Abraham Lincoln was one of a kind. His commitment to our country in a time of turmoil made certain that he would die early and not of old age.
President Lincoln led our country through its lowest point in our history. The Civil War resulted in the deaths of over 700,000 of our own citizens. President Lincoln had to carry the weight of a divided country on his shoulders each and every day of his Presidency.
Abraham Lincoln was born in a one room log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. At eight years of age his family would move to Indiana where his mother would die two years later. At age 21, Abraham Lincoln moved further west and became an Illinois resident. Thirty-one years later he would become the first President of the United States born outside the original thirteen colonies.
From his humble roots he overcame significant failures and finished his life as our country’s most powerful person, reuniting a broken nation after a misnamed “Civil” War. What can we learn from the wisdom of President Lincoln? What are some philosophies that he might share if we could sit down and visit with him today? It would be an awesome experience to be able to carry on a dialogue with our sixteenth President.
Mr. Lincoln put his heritage behind the importance of the presence and the future, he once shared, “I don’t know who my grandfather was; I am much more concerned to know what his grandson will be.” Mr. Lincoln would be less concerned about historical events in a person’s life as they are now a thing of the past. What he would focus on would be where a person is today and where he is headed tomorrow.
Mr. Lincoln was an effective communicator to a large degree because of how he used common stories to convey concepts. To illustrate the conflict he had to work through on a daily basis, he shared the word picture that he felt “like the boy that stumped his toe, it hurt too bad to laugh, and he was too big to cry.” Mr. Lincoln fully understood the awkwardness of being caught in the middle of a conflict.
Unity was important to Mr. Lincoln. Although he never got the chance to lead a united nation, he understood its importance. As the Civil War was winding down with certain victory ahead for the Union, Mr. Lincoln was asked what he intended to do with those who had attempted to secede, his response was that he would treat them as if they never left.
Mr. Lincoln had a great sense of humor. He had many one liners that would capture clever thoughts in just a phrase or two. Statements such as “God must love the common man, he made so many of them,” “No matter how much cats fight, there always seem to be plenty of kittens,” “I walk slowly, but I never walk backward,” “Tact is the ability to describe others as they see themselves,” or “I will prepare myself then when my opportunity comes I will be ready” concisely conveyed basic concepts in his world.
Mr. Lincoln earned from those closest to him the nickname of “Honest Abe.” This is a worthy nickname that each of us should strive to obtain. In his world it came from making the right decision over and over and over again.
Mr. Lincoln recognized the spiritual importance of God and His role in Mr. Lincoln’s world. Mr. Lincoln often shared core foundations in his life, “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life,” and “When I had no place to go, I went to my knees.” Once, when the President was told by a clergyman that he hoped “the Lord was on our side,” Mr. Lincoln’s response was, “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side,” said the President, “my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”
Mr. Lincoln’s life was a succession of having to overcome failures. He could be considered one of our country’s greatest failures of all time before becoming one of our greatest Presidents. Mr. Lincoln failed in business at age 22. He ran for the legislature at age 23 and was defeated. He tried again in business at age 24 and failed a second time. He had a nervous breakdown at age 27.
Mr. Lincoln was defeated for Speaker at age 29. He ran for Elector at age 31 and lost. He was defeated in his effort for Congress at age 34. He finally got elected at age 37 to Congress, but then was defeated again at age 39. At age 46 he was defeated in his bid to become a Senator. At age 47 he was defeated for Vice President. At age 49 he was defeated again in his bid for the Senate.
Finally, at age 51 Mr. Lincoln was elected President of the United States. Abraham Lincoln is the epitome of one who learned the importance of overcoming failure. How many opportunities did he have to say, “That’s enough, I have fought the battle and failed. Time for me to pack up my bags and go home?” Yet Mr. Lincoln is not remembered for all of his failures, but for his successes.
Mr. Lincoln knew the importance of being at peace with oneself. As he led our nation through the storm of the Civil War and as he was second guessed and criticized daily, he knew the true test of success was deep inside him when he said, “I desire so to conduct the affairs of this Administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall have at least one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside of me.”
My challenge to you today is to apply the wisdom of Abraham Lincoln to your daily life. His advice is over 150 years old, yet it still rings true today. Each of our lives is a cake walk compared to the daily turmoil Mr. Lincoln experienced in the last five years of his life.
Mr. Lincoln’s vision was to leave this world a better place than the one he came into. He once shared, “Die when I may, I want it said of me by those who know me best, that I have always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.” A good model for us to follow.
Just a thought...
Rick Kraft is a motivational speaker, a syndicated columnist, a published author, and an attorney. To submit comments, contributions, or ideas, e-mail to rkraft@kraftlawfirm.org or write to P.O. Box 850, Roswell, New Mexico, 88202 - 0850.
