GRIT

Grit is defined as "perseverance and passion for long-term goals.  Grit entails working strenuously toward challenges, maintaining effort and interest over years despite failure, adversity, and plateaus in progress.  The gritty individual approaches achievement as a marathon; his or her advantage is stamina.  Whereas disappointment or boredom signals to others that it is time to change trajectory and cut losses, the gritty individual stays the course".  Grit is the best indicator of success. According to a study by W. W. Willingham* follow-through (here, referred to as grit) was the single best predictor of significant accomplishment in science, art, sports, communications, organization, or some other endeavor.

One gritty individual is William Carey.  Carey is considered the father of modern missions.  Carey was born in 1761 in Northamptonshire, England.  Carey was apprenticed as a cobbler and spent many years repairing shoes.  Carey showed a talent for languages.  Carey learned Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Dutch and French while cobbling shoes.  Carey had a growing conviction that God was calling him to translate the Bible into the Indian language.    As Carey prepared to leave England Carey's father questioned his decision to go to India.  His father could not envision what skills he would take to India.  Carey told his father "I can plod".  With that single qualification William Carey left for India in 1793 with his family and a desire to reach the Indian people with the gospel.   He and his family suffered many, many hardships.

At the heart of Carey's mission work was the development of a dictionary, grammars, and the Bible in both the Bengali and Sanskrit languages.   On March 11, 1812 a fire swept through the printing building destroying 17 years of pain-staking work.  Carey did not give up.   Carey went back to work translating the Bible one page at a time.   By the time of his death in 1834 the Bible had been translated into 44 languages.  This is grit in action.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of you faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything".
James 1: 2-4

Please share your examples of Grit in action.

*Willingham, W.W. (1985) Success in college: The role of personal qualities and academic ability, page 213. New York: College Entrance Examination Board.