Shade Tree Wisdom 2/16/15

          Today is Presidents' Day, to celebrate and to observe the birth of the 16th, Abraham Lincoln, and the first, George Washington.

          I read somewhere when George Washington said farewell to his officers, many wept (they did not turn their backs as a sign of contempt).  Many wept because they loved him and respected his skillful leadership.

          And when Abraham Lincoln, who had been invited as an afterthought, spoke his Gettysburg Address, he finished and had sat down before the photographer got his camera focused.

          Generations of school children have memorized the address.  No one even remembers the name of the festival speaker, who spoke two hours, the effort of a lifetime.

          So we celebrate Presidents' Day with the prayer that our God will continue to bless this country with leaders who can be trusted, with goals to work toward and principles to guide this nation on the right path.

And so 
“God bless our native land

 Firm may she ever stand,

Through storm and night,
When the wild tempests rave.

Ruler of wind and wave,

Do Thou our country save,

By Thy great might.”

LSB 965,1

GPD  2/16/15