“THE HARDER THE CONFLICT, THE GREATER THE TRIUMPH. WHAT WE OBTAIN TOO CHEAP, WE ESTEEM TOO LIGHTLY.”

No one likes to suffer but at some point in life we all do. Therefore it is easy to find solace in Thomas Paine’s affirmation, “The harder the conflict, the greater the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.” How much we value our possessions depend on how gruelling it was to acquire. It is easy to observe that what we have toiled for is of more import to us than that which was just handed to us on a silver platter.

Obtaining a spot at a most prestigious university is what some of us strive for. We work hard to get there; studying constantly and doing community service. Then, when we get the opportunity to flounce about the most sought after university, we work twice as hard to stay there. Such is our gratitude that we cherish the occasion. We then go on to apply for employment, starting at the bottom and working our way up to the principal positions. There lies the attainment that we had strived for.

On the other hand, there are others who perform less constructively but are welcomed to grace those halls same as us. They are invited to attend because their father is opulent enough to make a generous donation. They do nothing but party and disregard the value of their education because they know that a principal position at an esteemed organization awaits them regardless.

Here is an example of one who achieved greatness despite adversities that she faced. This young lady, Emily Evans, was the sixth of twelve children. Emily survived most of her childhood seeing her friends with little trinkets that her family could ill afford. Her juvenile jealousy initiated her yearning to rise out of the socioeconomic class to which she was born. Emily worked hard and exceeded beyond all expectations. In spite of her misfortunes at home, she succeeded at all her examinations and landed a scholarship to a prominent university. Subsequently, she became a doctor and helped pull her family out of dismal poverty.

In contrast, the bible tells the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). The prodigal son asked his father for his share of their family estate. When it was given to him, he squandered it away with immoral living. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living” (Luke 15:13). He had received the estate without having to sweat for it so he did not appreciate the hard work that had provided it for him.

Human beings generally appreciate greatly that which they have sweated for. For most of us it is the success of achieving a career goal that we value deeply. It is achieving that goal that makes all the hardships we experienced before, all worth it. That which is handed to us is what we throw away because we do not know its worth.