How could Paul bear all these things? They were enough to break down a dozen strong men. Probably he sometimes felt that he could not bear the burden any longer, but always there came to him the assurance of Christ, "My grace is sufficient for thee." Then he could bear anything; yet not he, but Christ, who lived in him. Thus his glory was not in his own strength but in his weakness, which made place in his life for the strength of Christ. Until men and women learn how to gain strength in their weakness as Paul did, their lives will be unsatisfying, their days will be full of complaint. Their burdens, which seemed like mountains before learning to trust Christ, will be borne as easily as if they were feathers. God does not promise to make us all dollar millionaires if we look at Him for strength in our weakness, but He does promise to make us all millionaires of faith and hope and courage. Paul was; we can be, too. CHAPTER TWO _THE COURAGE THAT FACES OBSTACLES_ "YOU may expect to spend the rest of your days tied to your chair." Theodore Roosevelt's physician made this disconcerting announcement to his patient a few weeks before his death. How would the courageous man receive an announcement like that? How would you receive it? Let the words spoken in reply by the lion-hearted Roosevelt never be forgotten by others who struggle with difficulties: "All right! I can work and live that way, too!" Surely the triumphant words justified the characterization made by Herman Hagedorn of this colossal worker: "He was frail; he made himself a mountain of courage." At a dinner given to celebrate the worthy achievement of a public man, a guest spoke of him to a companion at table. "No wonder he has been so well. Everything is in his favor: he is young, he is brilliant, he is in good health." "In good health?" was the answering comment. "Where did you get that? For years he has been in wretched health; many a night he was unable to sleep except he knelt on the floor by the bedside and stretched himself from his waist across the bed. But it is not strange that you did not know, he has said nothing of his ailments; he is so full of courage himself that he makes everyone around him courageous." I LEARNING When the famous Sioux Indian, Charles A. Eastman, was a boy, his father, who had learned the joys of civilized life, urged his son to secure an education. "I am glad that my son is brave and strong," he said to him. "I have come to start you on the White Man's way. I want you to grow to be a good man." Then he urged his son, Ohiyesa, as he was called, to put on the civilized clothes he had brought with him. The boy rebelled at first; he had been accustomed to hate white men and everything that belonged to them. But when he reflected that they had done him no harm, after all, he decided to try on the curious garments.