been and what the quitter really give up. They will never know and that is where the true shame come in. It is probably good that we will never know because the knowledge would surely be worse than not knowing.