One thing about Benjamin Franklin is that he finished much better than he had started out. If you’ve read his Autobiography, which I hope by now you have, you know that Ben left his family, his brother’s printing business, and his city of Boston, at the early age of 17. And that with only a few pennies to his name.

He certainly made something of himself. He built his own business in Philadelphia, made the city better, help others build their own business, performed experiments, taught himself, learned music, wrote the most widely read volume in Europe about electricity, became involved in Philanthropic endeavors, and helped build a new nation. And much more. Whew!

His plan for moral perfection helped him know how to help others. And he certainly did!

Franklin had a strong belief in God, as well as a strong belief in himself. But he knew that if a person had a strong belief in God, but did nothing by himself or took no action to better himself and others, he would not amount to anything. Such a person’s life would not be worthy of attention.

He said: “God helps those that help themselves!” So go ahead and do something. God will then lend a hand.

Or as Dr. Seuss says: “Whatever you try,
If it’s giant or small,
I know you can do it!
No trouble at all!”