GRIT-Definition
Noun
1. Small, Loose particles of stone or sand
2. Courage and resolve; strength of character
Verb:
1. Clench, (the teeth) especially in order to keep one's resolve when faced with an unpleasant or painful duty.
Monday night, my phone rang around 8:30 PM. Monday was a holiday for me, so I had managed to get a lot done and was resting comfortably on the couch watching a movie!
On the other end of the phone, one of my favorite sounds ever broke the silence..."Aunt Jaime, I need to talk to you about something. Of course, I was all ears.
She proceeded to let me know that she had a school project that had to be completed by Wed....an interview...then she paused and said, do you know what "Grit" is...or what it means to have Grit?
I gave her my best off the cuff definition of grit...much like the 2nd Noun definition above...She said...yea, that's right.
She informed me that she had to conduct an interview with someone who had "Grit" and who had accomplished a big goal because of that Grit...
Now what is important to note here is that I, over the past year or so, have worked with Emily many times on homework assignments...so getting a call about school work was not particularly unusual. But what she said next...well...was a bit of a twist...unexpected.
She said (and I am paraphrasing)...Well, I have to do this interview with someone that has Grit and I want to interview you...cause you have Grit...You know...the whole weight loss thing, and all the challenges and meeting Ms. Kerri, having the Event (Play it Forward)...you know all the Journey stuff."
Oh my heart!
In that moment, that singular moment...I was so reminded about how amazing this Journey is...how God graces my every step and how someone else's view of my little life can open my eyes, my heart and my mind to "big"ness of life...in ways I could have never imagined!
So...I had spent a portion of my Monday "processing" my Journey to date with someone (someone whom I adore and that is WAY smarter than I)...talking ( a long damn time) about where I had come from, where I am and where I am going. Now I will spare all of you the gory details of that conversation but sufficed to say, as I have from the beginning, I expressed some trepidation about the direction I am going...and the admission that I in fact, at times feel a bit lost along the way and question my courage to find the way. Having the Faith that I will have the Fortitude...is the thought that pops into my head...and though I am not fond of this cliché...noting during that conversation, that I am definitely a "work in progress". A WIP!!!
So...back to my call with Emily...Now you gotta know I was a little caught off guard...touched deeply and rapidly flipping through my thoughts about Grit...what it really means to have it...who I know that I think has it and am I really the right girl for the job...so to speak.
Do I really have grit?...I know I grit my teeth a lot (SEE ADDITIONAL DEFINITION ABOVE) but do I have GRIT? I hate Grits...I know that...have my whole life despite a strange insistence from people in my life that I try to eat them...but do I HAVE Grit?
Emily thinks so....
I sat down with Emily, answered the interview questions and took the opportunity to share with her that if I do in fact, have Grit...it is by the Grace of God and because I have some pretty amazing people in my life and some pretty amazing strength that I draw from others, their inspiration, their courage and their Grit.
It was a great experience and I had this thought...
God in his infinite care and love for me is very funny, and a little sneaky...
You see...I, in the last week alone, have had a few very specific opportunities to question my fortitude...question my ability to keep pushing through this process and trust! I spent a portion of Monday...talking about that very thing...Talking about how I still feel SO VERY compelled to follow this path I have been on for the past 2+ years...yet, really have concerns about my ability to keep Forging ON...as I like to say.
I was questioning my Courage and My Resolve and my Strength of Character...and then, out of the blue, and from a voice that reaches my heart faster than most...I hear this..
You have Grit...
Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky...Why do I think it was sneaky...Because I am pretty sure that God knew I would NEVER say NO to that voice...that I would do my best to HAVE Grit because she believes I do!!! Forced Grit!
By the way...Forced Grit...is much easier to swallow that Forced Grits!
As I close...I am again in awe of how God works in my life...the subtle nuances of His guidance to those moments when I am left speechless ( a rarity).
I have some amazing folks in my life who ooze Grit...Who exemplify great courage, resolve and strength...thank you for setting such a great example! Thanks for living with True Grit!
