Excerpts from the resume of Abraham Lincoln

• Mother died when he was 9 years old, 1818
• Lost job as store clerk & assistant when business failed, 1832
• Defeated for legislature, 1832 (finished 8^th out of 13 candidates)
• Members of a volunteer militia selected him as their captain
• Became partner in a general store, 1833
• Became unable to pay-off note on general store, lost market share to a larger, well-organized store in same town, and closed business, 1834
• Elected to legislature, 1834
• Sweetheart (Ann Rutledge) died, 1835
• Had nervous breakdown, 1836
• Defeated for Speaker of legislature, 1838
• Defeated for nomination for Congress, 1843
• Elected to Congress, 1846
• Lost re-nomination bid to Congress due to Whig party policy, 1848
• Rejected for Land Officer, 1849
• Defeated for Senate, 1854
• Defeated for nomination for Vice-President, 1856
• Again defeated for Senate, 1858
• Elected President, 1860
• Re-Elected President, 1864
• Assassinated, 1865

Abraham Lincoln–some ups, some downs, some kind of man.  What would have happened to our country had he accepted failure, disappointment, and setbacks?  What if he had lacked a competitive edge, or the courage to drive on, the moral conviction to fight adversity, or the spirit of serving others?  I’m just asking.