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Keeping Focus February 1, 2010 |
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February 12, 2009 was the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. It is fair to say that he is one of the most esteemed American leaders this nation has been privileged to have as president. Yet the road was not easy for him.
These words are taken from Lincoln’s first political announcement posted in the Sangama Journal while seeking his first office in the Illinois General Assembly. He lost the election, running 8th in a field of 13 candidates. Despite the loss, there was a glimmer of hope and a hint of the greatness to come: a heavy majority of voters in his own precinct cast their ballot for him, even though he was only 23 years old and a newcomer to the state and community. It was not his only lost, nor his only heart-break. But he persevered, driven by an inner sense of a higher calling. Stories abound about the perseverance of our 16th president. From reading books by the light of the cooking fire and the back-breaking work of spitting rails, to persistence in seeking office and taking a stand for what was right even in the face of political opposition. February can be a rough month for homeschoolers. The rush of the holidays is over. The excitement of a new year with new books and new activities has faded. Families who live in the northern states realize that the winter snows are a long way from melting and cabin fever seems to be setting in. It’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day logistics of homeschooling and running a household. It’s not uncommon to lose focus. What’s needed? A good dose of perseverance. For youngsters and grown-ups alike. Lincoln once wrote, “Upon the subject of education…I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in.” One homeschool blogger put it this way:
As we celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s accomplishments and the values he exemplified, may we take heart and be encouraged to persevere in our homeschooling efforts, for we are truly engaged in the most important task we have as parents and children of the Most High.
Image Credit: © Jose Gil - Fotolia.com |
