Teaching Kids Lessons Through Stories – Perseverance

The Intentional Mom Planning System is where you need to start with our incredible collection of product options. It will help you establish the basics for your life & home so you’ll finally have a plan, save yourself time, and go to bed feeling like you accomplished something every day (because you did). Save up to 60% HERE!

We recently stumbled upon this and decided it was a keeper. Actually, it wasn’t even me who decided it was a keeper, but my 10 year old daughter. We have it typed out and laminated. Then we hung it in our dining area where we post a few other things and our weekly Bible verse.

It isn’t a story this time that we can learn from but a poem. Hopefully you find it as inspiring as we do.

 

Can’t

Edgar Guest

Can’t is the worst word that’s written or spoken;

Doing more harm here than slander and lies;

On it is many a strong spirit broken,

And with it many a good purpose dies. 

It springs from the lips of the thoughtless each morning

And robs us of courage we need through the day:

It rings in our ears like a timely sent warning

And laughs when we falter and fall by the way.

 

Can’t is the father of feeble endeavor;

The parent of terror and half-hearted work;

It weakens the efforts of artisans clever,

And makes of the toiler an indolent shirk.

It poisons the soul of the man with a vision,

It stifles in infancy many a plan;

It greets honest toiling with open derision

And mocks at the hopes and dreams of a man.

 

Can’t is a word none should speak without blushing;

To utter it should be a symbol of shame;

Ambition and courage it daily is crushing;

It blights a man’s purpose and shortens his aim.

Despise it with all of your hatred of error;

Refuse it the lodgment it seeks in your brain;

Arm against it as a creature of terror,

And all that you dream of you someday shall gain.

 

Can’t is the word that is foe to ambition,

An enemy ambushed to shatter your will;

Its prey is forever a man with a mission

And bows but to courage and patience and skill.

Hate it, with hatred that’s deep and undying,

For once it’s welcomed “twill break any man;

Whatever the goal you are seeking, keep trying

And answer this demon by saying: “I can.”