They say Make the best of a bad situation . But I believe the bad situation makes the best of you. Even the irritations1 of life can be useful. President Abraham Lincoln showed us how this is so.

One of his cabinet appointees2, Edwin Stanton, frequently found flaws with the president and criticized him ---- sometimes in public. Lincoln seemed to show excessive patience with him. The president was asked why he kept such a man in a high level position.

Lincoln characteristically responded with a story. He told about a time he was visiting with an old farmer. He noticed a big horsefly3 biting the flank4 of the farmer s horse. Lincoln said he reached over to brush the fly away. As he did so, the farmer stopped him and cautioned5, Don t do that, friend. That horsefly is the only thing keeping this old horse moving.

Even life s many irritations and problems have their place. They may cause us to change directions. Or prod6 us to greater achievement. Or keep us moving along when it s easier to go nowhere.

Are you simply making the best of a bad situation, or will it make the best of you?