What made Abraham Lincoln such an honest person, an influential leader and the reputation of "Honest Abe?"
At the age of 22, owner and manager of a country store, Abe found himself walking over two miles to repay 6 cents to Mrs. Duncan. Why the inconvenience? He was sincere in making sure Mrs. Duncan knew the 6 cents overcharge was not intended and with apology he would repay immediately.
Maybe it was a similar time when Abe in haste weighed tea bags for an elderly woman and realized he made a similar mistake and incorrectly gave her a quarter pound of tea rather than a half a pound. Like before, when closing that evening, he made haste to deliver to this woman her other quarter pound of tea.
While these may seem like such little instances and many would argue that the convenience of overlooking the matters would be better, Abe was wise in going the extra mile to make things right. He obviously understood the great life principle of making the right decisions in the little matters develops the ability to make right decisions in life's larger matters.
In 1860, the integrity of Abe's honesty was needed by a torn and divided nation. His leadership to our country abolished slavery and united millions of people towards a more patriotic and unified nation fighting for liberty for all citizens.
Discuss how honesty or the principle of making right decisions in little matters develops the ability to make right decisions in life's bigger matters are so needed in today's leadership. What areas of a teen leader could these great truths be applied?
