Keep going
To encourage the children to keep persevering even when the going gets tough.
by Rebecca Parkinson
Suitable for Key Stage 2
Aims
To encourage the children to keep persevering even when the going gets tough.
Preparation and materials
- For the clip about Derek Redmond, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nifq3Ke2Q30
- The Bible readings (taken from the New International Version) are Philippians 3.14, Romans 5.3–4 and Galatians 6.9.
Assembly
- The dictionary definition of perseverance is: the quality of continuing to try to achieve a particular aim despite difficulties.
Perseverance isn’t easy. It means that even when things get really hard for us, we don’t give up. A well-known saying is: When the going gets tough, the tough get going!
All of us have times when things are difficult for us. Then we face a decision: Do we give up or do we persevere?
Last week/month we had an assembly about ‘starting well’. Today’s assembly is to encourage you to keep going. You may face difficulties in school this year. Some of you find sport difficult; some of you find the academic work difficult; some of you struggle to make friends. Don’t give up! Persevere. Keep on going. - The clip shows a young athlete, Derek Redmond, who had trained all his life for the race you are about to see. Show the clip (see ‘Preparation and materials’).
In the clip Derek Redmond’s dad moves out of the crowd to help his son achieve his aim of getting across the finishing line. - In our lives we sometimes need help to keep going. You never know when it may be you in need of the help of others, so let’s encourage each other to keep going to achieve our aims.
- There are lots of verses in the Bible that talk about perseverance. Here are three:
– Philippians 3.14: ‘I press on towards the goal.’
– Romans 5.3–4: ‘Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.’
– Galatians 6.9: ‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up.’
Time for reflection
Here are a few quotes about perseverance. I will read them and then pause for you to think about what each one means.
‘The greatest oak was once a little nut that held its ground.’
Unknown author
‘When the world says, “Give up”, Hope whispers, “Try it one more time.”‘
Unknown author
‘Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.’
Josh Billings
‘It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.’
Albert Einstein
Prayer
Dear Lord,
sometimes it’s hard to keep trying.
It’s hard when things are tough
or when everything seems to be going wrong.
Please help us never to give up
but always to persevere.
Please help us to be people who encourage others to keep trying
as we all aim for different goals in life.
Thank you that you never give up on us.
Amen.
Song/music
‘When the going gets tough’ by Billy Ocean (see ‘Preparation and materials’)
‘When a knight won his spurs’ (Come and Praise, 50)
