Many of you remember the childhood classic, The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper. When a little steam engine is unable to pull the long, heavy train up the hill, she detaches herself from the train, not to abandon it, but to seek help. She approaches one big steam engine, then another large steam engine, only to be rebuffed by both.
However she persists, determined to get help to pull the train up the hill. Eventually she sees a small steam engine, just like herself. She approaches and asks, “Will you help me over the hill with my train of cars? It is so long and heavy I can’t get it over.” The small steam engine agrees to help and together they return to where the train is standing. They hitch themselves to it and slowly begin climbing the hill together, singing: I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can….until they reach the top and come down the other side.
The first steam engine thanks her helper and continues pulling the train herself. The helper engine joyfully goes along her way, singing: I thought I could, I thought I could, I thought I could….
There are numerous life lessons within this delightful story.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
- Don’t accept no for an answer.
- Maintain a positive outlook and frame of mind
- Be determined, tenacious and steadfast
- Keep your focus on the goal, your eye on the prize
and more….
- How can you relate this story to a current challenge in your life?
- Are you involved in a task or project for which you are seeking help or ought to be?
- Faced with delays, distractions and even rejections, do you feel like giving up or quitting?
- Are you inspired to move forward with faith and assurance that the goal is important enough to pursue, no matter what?
I invite you to step into the tracks of the little steam engine and sing: I know I can, I know I can, I know I can, I know I can……
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