Presidents' Day
Presidents’ Day is a federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February. It was first celebrated on Feb. 22, 1800, to celebrate the birthday of America’s first president the year after he died. There is much controversy about how it is written correctly: President’s Day, Presidents’ Day or Presidents Day, but what is not controversial is that we typically close governmental offices and schools to celebrate two great presidents – Washington and Lincoln. As a former teacher, I believed that when children had a day off from school, they should know the ‘why’ behind it. I believe that is every teacher’s desire at RDS, too.
As I was preparing for a talk recently, I was doing research on General George Washington. Perhaps you have seen the artist’s rendering that depicts him on his knees praying to Almighty God for an answer to the next step in leading his army. On Christmas Day, 1776, they crossed the icy waters of the Delaware River. This was an amazing victory and perhaps why Washington is called the “Moses of America.”
What does this have to do with parenting? Would you agree that our country needs great men like Washington and Lincoln? Perhaps you are rearing one such child. While Washington was not perfect and had a fierce temper when he was young (that gives us hope!), he was used by God ‘for such a time in the life of our nation.’ One aspect that makes someone great is character qualities that exhibit humility – the giving up of power. For example, he resigned his commission from the Commander of the Continental Army; he declined to mold the presidency to his liking while serving at the Constitutional Convention; lastly, he relinquished the idea of becoming a three-term president. Can you point to one current leader who is willing to give up power for the sake of the greater good? Are you thinking, like I am, of Another Who gave up His power?
In addition to exhibiting humility, when Mary Washington was asked to name the lesson, she tried hardest to teach George, she responded, “To obey.” Furthermore, when asked how he was to obey she responded, “Accept correction thankfully.” Oh, boy! Again, this gives us great hope!
Do we see our hearts straying through the lens of our children’s disobedience? Can we adequately correct the hearts of our children without seeing our own sin? Children do not cause us to sin, but their behavior exposes what is in our own hearts as we react to their disobedience. I believe God’s ideal training ground for our sanctification is in our families as we live out our marriage covenant and rear our children.
I spoke last week about being soaked like a sponge in God’s Word so that when I am squeezed (irritated), the fruit of the Spirit comes forth. I must confess, my children could expose what was in my heart, and it was not always pretty. One of the most influential ways to teach children is through modeling. Is what you are modeling to your children what you desire to see in them?
When was the last time you spoke with your children about how you disobeyed God and the need for repentance? Do you share how you needed to ask someone for forgiveness because of speaking ill about that individual? Do you share how your attitude toward something or someone at work exposed the sin of grumbling and speaking ill about your authority? These are good reminders for us.
As I said earlier, Washington appeared to be a humble man. So let us pray that God would cultivate in our children true humility towards Him and all others (Titus 3:2), and may God work in us to be humble and model humility, as well.
If you would like to reach out to Jeannie, you may email her at jbrostrand@redeemerdayschool.org