Colossians
1:9
For this reason we
also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that
you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual
understanding.
Bible
Reading for a Year
[bible]psalm76[/bible]; [bible]roman4[/bible]; [bible]numbe35-36[/bible]
Because of the lack
of experience in the legal world, a young lawyer often consulted with a more
skillful attorney. One day, in the waiting room of the courthouse, the young
lawyer was sitting waiting for the senior lawyer. After waiting for a long time,
the meeting was held. Unfortunately, it was not as he expected.
When they met, the
senior lawyer only glanced at him, as without meaning. It was getting worse as
a senior lawyer said with a very loud tone, "What's he doing here? Get rid
of him! I do not want to deal with a stiff monkey." Hearing this, the
young lawyer remained calm as nothing happened. He remained loyal to the
proceedings. Although he had no chance to consult with him face to face, he
still learned from the senior lawyer.
During the trial,
he saw how brilliant the lawyer while defending his clients. The way he dealt
with case was fascinated. "His reason was excellent. The argument was precise
and complete. It was well-organized and thoroughly prepared. I'll go home and
even harder to learn about the law," he said in his mind.
The young lawyer
was Abraham Lincoln, who had been one of the best presidents of the United
States. And the senior lawyer was Edwin M. Stanton, who was appointed by
Lincoln to an important position as Secretary of War. Lincoln acknowledged that
Stanton was a smart-witted lawyer, and the country needed such man. When
Lincoln died, Stanton said, "He is the pearl belonged to
civilization."
The journey of life
is not as smooth as the highway. We come across a lot of people from all ways
of life, which have a variety of characters. There is love, there is hatred. They
love being praised, but they’ve been criticized a lot. It’s very normal.
Everyone must be happy when he/she gets a compliment, but not everyone will
react the same if criticized or insulted. Today we learn from Lincoln, who
departed from insult to success.
Not many people have
attitude and mentality like Lincoln did, which can rise and succeed beyond
humiliation. When we got a negative feedback from others, we only have two
choices: allowing the assessment damage us, or making such assessments as
encouragement to make us a better person. Remember, both successful people and
unsuccessful people are criticized. The difference is, successful people make
negative judgments such as triggers for success, while unsuccessful people let
the negative judgments bring them down.