Giving Up?

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize
how close they are to success when they gave up." - Thomas Edison

Last week, our librarian showed me a table-full of new books in the library. All of those were worth to read about. But i just took 2 books, one - a laughter book, the other one - something that's worth to think and ponder and to reflect about life. That quote above is the first sentence that came out of the book. Actually, not a sentence but a quote, from who else... the greatest inventor himself.

Did you not know that a lot of his inventions came out of nowhere? I mean, just came by accident.

As a teacher, i have seen a lot of my students gave up easily, especially on my Math and Physics subject. Even for a simple problem, they haven't even started scribbling on their notes, they just flatly... gave up. They just then watch other students, or stare blankly into the sky or the ceiling.

Even more with their quizzes or examinations, it would really break my heart to see them give up. Pass their papers just between 15-20 minutes into their 1 hour examination. Only to see that they haven't even answered or attempted to answer the papers. Lately, out of my frustrations, when i see somebody who will pass his/her paper between those times, i just tell them... "those who will pass at this moment are quitters!" Oh well, i just know, they hate to be called quitters.

Not even does it happen inside the walls of the classroom. Sometimes, it happens while waiting for something, like, waiting for a ride. To have patience on those times when we are in a hurry, is not much considered already if we are catching up on time.

Or how about in our life, wherein sometimes we have to wait for something. One example is finding a job or landing one. Or how about finding the right person in our life.

Sometimes it's hard to know, when to give up and when to continue. Just a simple decision that creates a big ripple and big difference for our life.

Should we give up or should we not?

Proverbs 3:5, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."