We live in a time when true rewards—those earned by hard work and excellence—are being dismissed. Parents watch their children get participation trophies just for showing up. But when everyone gets a trophy, the trophy loses meaning. Excellence becomes irrelevant. As these kids grow up, many are shocked when the world doesn’t reward their mediocrity. It’s a setup for disappointment, confusion, and bitterness.
This mindset is the opposite of what builds men. As my father used to say, “Anybody can start something. It takes a man to finish it.” He was right. Finishing requires strength, commitment, and perseverance—especially when it’s hard. Saint Paul understood this deeply: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7). But he also warned that even after preaching to others, he could be disqualified if he failed to persevere (1 Cor 9:27). The reward is not for starting—but for finishing.
Jesus confirms this: “Which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost… otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him” (Lk 14:28–30). Following Jesus requires a lifetime of perseverance. Ask Him for the Virtue of Perseverance so you may finish what you’ve started—and finish well.
Pray: Jesus, perfection of perfection, help me build the Virtue of Perseverance, part of Fortitude, so that I build a habit of finishing the noble things I have started, whether large or small, that I may serve You with excellence in everything I do. Amen.