Thomas Jefferson once said, “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” Anything we pursue in life requires motivation, perseverance, and much patience. Whether an accomplished athlete or musician, an author or mathematician, a doctor or teacher – the road to greatness is a long one, filled with many ups and downs along the way.
Angela Duckworth, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania, believes that success is not based on intelligence. Rather, a combination of ambition, grit, and self-control are the more powerful factors. So, how do we help our children develop those skills? At St. Michael’s School, we foster the growth of the “whole child,” and expose our students to a variety of opportunities to discover and nurture their God-given talents. Parents should encourage their children to try different activities and pursue at least one that is difficult – one that is out of their comfort zone. We don’t like to see our children get frustrated, but it is important to let them struggle, and it is up to us to not let them give up. This is where patience comes in. Athletes lift weights and perform drills to help them get stronger; musicians practice scales and arpeggios to become more fluid; authors write and edit, looking for the perfect word or phrase; and mathematicians solve problem after problem after problem. It takes time, but if they want to be the best, they have to work harder than everyone else. You are all aware of basketball great Kobe Bryant, who was well-known for his work ethic. According to a Team USA trainer, “Kobe once held a workout from 4:15 to 11:00 AM, refusing to leave the gym until he made 800 shots.”
This philosophy also holds true for our faith journey. To help our children develop their faith they must nurture it: through prayer, reading scripture, and attending Mass regularly. It takes motivation, perseverance, and much patience. It is time-consuming and not always easy. Sometimes it is boring. But if we truly want to achieve our goal of getting to heaven one day, we must practice it.
This week is Holy Week, the most solemn and important week in the liturgical year. Please make it a priority to participate in the liturgies this week. At St. Michael’s Church, Holy Thursday Mass is at 7:00 PM; Good Friday celebrations are at 12:00, 2:00, and 7:00 PM; the Easter Vigil is Saturday at 8:00 PM; and Easter Sunday Masses are at 7:15, 9:00, and 10:45 AM, as well as 12:30 PM.
On behalf of the faculty and staff of St. Michael’s School, we wish you a blessed Easter. May God bless each and every one of you during this most joyful season.
In Mission,
Kathy
