George - A Real Hero

Today is the 276th Birthday of George Washington. . . . . .

Stop and ponder some thoughts on the life and charactor of this man to whom we American's owe so much. Many of us have been enduring a long, cold, icy winter time, yet we sit in our warm, comfortable homes and work places unlike those valient men, who were led by General Washington at Valley Forge, during the freezing winter of 1777. General Washington recorded in his journal their desperate situation:

"No history now extant can furnish an instance of an army's suffering such uncommon hardships as ours has done and bearing them with such patience and fortitude. To see men without clothes to cover their nakeness, without blankets to lie on, without shoes (for the want of which their marches might be traced by the blood form their feet). . . .and submitting without murmur, is a proof of patience and obedience which in my opinion can scarce be paralleled."

Henry Muhlenberg, paster of the Lutheran church near Valley Forge, and one of the founders of the Lutheran Church in America, wrote the following impressions of General George Washington during the winter of 1777:

"I head a fine example today, namely that His Excellency General Washington rode around among his army yesterday and admonished each and every one to fear God, to put away the wickedness that has set in and become so general, and to practice the Christian virtues. From all appearances, this gentleman does not belong to the so-called world of society, for he respects God's Word, believes in the atonement through Christ, and bears himself in humility and gentleness. Therefore, the Lord God has also singularly, yea, marvelously, perserved him from harm in the midst of countless perils, ambuscades, fatigues, etc., and has hitherto graciously held him in His hand as a chosen vessel."

During his youth Abraham Lincoln studied the life of this man and learned much from his example. A modern American historian said recently: Probably no individual outside of Jesus Christ had a greater impact on American life and culture than George Washington. Nearly a century ago President Calvin Coolidge acknowledged his important influence: "Washington was the directing spirit without which there would have been no independence, no Union, no Constitution, and no Republic. . . . We cannot yet estimate him. We can only indicate our reverence for him and thank the Divine Providence which kept him to serve and inspire his fellow man."

George Washington was a prayerful man. In 1752 he created a personal prayer book and wrote out prayers often during his lifetime. Some of these concern his desires for America. In this attitude on June 14, 1783, at the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, General George Washington sent a farewell circular letter from his headquarters in Newburgh, New York to all thirteen Governors of the newly freed states. He wrote:

"I now make it my earnest prayer that God would have you and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection. . . that he would most graciously be pleased to despose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these these, we can never hope to be a happy nation."

Arnold Friberg's "Prayer at Valley Forge"

Thanks to Jaydene, my friend and fellow history traveler

For some insight into his spirituality (I have no doubt of his divine inspiration and guidance), read his Prayer Journal

http://personal.pitnet.net/primarysources/george.html

I love this part: "... I desire to render thanks & praise for thy merciful preservation of me this day, as well as all the days of my life; and for the many other blessings & mercies spiritual & temporal which thou hast bestowed on me, contrary to my deserving. All these thy mercies call on me to be thankful and my infirmities & wants call for a continuance of thy tender mercies; cleanse my soul, O Lord, I beseech thee, from whatever is offensive to thee, and hurtful to me, and give me what is convenient for me. watch over me this night, and give me comfortable and sweet sleep to fit me for the service of the day following."