Don’t Quit!

“Never, never, never give up.”   Sir Winston Churchill

Everyone has been impacted by the Coronavirus crisis. There are more challenging days ahead. Some have lost jobs… some may lose their job in the future. Financial hardship, social isolation and health issues dominate our surroundings.  What we would describe as our normal life is now completely changed.

What should we do?

Don’t quit. Do not give up.

One of my favorite poems, written by John Greenleaf, is titled Don’t Quit. I find that some of the wisdom in his words applies to our current situation.

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.
Life is strange with its twists and turns
As every one of us sometimes learns
And many a failure comes about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow—
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out—
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell just how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit—
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

Gerry and the Pacemakers remind us that there is hope during a storm and that we do not walk alone. Every single day, the citizens of our country, through their great acts of love and sacrifice, remind us that we are not alone.

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark

At the end of a storm
There’s a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark

Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone

You’ll never walk alone

Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone

You’ll never walk alone.

Daily, I am reminded of the tremendous goodness of so many acts of courage. Exceptional kindness. Supreme sacrifice.  Unconditional love. Doing whatever is needed for one more day. We will get through this crisis…because of who we are.

Today,

I will not quit.

I will not give up.

I have hope.

I do not walk alone.