Don’t Ever Give Up

One day a member of our parish came into my office and handed me a picture. The picture was that of a crane and a frog grind locked as the crane was attempting to eat the frog. The frog was fully submerged in the cranes mouth about to be swallowed. Only one problem was hindering the crane from having lunch, the frog had him about the neck squeezing with a death grip. The moral of the illustration is, no matter how bad things may get, do the best you can and “never give up.” Sometimes you must take a stand when everyone else is sitting. Sometimes you must sit when everyone else is standing. Sometimes you must be silent when everyone else is speaking and sometimes you must speak when everyone else is being silent.

If ever there was a legislator who was at the same time truly a man of action, Patrick Henry was that man. As the son of a Scottish immigrant, he found his field in law and government. He was an outstanding and vivid speaker in a time when the art of oratory was at its most resplendent; and his popular following in his state of Virginia rivaled that of George Washington. For more than ten years he had spoken out, in the House of Burgesses as the leader of the insurgents, damning the British for their arbitrary and unfair taxes.

When the royal governor dissolved the legislature in 1775 it met again to debate the passage of a resolution defying the British and denying their power. The house wavered. It was a big step. Then Patrick Henry rose to address his fellows with a speech most brilliant and moving. It was all that was necessary as the resolution passed and, as far as Virginia was concerned, the die was cast. Maybe you are facing a situation that seems insurmountable. The greatest of your character is manifested in the greatest of your test. Giving up is not an option. To obtain your victory may require unconventional weapons, whatever the case retreat must retreat from your vocabulary.

Four scriptures to encourage you.

1. 1 Cor. 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

2. Deut. 11:8 Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it.

3. 1 Cor. 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

4. Exodus 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

Word for Today

Resplendent- Splendid or dazzling in appearance; brilliant

Quote for Today
“Action is eloquence.”
William Shakespeare, Coriolanus, Act III, Scene 2