Reflections on Washington’s Birthday

Today, February 22nd, is George Washington’s birthday.

I remember as a kid growing up in Central Indiana and attending Cartersburg Elementary, Washington’s Birthday was a holiday. We learned about the “Father of our Country.” About his courage. His humility. His patriotism. And his piety.

It was a school holiday. There was no mail. Banks were closed, as well as federal, state and local offices. In fact, in that day, most businesses were closed to pay him homage.

Of course, all of that changed in 1971 when Congress passed the uniform Monday holiday act to consolidate Labor Day, Memorial Day and Washington’s birthday to fall on a Monday. Washington’s birthday, became President’s Day on the 3rd Monday of February to include our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln.

In this election year, with a divided country, partisan bickering, and nasty name-calling between candidates, it might be well to think of a leader who truly sought to unite a young, fragile Republic. Washington was not an enthusiastic politician, but reluctantly accepted his unique role as a leader to serve as our first President.

Historian C. L. Arbelbide describes Washington as a man of “virtue, honesty, strength, courage and patriarchal leadership.” One biographer wrote that “Washington was concerned with personal conduct, character and self-discipline.” Although Washington had his faults, he was recognized a humble and pious leader.

The King James Bible was an important part of literature in Washington’s day and he was obviously well acquainted with it. In a paper for the Mount Vernon library Dr. Daniel L. Dreisbach, a professor at American University wrote that Washington “liberally seasoned his discourse with biblical phrases and allusions. Washington’s papers contain hundreds of biblical quotations, figures of speech, idioms, proverbs, and allusions. No literary text is referenced more frequently in his writings.”

“Washington treated the Bible with respect and reverence in his writings,” concluded Dreisbach from his research.

Washington often spoke and wrote of “Divine Providence” and “the Divine Author of our blessed religion.” While some dispute its authenticity, attributed to Washington is this quote, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”

In his Thanksgiving proclamation in 1789 Washington acknowledged “the providence of Almighty God.” He called upon our citizens “to be grateful for {God’s} benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.” In that address He spoke of the Almighty as “that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be.”

On another occasion Washington wrote, “It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favors.”

In his farewell address, September 19, 1796, Washington said, “The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of right and order which Heaven itself has ordained. … Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.”

At one point in his life Washington kept a prayer journal. Found in the little book in his own handwriting is this prayer.

“Oh, eternal and everlasting God, direct my thoughts, words and work. Wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the Lamb and purge my heart by Thy Holy Spirit. Daily, frame me more and more in the likeness of Thy son, Jesus Christ, that living in Thy fear, and dying in Thy favor, I may in thy appointed time obtain the resurrection of the justified unto eternal life. Bless, O Lord, the whole race of mankind and let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and Thy son, Jesus Christ.”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if those who go to our nation’s capitol would lead and serve with the same spirit as the District’s namesake?

However, short of that ideal, we as Christian citizens of even a greater Kingdom, can still hold forth the Word of Light. We can be people of integrity. Virtue. Valor. Goodness. And godliness. We can be the saving and preserving salt to make a difference in our homes, communities and churches.

Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a reproach to any people.
(Prov. 14:34)

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman