Shared Resolve

Posted by The Liberty Brand

Today I attended the monthly lunch meeting of the McLennan County Republican Women (MCRW). Although a member my attendance has been sporadic at best. I have reached a point in my life – a crisis of faith of sorts – that has given me pause. Beginning in late fall events in both my professional and personal life (some under my control and some not) have caused me to take stock, re-access priorities, and what I call “get back to the basics.” Part of this process has been to be more discerning with my free time, including limiting meetings, etc. MCRW’s meeting today was an exception because of the special guest speaker, Representative Louie Gohmert from House District 1 of Texas, of whom I am a huge fan. While I certainly share Mr. Gohmert’s political ideology, I also have a deep appreciation for his loyal service to his constituency; plainly stated, he votes his conscience and his constituency – a rarity among politicians today. While speaking, he shared a story that steeled my resolve on my own personal journey.

Like most conservatives Mr. Gohmert is a fan of Abraham Lincoln, the original conservative and first Republican president. In 1862, Willie, the president’s 3rd son, died of typhoid fever during his father’s first term in office. Despite the attending physician’s belief he would recover, the 11 year old boy succumbed to his illness – a tragedy that left the family devastated and Mrs. Lincoln inconsolable. A year later when President Lincoln was preparing to leave for Gettysburg his youngest son and “apple of his eye”, Tad fell ill. Attended by the same family physician, the doctor made an eerily similar pronouncement that the boy should recover. Against his wife’s desperate pleas and his own trepidation President Lincoln boarded the train that day and went on to deliver arguably the most noted and eloquent political speeches ever given – The Gettysburg Address. “May we all share Lincoln’s resolve”, Mr. Gohmert concluded, ‘ . . . that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.'” Amen.

Reflections on All Saints Day

Posted by The Liberty Brand

Feeling overly emotional today . . . on this November 1st. Perhaps because it’s All Saints Day. Or maybe because neither Roger nor I remembered he was on-call today (third weekend in a row – for the bonus round!) until well after last night’s football game. Imagine how HE felt at learning around midnight that he’d have to work today, starting at 6 a.m.! We’d planned a family work day at home today, beginning with outside winterizing like trimming trees and weeding flower beds, in preparation of “pansy/viola-planting” (my favorite flower b/c they are “happy”). Surely, it can’t be because the most important part of that darn announcement got edited out or that I couldn’t find the timely words (before the mid-term election) yet again for another article about the sad state of affairs in our country!

This is our second year to host the Williams family Thanksgiving gathering and a fair amount of preparation is required (I can’t even think about the inside of the house, yikes!). I agree with Southern Living magazine that Fall IS the South’s best season – I offer today in central Texas as evidence. It’s clear and the air is crisp, ripe with the sights and sounds of autumn. We awoke to temps in the 40s with the high expected near 70 degrees. I’ve always felt more “connected” to the world around me this time of year – likely why I chose to get married in October and honeymoon on the East Coast when fall foliage is in all its glory. My how twenty years flies!

Roger recently texted me this picture of a poster he spotted at work. It’s a quote from Mother Teresa, probably the most-noted of the modern day saints. I love what is says – words to live by – a sort of “how-to” for sainthood or “right-living”; the standard of right being the natural standard or what the Founding Fathers termed “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” in the Declaration of Independence. I love what the poster says but I love it more that Roger saw it, knew it would move me, and took the time to forward it.

It also reminds me of something I recently read in my favorite Lincoln book (so far). Lincoln was a “Clay man” – an admirer and follower of Henry Clay, author of the Missouri Comprise, which had as its purpose to phase out slavery by restricting its expansion into the new territories. Clay had known the Founding Fathers personally and he seemed to Lincoln the natural guardian of their great traditions. What Lincoln said of Clay applied also to himself: “He loved his country warmly, because it was his home; but he loved it even more because it was a free country.” Similar sentiments were echoed when Benjamin Franklin said: “Where liberty dwells, there is my country.” These early statesmen and model patriots sacrificed and served America because of the higher ideal she embodied and hopefully still does.

Echoes From The Past?

Posted by The Liberty Brand

Saw this photo and caption in my Facebook feed and it reminded me of something I recently read about Lincoln. His first great speech entitled “The Perpetuation of our Political Institutions” was also captured in a scene from Dinesh D’Souza’s movie America. Speaking before the Young Men’s Lyceum of Springfield, Lincoln said that the United States faced no external threat. “All the armies of Europe, Asia, and Africa combined, . . . with a Bonaparte for a commander, could not by force take a drink from the Ohio or make a track on the Blue Ridge in a trial of a thousand years.” If danger were ever to threaten the United States, it would come from within. “As a nation of freemen we must live through all time, or die by suicide.” Continuing, “I mean the increasing disregard for law which pervades the country . . . ” Sound familiar? As characteristic of the man, Lincoln’s solution was simple and eloquent: “Let every American, every lover of liberty, every well-wisher to his posterity, swear by the blood of the revolution never to violate in the least particular the laws of the country, and never to tolerate their violation by others . . . “, and I add, ESPECIALLY the President.

The Right Side

Posted by The Liberty Brand

When I’m feeling anxious – alot lately – I find solace, inspiration, and direction in the life of Abraham Lincoln. The following is a perfect example of why. Lincoln once wrote to a clergyman, “If it were not for my firm belief in an over-ruling providence, it would be difficult for me, in the midst of such complications of affairs, to keep my reason in its seat. But I am confident that the Almighty has His plans and will work them out; and whether we see it or not, they will be the wisest and best for us.” And when another minister expressed his hope that the Lord is on the side of the North, Lincoln responded: “I am not at all concerned about that, for I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord’s side.” Amen.