I have talked about my type of patriotism before.
Raised in a military family, I have learned to appreciate military families and the sacrifices they make daily to gain our freedom.
My mother was a deputy sheriff in El Paso County. She served well and made many friends of ex-offenders as she attempted to assist them in life. My heart hurts to hear the divide with the community and police. I know they are not perfect, but much like our military, every day they risk their lives for ours. I said all this to say, I respect the role of our military, and our police officers; my upbringing has taught me to.
I was also taught to respect our President. It does not matter what race or party affiliation. My parents may have criticized things that were happening, but they always referred to the president as 'Mr. President' and would not tolerate any other title. They did this for every sitting president, including the last one they lived to see.
I was also born an African American.
When the first black man ran for president, I didn't jump on board just because he was black, I still listened to what he had to say, listened to his opponents and chose accordingly. When he was elected in 2008, I like others sat with tears in my eyes, realizing how historic this moment was. Realizing how far we had come...
PRAYER FOR PRESIDENTS
As with all presidents prior, whether I voted for them or not, I prayed for them. I prayed for wisdom and insight. I prayed for protection and grace. I prayed that they would be surrounded by good people who would guide them well. That they would uphold the biblical values that this country was founded on and be a president that got results. I prayed for their families and for our country, that we would benefit from their time in office and that they would hear God in how they ruled.
FROM THE FIRST FIST BUMP
Do you remember the 'fist bump' after the win? There was so much talk about what it meant. After that day, I realized that my normal prayer was not going to be enough. I didn't realize how difficult it was going to be for this president after being elected. I didn't realize that not only would he have to fight the normal issues of a president, but he would also have to fight for his right to be the one who was already elected. He would have to fight for himself and his family, and he would be almost fighting for us as African Americans.
I didn't realize we would have to defend him to uphold our own reputations. I didn't think he would be talked about so badly, didn't fathom the racist comments that would come or know that some sworn to serve would refuse to work or even hear things he wanted to propose. I couldn't have imagined that his wife would be ridiculed and his children criticized for dressing like kids, or that what we thought in 2008 was a breakthrough in race relations, opened an old sore in some. With all the good we got to see, we also got to see the ugly.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF PRAYER
I felt that with the first black president, some of our reputation as African Americans, was riding on him and his family. So although I make it my custom to pray for all presidents, I really prayed for this one. Not just for his politics, but for him personally, and his family.
This was a very public office and how he handled it would speak to all of America and the world. I felt a bit vested in his success, not as a politician, but as a black man. So yes, I prayed for the Obamas in a way I had never prayed for a president before.
I almost felt embarrassed that this was the type of prayer I was praying for a man I had no reason to think was at risk of hurting us. I never prayed anything like that for any other president. But with this one, my reputation... OUR reputation was riding on him.
I prayed that:
- He would be safe- no one would try or succeed in harming him
- That he would have wisdom and insight to deal well with the people- all people
- That his family would be a great example to everyone who observed them
- I prayed his kids would be seen in a good light, well behaved and happy
- I prayed he would be scandal free
- I prayed that we would be very proud after he finished his term -whether it was one or two
After awhile, I realized that he was going to hold his own, and though I continued to pray for him, I was less concerned about whether or not we could trust him and his family with our reputation. Though his success and popularity bothered some, that was not my concern anymore. As the years went by, I watched without concern of embarrassment, as our President handled his business, gave us encouragement and laughter as he did his job as Commander in Chief. He survived 8 years of criticism and skepticism. He still holds his head up, his family is blessed and no matter what you think about the state of the union, his union is too.
I thank President Obama and his family for showing us a scandal free, family supporting, easy going fun and purposeful family. I appreciate the efforts to finally get health care to all Americans, after years of talk, at least he did something. As with other things in his reign, it may not be perfect, but he handled it. It does not matter what you think of his politics, I didn't agree with everything either, but the First Family has been a breath of fresh air in a world where we were choking to find someone to look up to. Only someone who has a deep seeded evil streak can really criticize them as people. They have been a great example to have stand before us in the highest office in the world. My prayers have been answered and I am thanking God for their service. We are girding up for a new president in a week or so, I am once again preparing my prayer list. In the mean time.....
THANK YOU
PRESIDENT OBAMA, FIRST LADY MICHELLE,
MALIA AND SASHA!
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