A self-made man is considered to be one who pulls himself up from a place of misfortune or poverty and becomes a well-known, highly esteemed person.  He worked hard and persevered on his own in the face of struggle.  He made it!

Or did he?  Did he really do this all by himself?

What about his family of origin?  Whether he was raised by his parents in a loving home, or not, his upbringing helped form who he is.  How about the teacher or coach who saw his potential and encouraged him?  Or, maybe this was not his experience at all.  Possibly he suffered bullying and felt alone in his young years.  Either way, his experiences influenced his life.

Even though he pushed hard to finish college, he would not have done it without competent instructors.  He worked his way up to a high level in a company.  He could not have done that without being hired in the first place.

Perhaps he created his own company.  It could not have been successful without customers.

And what about those moments in the dark of night when he cried out to God for help?  God was there.  He is always there.

Self-made man?  I think not.  Be sure to recognize all those people whose actions have helped form who you are today.  Be grateful . . . then you can live . . . your life to the fullest.