It's funny because I have certainly read to the kids about Lincoln over the years. In fact, we read one of our favorite biographies last week.   Perhaps it was seeing it laid out this way that caught my attention: 

1. He had a difficult childhood  

2. Less than one year of formal schooling

3. Failed in business at age 22

4. Defeated for legislature at 23

5. Failed again in business at 24

6. Elected to the legislature at 24

7. Fiancee died when he was 26

8. Defeated for speaker at 29

9. Defeated for electorate at 31

10. At 33 married a woman who became a burden not a help

11. Only one of four sons lived past age 18

12. Defeated for congress at 34

13. Elected to congress at 37

14. Defeated for congress at 39

15. Defeated for senate at 46

16. Defeated for vice president at 47

17. Defeated for senate at 49

18. Finally elected president

Defeated. Defeated. Defeated.  Surely a man would have reason to consider that to be the operative word in that life list… at least if you didn't know the rest of the story.  And Lincoln did not know the rest of his story while he was still living it. He just chose to ignore those repeated defeats and press on.  That is no small feat, especially for a man who is thought to have suffered from depression. It takes an iron will and great vision to persevere like that.  

This is what I am mulling over on President's Day.