Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Mike Smith:
We tend to think of Abe Lincoln at the height of his career—the presidency. But he didn’t arrive there without many setbacks. He lost his first campaign at the age of 23 when he ran for the Illinois legislature. Two years later he tried again. This time, he was elected and served four terms.

In 1842, Lincoln tried for the Whig nomination to Congress. He failed twice, finally gaining the nomination in 1846 and serving one term. After returning to Illinois, Lincoln practiced law for over a decade. During that time, he lost two Senate races.

Were those many lost elections failures for Lincoln? It depends on how you look at it. While his years in the state and federal legislatures gained him political experience, the years in between provided life experience. Lincoln tried his hand at a variety of occupations, demonstrating integrity in each one. He became a highly respected lawyer in his community.

During those years, Lincoln also solidified his views on slavery. His debates with Senate opponent Stephen Douglas brought him national attention and invitations to speak all over the country. Thrust into the limelight, Lincoln gained a reputation as an antislavery spokesman, eventually capturing the Republican nomination for president.

As we homeschool our children, we can be encouraged to know that the ultimate measure of success is not high test scores, but strong character. With that kind of education, our children can do great and mighty things.

I’m Mike Smith.