One of the major lessons that my dad taught me early on has pushed to the forefront of my life and resonates daily. "It takes time." Growing up, after school, I had chores and they included watering the Muscadines plants. They started off small, fragile and had to be cared for every day. All I could remember was my Dad emphasizing how important it was to stay dedicated and to water them every day so they would grow. Soon the routine became less intense and went from watering them every day, to every couple of days to them being able to survive on their own. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months and then years. Life went on and the plants grew bigger and bigger. Then one day they started producing fruit.
I’m 31 now and to see what those small plants grew into and now able to eat the fruits it produces puts a lot into perspective. Sometimes we put a lot of work into something that we may not reap the benefits from in a very long time. I can use the term (Delayed Gratification) well in this story but in a sense, I actually gained the lessons and benefits throughout the entire process. You have to stay dedicated to whatever you are wanting to accomplish no matter how long it takes. One day after the time has passed, you will see the benefits from your dedication and labor and in most cases, the end result will come quicker than expected. Always remember that the most beautiful things take time.
