NEVER GIVE UP

One day, a man in his 30s got fed up and decided to quit. "I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality. Infact, I want to quit my life", he said. He then went to the woods to have one last talk with God.

"God! Can you give me just one good reason not to quit?" he said, but God's answer surprised him.

"Look around", God said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"

"Yes", the Man replied.

(God continued) "When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds at the same time, I took very good care of both of them. I gave them light and gave them water.

The fern quickly grew from the earth. It's brilliant green covered the floor, yet nothing came from the bamboo seed but I did not quit on the bamboo.

In the second year, the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful but again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. I still did not quit on the bamboo.

In the third year, again there was nothing from the bamboo seed but I would not quit!

In the fourth year, there was nothing from the bamboo seed but still, I did not quit! Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.

Compared to the fern, it was seemingly small and insignificant but just six months later, the bamboo rose to over 100 feet in height. It had spent the first five years growing roots but only six months to shoot to the sky. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed, not just to SURVIVE but to be SIGNIFICANT amidst its peers.

God told the man, "I would never give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle because I love them too well! Did you know, my child, that all these times you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots. I did not quit on the bamboo and I will never quit on you."

"Don't compare yourself to others. The bamboo has a different purpose than the fern, yet they both make the forest beautiful. Your time will come and You will rise high!"

"How high should I rise?" the Man asked.

"How high will the bamboo rise?" God asked in return.

"As high as it can? The Man replied.

"Yes!" God said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can!

Dear friend, never regret a day in your life. Good days give you happiness and bad days give you experiences. Both are essential to life! A happy and meaningful life requires our continuous input and creativity. It does not happen by chance, it happens because of our choices and actions.

Each day, we are given new opportunities to choose and act and, in doing so, we create our own unique journey.

Remember, DON'T GIVE UP ON YOURSELF because GOD WILL NEVER GIVE UP ON YOU!

If you want to ENJOY life, ENDURE it first!

(This is an inspirational story that has been told and retold from generation to generation)

#endurance