It's Not Easy Being Winston Churchill

When Hitler first began to acquire power in Germany in the 1930’s, most of the leaders in the British government were not inclined to oppose him. The British citizens were tired of war, having sacrificed thousands of sons and brothers in the trenches during the Great War. Furthermore, there were those in Britain who agreed with the rhetoric Hitler expressed during his rousing speeches. Many feared Communism much more than Fascism.

But Winston Churchill recognized early on the threat the Hitler posed. His foresight was proven correct when Germany invaded Poland in 1939, leading to a declaration of war by the United Kingdom and eventually, the resignation of Neville Chamberlain, the prime minister. Churchill was named as Chamberlain’s successor in 1940 and led his nation through some very dark days until Hitler was finally defeated.

We think of Churchill today as a great leader and orator, the only British prime minister to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. But it was not easy being Winston Churchill.

Churchill was considered a failure in school. His father berated him continuously for offences both real and imagined. He had a speech impediment. His mother, whom Churchill adored, engaged in extramarital affairs and rarely visited her son at boarding school, despite his frequent letters begging her to do so. Had it not been for Churchill’s beloved nanny, he might have entered adulthood without the assurance that his life was of value.

Churchill’s adult life is a case study in cycles of stunning successes and bitter disappointments. He was a popular military leader known for his bravery in battle. His news articles on his battlefield experience in Cuba and the Sudan were a big hit back home. His escape from a prison camp in South Africa gave him minor hero status, leading eventually to a career in government. But he was also made the scapegoat for a bitter defeat in Turkey during World War I and passed over for an important Cabinet position during what should have been the peak of his career. And though he had a very happy marriage and family life, he experienced a terrible loss when his daughter Marigold died at age 3.

No, it was not easy being Winston Churchill. We sometimes forget that the pathway to greatness often takes us through the wilderness of despair and confusion.

If you feel discouraged by your life circumstances, remember Winston Churchill. His courage, inspirational speeches and strategic insight saved a nation and a civilization from a dictator bent on destruction. It’s not easy being green, but if we can claim our stories, we too can thrive, even when all seems lost.

To view a video of one of Churchill’s most famous speeches, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsKDGM5KTBY&feature=related