The Power of Yet

What is perseverance?  Google defines it as “steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.”  A few of the synonyms for perseverance are tenacity, determination and staying power. 

I like to think of perseverance as “the power of yet.”  The whole reason we need to persist in something is because we haven’t achieved it…yet.  So the difference between giving up and persisting is that one simple word ‘yet’! 

My daughter Shannan has taught me a lot about “the power of yet” through her amazing ability to always keep trying.  Her perseverance has inspired me time and time again, and today I’m going to tell you about a time it inspired a whole congregation of people.

My church has a program for children called the Primary, and every year the Primary does a presentation for the entire congregation to show what they have been learning all year.  During the presentation the kids sing songs and each child has a part to say at the microphone in front of everyone.  Unfortunately, Shannan had a fear of speaking in front of large groups, so every year when it was time for her to say her speaking part she would freeze at the microphone and end up in tears. After a few years, people started to come up to me after the presentation and tell me how much they were rooting for Shannan to say her part.

One year when she was about 8 years old, Shannan was assigned two parts to say in the presentation.  I remember how hard she practiced that year; she had those lines memorized so well she could say them in her sleep.  That morning before we headed to church, she looked at me and said, “I’m going to say my parts today mommy, I really am.”  I could tell how important it was for her to be successful this year and I hoped so much that she would do it.

During the presentation when it came time for her first part, I watched as Shannan squared her shoulders and marched confidently up to the microphone.  I thought for sure she was going to do it this time.  She got to the microphone, opened her mouth, and got the first word out before she froze. That was the most she’d ever gotten out before, and I held my breath while I waited for her to finish, but before she could get any more words out, she broke down into tears. One of the kind primary workers said the part for her and helped her back to her seat where she recovered and continued singing the songs with the rest of the kids. 

When it was time for her second part, I wondered if she would even come back to the microphone, and I watched intently as the primary worker whispered something in her ear right before it was time.  Shannan nodded her head quickly and then headed towards the front.  My heart stopped as she came to the microphone once more.  Would she be able to say it this time?  I said a silent prayer for her.  Once more she squared her shoulders opened her mouth and froze.  She couldn’t get anything out before the tears came and the primary worker had to help her again. 

It broke my heart to see her fail at something she wanted so badly, but then afterwards a lot of people told me how much she had inspired them with her bravery and determination.  The sweet primary worker that helped her during the presentation told me that before Shannan’s second part, she had asked her if she wanted to try it again or not.  Shannan’s tiny nodding head had truly touched this primary worker, because she knew how scary it was for her to get back up there.  

I was discouraged for Shannan, but we didn’t dwell on the failure, instead we just told her that she would get it next year, to which she said, “I know I will.” 

The very next year I held my breath again while I watched Shannan walk up to that microphone confidently.  Then I sobbed after I listened to her say her part in front of the entire congregation without freezing.  She finally did it!! 

Afterwards so many people told me how proud they were of her, how much they had been rooting for her year after year, and how inspired they were to see her keep trying until she succeeded.  One woman had tears streaming down her face as she told me how much Shannan had inspired her.  This woman had struggling for years with her own shyness and stage fright, and had allowed it to hold her back from things. Seeing such a small child so bravely confronting her fear, made her realize that she could confront hers as well.  She told me, “If she can do it, I can do it!”   A few months later, I watched and cried as this woman gave her first public talk ever. 

Shannan shows perseverance in all aspects of her life.  Her secret is that she knows how powerful the word “yet” is.  She never said, “I didn’t say my part in church today.” Instead she said, “I didn’t say my part in church…yet.”  It was always her intention to say her part and overcome that fear; she just hadn’t done it…yet.  Shannan has tenacity, determination and staying power! Whenever I start to think that I can’t do something, that giving up would be easier than persevering, I always think of Shannan. Then I tell myself that I can do it, I just haven’t done it…yet!  

I'll finish with this fun Sesame Street Video by Janelle Monae singing the Power of Yet

Alicia