No one ever said life was fair. Some people are born with the proverbial silver spoon in their mouth, while others are born into far less hopeful circumstances. Yet the people who succeed are not always the silver spoon crowd. Some of the greatest achievers down through the ages have been those who were born into poverty or who suffered afflictions. The ability to overcome the odds and be a success is largely a matter of finding the strength and desire within your heart to keep on trying.

We can learn a lot from those heroes of the past and present that have overcome great odds. Abraham Lincoln is a good example. He was from very humble beginnings, and even lost his mother at a young age. Yet he learned to work hard, and had a cheerful attitude that just couldn't be kept down. He realized the importance of getting an education and made tremendous efforts in this area, even though it wasn't necessarily encouraged by those around him. In addition to his positive outlook, he also was characterized by integrity, which earned him the nickname, Honest Abe.

Another person who overcame great odds was the hymn writer Fanny Crosby. A medical mistake left her blind when she was just a small baby. Yet her blindness didn't keep her from becoming a world renowned writer whose songs are still loved many years later. What helped her keep from succumbing to despair and depression in the face of great odds? Again, it was a hopeful, positive attitude, coupled with a deep faith in God.

A third example of a successful person who overcame the odds is the neurosurgeon Ben Carson. This African American hero grew up in a single parent household and faced the temptations to drift into a life of drugs and crime like many of his peers. One difference in his situation, though, was that his mother required him to read books. This simple request on the part of his mother opened his mind up to the wonders of learning and gave him an alternative to the peer group. As a result, he was able to become a surgeon who gained fame by separating a pair of conjoined twins who were joined at the head.

How did Dr. Carson overcome the odds? He developed an interest in learning and he also learned the virtue of self-control. Here's a story he tells about a junior high experience. A fellow student did something that caused the young Carson to respond in anger. Carson actually drew a knife on the other boy and stabbed at him, hitting him in his large belt buckle. When the young Carson realized how close he had come to committing murder, he went home, locked himself in the bathroom, and proceeded to read through the book of Proverbs in the Bible. When he emerged several hours later, he had a new attitude. This new outlook sustained him through the rest of school and on into his career.

Do you have what it takes to overcome the odds in your own life? It isn't magic, and it doesn't take money. It's all a matter of faith, a positive attitude, and being willing to change when change is in order. It's developing a sense of wonder about learning. It's believing in yourself and in the power of God to direct you and change you. Yes, you, too, can overcome the odds!