Abrahim Lincon: A Man who give freedom from slavery

When Lincoln was nine years old, his mother, on her deathbed, shook his soul with her last words: “Abraham, be something.”

These words compelled him to delve deep within himself to find the true purpose of his life. This moment became a cornerstone, not just for him, but for millions of black slaves.

The words “be something” constantly ignited a fire in his heart, which got direction through the wisdom of books. Although financial hardships kept him away from attaining a formal education, his never-give-up attitude inspired him to become his own teacher. He taught himself by borrowing books from neighbors and friends.

You can imagine his passion—he once walked 35 miles to get a new book, driven by a ‘no-excuses’ mindset. This unwavering commitment led him to study day and night under the lamp.

As Lincoln himself once said, “I will study and get ready, and perhaps my chance will come.” This belief in preparation and perseverance laid the foundation for his future success.

While working as a store clerk, Lincoln stumbled upon an old, dusty book titled Commentaries on the Law of England. Captivated by its content, he eagerly started to read, and by the time he finished the book, he could clearly imagine his career in law—a path that would allow him to provide justice for the poor and needy.

Since he couldn’t afford to enroll in law school, he looked for other ways to learn. He heard about a retired judge living across the river who owned a vast collection of law books.

Determined to learn, Lincoln set out to reach him. On the way, he lost his boat but didn’t give up. He swam across the river to continue his journey. When he got to the judge’s house, he offered to clean his entire home in exchange for reading the books.

Impressed by Lincoln’s dedication, the judge let him use the books. With this help, he studied hard and eventually became a formidable lawyer known as ‘Honest Abe.’

Lincoln did his best to improve the lives of people as a lawyer. However, the brutal reality of slavery in America, where Black people were treated like property—bought and sold like goods—deeply troubled him. This inhumane practice weighed heavily on his heart.

Lincoln realized that to abolish slavery, he needed to make a bold decision: leave his law practice and enter politics. Only through political power could slavery be legally eradicated. While others might have turned a blind eye, Lincoln listened to his conscience and chose to fight.

His political journey, like much of his life, was fraught with struggle. After losing eight consecutive elections, most people would have given up hope, but Lincoln was made of stronger resolve.

Driven by his heart, willpower, and unwavering dedication to the welfare of the people, he persevered. Finally, in 1861, his relentless determination bore fruit when he was elected the 16th President of the United States.

As president, he fulfilled his promise by passing the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery and granted millions of people not only freedom but the dignity that they had dreamed for so long. Lincoln’s journey serves as a testament to how determined thoughts have the potential to shape the destiny of an entire nation.