“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” Benjamin Franklin
achievement – noun – something that has been done or achieved through effort : a result of hard work
Are we shortchanging our children, by giving them participation awards? Sure it’s nice to have something in hand to show you’ve achieved something, but isn’t it also nice to know that you have gone over and above the average? If we have nothing to work towards, chances are we won’t work. Eventually, we will become like everyone else, classified as non-achievers.
Sometimes it just feels comfortable to go along with the flow -to conform – to fit in. We become complacent about working hard, because the reward will be the same as if we didn’t. Has our society become this way?
How many have actually done something extraordinary to set themselves apart from others. Certainly participation is important – for without it, how will you know you can accomplish great things through it For example, a dancer can participate in a competition, but if she doesn’t train for it, or work hard to be better than her competitor, she hasn’t achieved anything. An athlete can participate in an event, but if his desire to win isn’t there, chances are he won’t.
I think it’s important to give our young people someone to look up to – those who have achieved exceptional results because they worked hard for them. Our current entertainers are often a flash in the pan, but they stretch the limit when it comes to behavior. Our athletes have instant fame and fortune, but their careers often tank because they are captivated by success and forget how they got there. Our leaders are often full of pompous promises which they never will keep. Where do we turn to find good role models?
It’s never a good idea to trust in our fellow human beings in this quest. Everyone falls short of true success. There is only One. He left all His glory behind to do the necessary work to accomplish the goal of salvation for the world. In gratitude for this, we need to set Him up as our only hero – our example of how to live.
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