What is a failure? A failure is not someone who fails, but someone who quits. Don’t let successes go to your head or let failure go to your heart. It seems great people were at times also great failures. Following are some known failures:
He could not speak fluently until the age of nine. His rebellious nature led to expulsion from school. Teachers thought he was unteachable. He was refused admittance to the Zurich Polytechnic School. He said, “I have tried 99 times and failed, but on the 100th time came success.” – Albert Einstein. Failure – I THINK NOT! He was 65-year old when he set out with nothing more than a social security check and recipe for fried chicken. He was rejected over 1000 times before finding a franchise partner. – Colonel Sanders. Failure – I THINK NOT! He said, “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. I’ve been trusted 26 times to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again, and that is why I have succeeded.” – Michael Jordan. Failure – I THINK NOT! He was King of Strikeouts leading the American League in strikeouts five times with a total of 1,330 strikeouts. – Babe Ruth. Failure – I THINK NOT! He was born in poverty, and faced defeat throughout his life. He lost 8 elections, twice failed in business and suffered a breakdown. His resilience in the face of defeat became his greatest strength. Because he didn’t quit, he became one of America’s greatest presidents. He stated, “Whatever you are, be a good one.” He failed all the way to the White House. – Abraham Lincoln. Failure – I THINK NOT! He denied the Lord 3 times, and followed Him from afar (Luke 22:54). – Simon Peter. Failure – I THINK NOT! He was beaten 5 times, received 39 stripes, stoned, 3 times in shipwrecks, in immediate dangers of robbers, enemies, in cities, in the wilderness, often in weariness, pain, hunger and thirst. Beside all those things he had the care of all the churches. – Apostle Paul. Failure – I THINK NOT! He was despised, rejected, spit upon, beaten, falsely accused, and finally crucified on a cruel cross. – Jesus Christ. Failure – I THINK NOT!
So when you fall don’t faint. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal.6:9). Faint means to lose heart. Don’t lose heart – find hope. Remember, It is not what happens to you but in you that makes the difference. Greatness is not determined by what it takes to start you, but what it takes to stop you. So keep getting up. Remember: A failure is not someone who fails, but someone who quits. Failure is not final. So when you fall, ask yourself“Am I a failure?”Then start again, and yell, “I THINK NOT!”
Was this article a failure – “I THINK NOT!” – Feel free to pass it to others – TC
