Franklin's Perseverance

For most people, aspirations and dreams are a part of growing up. For a certain boy in the early 1700’s, his dream was to become a sailor. Even though that specific dream never came true, he diligently worked at everything he came in contact with, whether he liked it or not. That diligence eventually paid off, making him successful at everything he did. This boy was Benjamin Franklin, and his perseverance, hard work, and ingenuity made him one of the most famous Founding Fathers of our country. Ben Franklin of Philadelphia by Margret Cousins tells the fascinating story of Ben’s life. Benjamin Franklin’s perseverance was one of his most honorable character traits. When he was just 12 years old, his father pulled him out of school, and signed

As a child, he never ceased to amaze his friends with new methods and ideas, ranging from architectural plans to making the first home-made flippers. As an adult, Ben noticed the inefficiency of the postal service, and set about to improve it. First, he increased the frequency of the mail routes, then traveled all over the colonies, offering council and support to postmasters, helping them improve their accounting and find creative solution to their individual challenges. Ben was also bothered by the lack of productivity in heating stoves, which gave off smoke and let in more cold air than the warmth it generated. He set to work, and soon engineered a stove which burned significantly less fuel, and was a stable, safe heater. The Franklin stove became a phenomenon which spread rapidly through the colonies, helping hundreds of households. Benjamin exploited his personal ingenuity for the good of all the colonies, and we still benefit from his creative, resourceful thinking

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” That means work hard, using your mind, using your strength, using every gift and talent the Lord bestowed on you. Ben did this, viewing not just his occupation, but everything his hand touched as something that could be done with precision and excellence. He was alert to things that caused problems and discomfort, but instead of complaining, he used his sharp mind to formulate and implement solutions. As Ben grew with wealth and respect, he continued to use his position of influence for the benefit of his community and young country. If he saw something that needed repair, Ben immediately started ameliorating it, and did not stop until he was satisfied with the result. Many principles can be gleaned from this passage, and it is a powerful reminder to work our best at every task, no matter how