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Written by Jimmie Burroughs 
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Giving up when things get tough is always the easy way out but it never fulfills your dream. It is the willingness to continue regardless of the opposition and resistance until you finally succeed. Below are three examples of some who faced utter defeat but rose to the moment of challenge and won.
Winston Churchill gave the shortest speech ever given in history by a dignitary. Sir Winston Churchill was asked to address his alma mater; the auditorium was packed out with graduating students, parents, dignitaries and guests. Prime Minister Churchill gave the shortest speech those students ever heard. HE stood up and said, nevah give up, nevah, nevah, nevah give up! Then he sat down. Mr. Churchill lived by that motto, not to ever give up, and with the help of the United Stated came out the victor of World War II, even though Great Britten was all but destroyed.
Donald Braswell was a graduate of Julliard School of Music and was building a professional singing career when he had an auto accident and damaged his vocal cords, and doctors said he would never sing again. For two years after the accident he was unable to talk. Gradually he built his voice back again. 11 years had gone by and now he was a car salesman no longer thinking about his dream of becoming a professional singer at the age 45.
“In 2007, unbeknown to him, Donald Braswell’s wife submitted an audition tape to NBC’s America’s Got Talent. In September of that year, Braswell received a call from the show’s producers for a live audition. Having endured years of believing he would never sing again professionally, he suddenly had the possibility of giving his three daughters a glimpse of their father performing once more on a professional stage with all the lights and cameras he had experienced in his early career.During the preliminaries, he performed “You Raise Me Up” by Rolf Løvland and Brendan Graham. Initially, the audience was hostile, collectively shouting to get him off the stage. During the second refrain of the song, however, Braswell was able to turn the audience’s reaction around and when he finished, the audience gave him a standing ovation, even chanting “Vegas!” in unison, expressing their support for his advancement to the next round in Las Vegas.” Wikipedia
It is easy to throw in the towel when it seems we are defeated. I don’t think I would have had the courage to go on as Donald Braswell did when the whole crowd was booing to get off the stage. He did and he had them on their feet in a standing ovation chanting their support for him by the end of his song. As a result, today he is able to fulfill his dream by singing professionally. Had he walked off the stage it would have ended his dream forever and been a lifelong embarrassment.
There is a story I heard years ago of a young man who made a mistake that nearly discouraged him to quit on his dream but because of a wise and supporting coach he had a second chance.
It was the 1929 Rose Bowl, the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech were playing the California Golden Bears, Roy Riegels learned a valuable lesson concerning the game of life that day, and that is to never give up regardless.
It was late in the first half when Stumpy Thomason, Georgia Tech running back, fumbled the ball, after a scramble the ball was recovered by Cal lineman Roy Riegels; determined to score, he dashed for the end zone, the only problem it was the wrong goal line!
One of his own teammates, Benny Loin, followed wrong-way Riegels in hot pursuit. Loin caught up and tackled Riegels on their own three-yard line. The next play would determine the game. Cal tried to punt and was brought down in the end zone for a touchback which was the two points that lost the game.
The Cal team gathered in the locker room at halftime, but no one said a word. Coach Nibbs Price finally spoke up and announced that the same team would start the second half. Roy Ricgels sat still on the bench, his face buried in his hands as the other players headed for the field.
Coach Price spoke to Roy and said, “You heard me, I said the same team would start the second half and that includes you!
Roy said, I just can’t go out there again Coach and face my teammates after I let you and them down, and embarrassed our school and shamed our team.
Coach Price looked straight into his eyes and said, “The game is only half over Riegels, get out there and make something of yourself!”
After the game, the Georgia Tech players said they had never seen anyone play with the determination and intensity that Riegels showed in the second half of the 1929 Rose Bowl game.
Coach Nibbs Price was a wise man who valued a person’s life more than a game and gave Roy a second chance to prove himself and Roy took that chance and played the game of his life.
Stumbling in life and even going the wrong way is not uncommon, but it must not discourage us in the game of life. The game is not over until it’s over. If you refuse to ever give up, you can win your dream. Never give up on your dream! Never, never give up!
About the author: Jimmie Burroughs is a motivational speaker and author who has been involved in teaching Christian Personal Development for more than 30 years. There are hundreds of articles to help you on this website, Website Contents ,in your person growth. Be sure to take vantage of the FREE offer to get the eBook “The 4 Pillars for Personal Development” while available.
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