It May Not Come on a Silver Platter

"I believe one has to work their way up to where they want to be... Things will come to you on a silver, gold, brass, or even a wooden platter if you go out and create them," so declared Mark Sandford. To a writer, "Life doesn't come handed to you on a silver platter. We all go through pressure and struggles of our own and to different extremes." Today, let's reflect on paying the price for what you desire. Do you know that what you desire may not come to you on a silver platter and that there is a price to pay for what you need? According to Annette Sunday, "Nothing good comes on a silver platter." Terry Orlick added, "Nobody hands you excellence on a silver platter. You earn it through planning, preparing, and persisting in the face of all obstacles." While it may feel blissful to look up to fate, luck, Providence, favour, connections, etc. to usher to you what you want without you doing anything, it's key to recognize your role in getting what you desire. Listen to Katarina Witt: "Almost nothing is presented to you on a silver platter. You have to really work for it." The expectation of something for nothing may be misleading. As Claire Kaifes noted, "Working for what you want is a great way to learn about determination and grit. Grit will always propel you forward and keep you from giving up on your dreams." Conversely, as he continued, "When things are just given to you in life, you don’t learn anything such as time management, money management, or really any life skill." So, enhance your capacity to recognize your role in getting what you need. Know that while it is okay to exercise faith towards your desires, it is important to recognize the needed work to drive the actualization of the desire. That may involve sacrifice, delayed gratification, determination in the midst of challenges, devotion to learning and acquisition of needed skills, patience, networking, etc. As a source shared, be conscious that allowing someone to grow up without discipline and determination will only hurt him or her in the long run. Therefore, train yourself to live with the consciousness that while certain things in life are outside your control, working for what you believe in is the most important part of growing up as life will never give you anything without you working for it, doing your part or paying the needed price. Such a mindset might have been why a school of thought encouraged people to pray as if everything depends on God but work as if everything depends on the individuals. As you step out today, recognize the need to push yourself as a first step towards your goal. Dream big and pray hard but take the needed action for the dreams to come true. Never underestimate the role of your God-given talents, hands, legs, brain, etc. in moving you from where you are to where you should be.