“Do Not Give In!” Blog #231
Does life just seem unreasonable today?
Where am I going with negative thoughts inside?
Am I searching for a way out and ready to give in?
Sometimes a true story sends a greater message than all kinds of suggestions, ideas and
platitudes. This is a story that has struck my heart and has shown me how a person can
do anything when one puts their mind to doing it.
There was a little boy, seven years old, who witnessed his mother dying and was
devastated by her loss. He was left alone with his father and sister. An extremely poor
family, they suffered for want of everything. The little boys father felt it important he find
good work and a kind mother for his two children. Because this story took place in the
1800’s, it was common place, but dangerous, to leave the two children alone in the woods
in a one room log cabin in Kentucky. Yet, their father felt it best and was gone for many
months. Somehow the brother and sister survived off the land and trappings of animals to
eat. When the father came back with a mother for the children, she was a very kind
stepmother. She brought a small library of books into the family home. Along with the
stepmother, the young boy taught himself to read by the firelight at the end of his long
work days on the farm. The first book he learned to read was the Bible. He believed in
God and believed in living an honest, truth-filled, good life. Once he learned to read the
Bible he went on to read Aesops Fables, Robinson Crusoe and all of Shakespeare’s Plays.
He especially loved to read the life of George Washington. After helping his father for
many years on the farm, the young boy was now 22 years old. It was time for him to set
out on his own. Over the next few years he lived in the state of Illinois. Trying many odd
jobs, he became a boatsman, a surveyor, a store clerk and a militia soldier. Eventually he
felt confident in his learning and opened a law office and began a career as a lawyer. He
seldom lost a single case he took. Everything about this young man was kind, humble and
filled with the desire to keep learning and never give in! He stood for what was right. He
proved to people wrong cannot survive. He ran for office, becoming the 16th President of
the United States of America. While in office, our country went into Civil War. He carefully
constructed the Gettysburg Address. This man believed in freeing all the slaves, thereby
writing the Emancipation Proclamation. While doing all this, he was married and he and
his wife had four sons. Three of his sons died. Still he never gave up or gave in. He was
elected President of the United States two times and was responsible for ending the Civil
War, only to be shot five days later in Ford’s Theater. Abraham Lincoln was just 56 years
old when he was assassinated on April 1st, 1865 in Washington D. C.
This self-taught humble man would do anything for his fellow man. He believed in his
country and all through the Civil War, he had to bring his country together. For the South
(eleven states) had left the nation and formed the Confederate States of the South. They
believed slavery was right. The 23 Northern states were in the Union and believed slavery
was wrong. One man - Abraham Lincoln was responsible for bringing our country
together. So on the eve of this Bicentennial Anniversary of our U. S. A., it is imperative we
remember just how costly freedom is. Just how much one person did to influence, change
and help heal a country. In the end, because of all our brave soldiers and Abraham
Lincoln, Freedom Won. However, our freedom was very costly and by the end of the Battle
at Gettysburg, over 50,000 men were lost and killed! Unfortunately, this was just one battle.
There wound up being over 230 Battles during the War between the North and the South.
Sadly, over 620,000 soldiers died from combat, starvation and disease during the Civil War.
President Lincoln almost died himself on the battle fields going out to give confidence and
support to his men. He and his wife visited hospitals of the lame, dying and wounded.
Soldiers cried when they saw this President in person. These words stand out and ring
clear on this anniversary date of our Founding Fathers;
“Our Fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and
dedicated to the proposition that ALL men are created equal”. Abraham Lincoln.
Abraham Lincoln also believed strongly in the power of God. “One nation under God,
with Liberty and justice for all.”
This was a man convinced he would and could and did do, as much as humanly possibly
to help his fellow man each and every day. He did not believe in giving in. Every day I
must not give in, or give up or give away any of my power! I will give it my best from this
day forward. After all, there is no one else on earth like me. I remember this, with Jesus
Christ by my side, I have the spiritual strength of steel.
Can I pray and give today my best, and not give in to doubt?
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