Thoughts about Abraham
Lincoln; The President and the Man
Abraham Lincoln,
our 16th president, has been revered and loved by most
Americans since his presidency. He has been given the honor of
bringing equality to the African Americans as a result of the Civil
War. I personally have learned some of his thoughts and actions
recently and admire him even more. He was not only a great president
but a great and wise man.
Abraham Lincoln was
born on February 12, 1809, near Hodgenville Kentucky. He had one
sister and lost a baby brother in infancy. When he was 9 years old,
his mother died which left him terribly sad and lonely. However,
when his dad remarried Abe learned to love his step mother and
referred to her as his “angel mother.”
Having grown up in
a home where education was not important, Abe had very little formal
education. It has been said though, that he would walk miles to
borrow books to read. When I think about him walking miles to read
and students today won’t walk an inch to open a book, it speaks
volumes to the kind of character Lincoln possessed. That kind of
grit and determination is what made him one of the most, if not the
most, respected president in our country’s history.
Having only heard
about his presidential accomplishments, I thought that his claim to
fame was being a great leader for our country. Now I see a different
person, not just a president. He said, “Give me six hours to chop
down a tree and I will spend the first four hours sharpening the
axe.” I love this quote. I think he was the kind of person who
carefully thought through a problem before acting. He obviously felt
that acting impulsively, could lead to an undesired result. Knowing
this about him leads me to wonder how many sleepless nights he must
have had during the Civil War.
We, as Americans
only associated him with the Civil War and equality for African
Americans. But, he was a husband and a father as well. He must at
many times in his life did not look at himself as an important
historical figure, but just a man in quest of happiness. “People
are just as happy as they make up their minds to be.” This quote
of Lincoln’s speaks volumes to me. Everyone is in control of the
kind of life he chooses to live, whether it be a life of contentment
or gloom. Each individual has the capability to make the best of a
bad situation with grace, honor and even happiness.
I have taken from
Abraham Lincoln’s life a life to admire and honor and somewhat
imitate. His determination to rise above his poverty to become a
beloved man and president inspires me. I am encouraged to overcome
my obstacles to become the best that is within me. I will make up my
mind to be happy and carefully plan, without impulsiveness, each step
I take, toward that happiness.
No comments:
Post a Comment