In plain words
Bad qualities must go. Good habits and good qualities must grow. This is what our festivals teach. We are not celebrating these sacred festivals the way they should be celebrated.
The example of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln, who was once President of America, was born into a very poor family. His mother brought the boy up on the money she earned by stitching old clothes. One day, as he was walking to school with his rich classmates, they kept mocking him for being poor. Lincoln came home crying: “Mother! They say my clothes are old. They say I am poor. They say they will not mix with me. They say they do not want my friendship. I do not want this schooling. I cannot go to school with these boys,” he said. His mother drew him close: “My child! We are bearing many hardships. We fill our stomachs by doing any work that comes. Remember this, and do not grieve that no one honours you. If you honour others, honour will surely come to you too. Grow in self-respect. Live with faith in yourself. You will surely rise to a high place,” she said. Lincoln kept his mother’s good counsel in his heart. He developed faith in himself. Honouring everyone and honoured by everyone, he earned a good name. At the urging of his friends he stood for election and won a great victory. Step by step he became President of America. Though he was born into a poor family, because he followed his mother’s teaching and honoured everyone, he was able to reach so honoured a place. He regarded his mother as his God and worshipped her always. It was she who taught him good sense! Whoever teaches us good sense is God to us. God is not somewhere far away; He is in self-respect itself. If we nurture self-respect, He appears before us within it.
In truth, Lincoln had no wealth. But character he had in plenty.