OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

      

                     Abraham Lincoln Didn't Quit      

          The sense of obligation to continue is present in all of us.A duty to strive is the duty of us all.I felt a call to that duty.
                                                                                        Abraham Lincoln
           Probably the greatest example of persistence is Abraham Lincoln.If you want to learn about somebody who didn't quit,look no further.
           Born into poverty,Lincoln was faced with defeat throughout his life.He lost eight elections,twice failed in business and suffered a nervous breakdown.
          He could have quit many times__ but he didn't and because he didn't quit,he became one of the greatest presidents in the history of  Unites States.
         Lincoln was a champion and he never gave up. Here is a sketch of Lincoln's road to the White House:
 
       1816  His family was forced out of their home.He had to work to support them.
       1818  His mother died.
       1832  Ran for state legislature---lost.
       1832  Also lost his job-----wanted to go to law school but couldn't get in.
       1833  Borrowed some money from a friend to begin a business and by the end of the year he
                  was bankrupt.He spent the next seventeen years of his life paying his debt.
         
         
       1834  Ran for state legislature again---won.
       1835  Was engaged to be married,sweetheart died and his heart was broken.
       1836  Had a total nervous breakdown and was in bed for six months.
       1838  Sought to become speaker of the state legislature---defeated.
       1840  Sought to become elector--defeated.
       1843  Ran for Congress---lost.
       1846  Ran for Congress again--this time he won---went to Washington and did a good job.
       1848  Ran for re-election to Congress--lost
       1849  Sought the job of land officer in his home state--rejected.
       1854  Ran for Senate of the United States----lost.
       1856  Sought the vice-presidential nomination at his party's national convention-- got less than
                  one hundred votes.
               
       1858  Ran for U.S. Senate again.again he lost.
       1860  Elected president of the Unites States.


               
                     The path was worn and slippery.
        My foot slipped from under me,
        Knocking the other  out of the way,
        But I recovered and said to myself,
        "It's a slip and not a fall."     
                                                                                         Abraham Lincoln
                                                                                                            After losing a senate race

 
                                                                                                  Source Unknown