The Glory of Grit

One of the definitions of grit is courage and resolve. It is fierce determination to not give up or give in when adversity hits. It is resolve to keep plodding, to keep taking the next step, to keep pushing forward one inch at a time if necessary to get the job done. 

There is a glory to be learned in that. A glory for showing up to work each day even when you are tired and don't feel like working. There is a glory in the grit of the athlete who pushes past pain and to give heroic effort. There is a glory in the wife who cooks, cleans, runs errands, and raises children. Some wives do all that and work a full time job also. There is a grit in the worker who works in a less than glamorous position, is often overlooked, underpaid, and underappreciated. There is a glory in the teacher who shows up everyday hoping at least some of the students get the material taught and actually learn. There is a glory in the preacher who preaches in the backwoods to a small congregation, but preaches like he is addressing an audience of a thousand. 

Grit can be applied in every facet of life. Grit does not get much attention. Glory goes to the people in the spotlight, the ones who draw attention to themselves, the ones who brag about their accomplishments. They have exceptional talent. They coast through life, because they can get by with less effort than most people. They will get the promotions, the large raises, and all the credit for organizational success. 

The grinders who work with grit seldom get noticed. They rarely get promoted. They are not handsomely rewarded with lavish salary packages. Still they get the jobs done. No matter how difficult the task they grit it out. They finish the project. They go in early and stay late. They do more behind the scenes than most people know because they do not try to get the credit for their work. 

I tip my hat to the gritty people who make our world work. They collect the waste from our homes. They build our roads, construct our homes, grow our food, raise our meat, repair our vehicles, clean our offices, serve the tables at the establishments where we eat, and treat our wounds. These people have to deal with ungrateful patrons, unreasonable demands, low wages, and demanding bosses. Like clockwork, they show up on time, they do the tasks others avoid, and they are servants who rarely get the credit they deserve. Such people are to be commended. There is a glory in that. 

A glory all of us can learn. We all need some grit. The courage to give great effort even when nobody notices. The resolve to work hard to get tasks accomplished. To refuse to quit until the job is done. People who will bow their necks, roll up their sleeves, and knuckle down. There is a glory in this. It is a trait to be celebrated. A trait to be desired. Thank you to all of you gritty people. You make this world a better place.