Giving All You Have

By Zig Ziglar

Toscanini said that Marian Anderson had the sweetest voice "this side of Heaven." She sang before kings, princes and heads of governments in the opera houses of Europe and America. She had an extraordinary vocal range, going from soprano to the lowest contralto with a pure tone.Marian Anderson got her start by scrubbing floors for ten cents an hour so that she could buy a pawn shop violin.

The church she attended recognized her rare talent and raised money for a professional voice teacher to work with her. When the teacher pronounced her ready, she went to New York. She was crucified by the critics. She returned home to regroup. Her mother and her church encouraged her and paid for more lessons. This time, because of the intense racial prejudice in America, she went to Europe.

She took the continent by storm. She came back to America and sang at the Lincoln Memorial with over 60,000 people in attendance. She sang "O Mia Fernando," Schubert's "Ave Maria," "Gospel Train," "Trampin'," and "My Soul Is Anchored in the Lord," among other songs. Those who were privileged to hear both her singing and Martin Luther King giving his "I Have a Dream" speech, say her music was even more moving than his oratory.One day a reporter asked her what was the most satisfying moment in her life.

Without hesitation, she responded that her most satisfying moment came when she was able to tell her mother that she did not have to take in any more washing. Her honors were too numerous to mention and yet this was her most satisfying moment. The reporter asked her, "What did your mother give you?" And Marian Anderson responded, "Everything she had."That's greatness.

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Zig Ziglar is a motivator and teacher. He is the author of 27 books and loved by millions of people world wide for his practical wisdom and his gift of hope.