The year was 1830 and William Wilberforce had but three remaining years on this Earth. When his eldest son William needed capital for his dairy business, the elder Wilberforce sold a great deal of stock and even his boyhood home in Hull to help him. In spite of all this, the business failed and Wilberforce, now in his 70’s, finds himself nearly destitute. He is forced to sell his “retirement home” and, in fact, would live out his days with his wife Barbara moving from home to home with his second and third sons.
His entire life in service to the poor and the slave, he finds himself, in the end, not far removed. He remained grateful.
“The loss incurred, ” Wilberforce writes, “has been so heavy as to compel me to descend from my present level and greatly to diminish my establishment. But I am bound to recognise in this despensation the gracious mitigation of the severity of the stroke. Mrs. Wilberforce and I are supplied with a delightful asylum under the roofs of two of our own children. And what better could we desire. A kind Providence has enabled me with truth to adopt the declaration of David, that goodness and mercy have followed me all my days. And now, when the cup presented to me has some bitter ingredients, yet surely no draught can be deemed distasteful which comes from such a hand, and contains such grateful infusions as those of social intercourse and the sweet endearments of filial gratitude and affection.”
Wanna build some much needed humility, gratitude, and grace? Please read Amazing Grace, by Eric Metaxas. You will be inspired, humbled, and changed. Good…
BUILT TO LEAD 
Just finished Mataxsis’ bio of Bonhoeffer. Excellent, too, and another role model for these qualities and deep VIRTUES. Old word meaning strengths.
Agreed. Bonhoeffer was another amazing study and humbling read. Hope you are well, Sully…
Well enough, Chet. Learning slowly…and re-learning a lot about what marketing really is when you’re playing with your own money and talking about your own work.