Elder Thomas S. Monson, Part Two: Another Unknown Poet Sticking to It

  For Part One or Part Three, pick a link and click.

Coming back now to Elder Thomas S. Monson's talk in the April 1971 General Conference, called  "Finishers Wanted", he goes into a poem by an unknown author to illustrate the quality of perseverance:

 

The Quote

“Stick to your task ’til it sticks to you;

Beginners are many, but enders are few.

Honor, power, place and praise

Will always come to the one who stays.

“Stick to your task ’til it sticks to you;

Bend at it, sweat at it, smile at it, too;

For out of the bend and the sweat and the smile

Will come life’s victories after a while.”

—Author Unknown

 

This has floated around in the ether as long as I can remember, and it seems to be unknown since the first time it was ever said. It reminded me of a very very VERY old Disney movie called "So Dear to my Heart". That movie had a song called 'Stick-to-it-tivity". 

Now granted, Disney doesn't have the greatest track record in telling accurate history, so the facts of this song probably have to be taken with a small truckload of salt. But the song is cute, and runs along the same vein as the poem:

 

I can attest to the value of trying over and over again with overcoming weaknesses - it can take a very long time to get past some of them. Some challenges I've had have taken decades to make progress on, but since I know that life continues on past this life, the Lord has blessed me with a lot more patience with myself than I would have had otherwise.

There have been victories too - lots of them. If there's something I want, and it's important enough, I will move heaven and earth to get there, and the world doesn't get to decide what I can do and what I can't do. That's between me and the Lord - and so far, He's never told me to stop trying.

We're all a grand work in progress - never give up on the best in you. :-)