Welcome to “Athlos” a weekly Wednesday blog which examines pillars of personal excellence and regularly brings together the worlds of spirituality and sport.
Good Grades
“A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich”-Proverbs 10:4
Gauff’s Grit
For those of you who are in the academic space, whether as parents, teachers or students, it is the season of exams, results and graduations. Some are preparing, many are waiting and others are graduating. Enter teenager Coco Gauff, a rising tennis star from the USA.
Gauff has been on the radar over the past few years as a potential future champion, showing great skill and ability as early as age 14. As this post is being written, she has qualified for the semi-finals of the prestigious French Open, one of the four tennis Grand Slam tournaments. Gauff is still only 18 and has recovered well from a couple of difficult years, performance wise.
What I want to applaud today, though, is her grit, discipline and determination to have completed her high school studies before participating at Roland Garros. Gauff graduated just before this year’s French Open noting the real challenge of balancing school and playing competitive tennis. Hats off to you, Coco.
Proverbs 10 above promotes diligence over indolence, hard work over slackness. Success at all levels requires effort. We could be addressing relationships, career, personal growth or spiritual maturity, it will take putting our hands to the plow and working.
Human endeavour does not diminish the role of divine grace and humble dependence on our Creator. Yet, faith without deeds is dead. Let us remain alive to the fruit that is born when we commit ourselves to living productively.
Graduate and Grow
Growth is a choice. Be deliberate about it.
If you were inspired by this blog, please consider sharing it with one other person today. To learn more about these and other related themes that promote the cultivation of an integrated inner self, read UNBEATABLE! which is available on Amazon in print and as an e-book.
This Post Has 4 Comments
Good stuff for young athletes. Worth sharing
I fully agree that Gauff’s example is inspiring for young athletes. Thank you!
Such a true statement about success. Effort must be applied for it to happen. It is great to see this young lady make a choice to balance both career and her own personal self development through graduation. Thanks.
Her example is commendable, indeed.