“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”

Proverbs 21:5

At ten years old, most boys were just figuring out how to ride a bike or perfecting their tree-climbing skills. But not my him.

By the crack of dawn, while others were still rubbing the sleep from their eyes, he was already up and out, delivering the daily news. The weight of the canvas bag pressed into his shoulder, heavier some mornings than others, but he never complained.

This was not just a chore to him; it was a chance to build something. Each coin he tucked away had a purpose. He was saving for college. That dream kept him moving even on the coldest mornings.

The years passed, and the mornings grew longer as the route expanded. By the time he was 18, the boy who once lugged newspapers had saved enough to pay his college tuition.

But the story was never about the money. It was about the grit it took to earn it. It was about how every single paper delivered, every early morning, every sacrifice mattered. It was about discipline and determination.

Years later, I asked my dad, “How did you afford college and dental school?” He leaned back with a soft smile breaking across his face, and answered, “One paper at a time.”

That stayed with me, and maybe that is a lesson for all of us. Consider how God might be using your steps today to shape the person you are becoming. Let this story remind you that perseverance in the ordinary moments can lead to extraordinary outcomes.