Swearing in of the 44th President of the United States of America
Before the inauguration.
President elect Obama, Laura Bush, President Bush, & Michelle Obama
President Bush speaking with Malia and Sasha
Shall we dance?
Vice President Joe Biden with wife Jill
Yesterday was a somber and quiet day in my home. There's usually alot of yack and laughter going on, but not yesterday. The television is a no-no on school days, but yesterday was the exception. It wouldn't have mattered if we were swearing in Porky Pig (no comparisons intended), we would have been glued to the t.v. watching each and every detail. This was a "history" day! When I say 'history', I'm not just speaking of the first African-American President, I'm speaking, this is it for the 44th inauguration, no matter who is was. I mean America is over 200 years old, and this is only the 44th leader we've had, and really, there hasn't been 44 leaders due to some of them serving more than one term in office. In my lifetime of almost 44 years, I've seen Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, and now Obama sworn in. President Ford didn't even have an inauguration day due to the circumstances of that time. President Johnson was president when I was born. So, as I said, yesterday was a very historical day. I thought yesterdays inauguration was very well planned out and organized, two things I appreciate with any event. I was impressed with several things of the day. Alot of things are just for show due to all the media, etc., but at the same time, this is what I saw: I saw President and Mrs. Bush being very cordial, helpful, and encouraging to the Obama's; I thought it very nice and thoughtful of Mrs. Obama to have a gift for Mrs. Bush, I loved the clothes the Obama's chose for the day-very tasteful- but not over the top, Sasha and Malia Obama were very well behaved-that's always a plus, I loved it when the reporter told that the Obama children would still be required to make their own beds in their new home, he also said that President Obama doesn't drink coffee, but also continued to say that he doesn't drink alcohol either, so that made me happy, (the alcohol, not the coffee part!)
My Country Tis of Thee sung by Aretha Franklin was a winner to me (as I do have some "soul" in me!), ....it was just a pleasant kind of day to me. The hoopla is history today and the real work is begun. This is the day that if we've not started to pray already, we need to begin. We need to pray for our leader, President Obama. I am very candid in that I did not vote for this man, I did not support this man in any way, not because of color, age, experience, etc., but simply because of his stand on certain issues. Those issues include homosexuality and abortion. I do not type anything this morning on my blog that I would not respectfully, yet firmly express to my president face to face. I stand upon God's Word and I shall not be moved. BUT, Barack Obama is now MY president and I choose to support him with my prayers and well wishes respectfully and sincerely. I too once was blind, but now I see, and the same God that saved me by his marvelous grace can convict our nations leaders hearts and show them the truth of His Word. With that said, I do enjoy seeing the Obama family on t.v. and I enjoy reading about them. They seem very sincere, they seem very fun, thoughtful, and caring. I love the vigor, charm, friendliness, and zeal about them. No one can accuse them of being "stiff". President Obama's job and my job are two different things: His is to lead our great nation, mine is to pray for him and to hold him up to God. I don't wish for this man to fail in any way. Should he fail, we all fail! His success is our success. I encourage each of you, no matter how you feel about him personally, pray diligently for President and Mrs. Obama and their children, and for the other leaders of our nation right down to the mayor and council people of our towns. God is still faithful, true, long-suffering, kind, and all-powerful. I may never be known to Presidents and Kings here below, but the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords knows my name, He knows my heart, He knows my thoughts; How special I am to Him! , so therefore I feel quite comfortable casting all my cares upon Him and trusting Him with my hearts desires and all my fears. I am thankful to be an American, and it's just by the grace of God that I am, but I'm even more thankful to be a child of the King and to know that I'm bought by the blood of my Saviour Jesus. I'll close with these verses that have been such a comfort to me through the years. I Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
