What President's Day is Really all About

This week we will celebrate a national holiday called President's Day. For school children and teachers this means a day off. For retail it means having President Day sales. For federal employees and banks it is also a day off.

I believe it can be a day to be thankful for former presidents that looked to God as the one that helped them make decisions that helped form and govern our great nation. I can remember having a picture of George Washington in my elementary classroom and we studies about our founding presidents.

I just finished reading a book title, "Becoming George Washington" by Glenn Beck. I recommend the book if you want to get a renewed vision for our nation.  I loved how George Washington talked about the "Invisible Hand of God and Providence" guiding him. 

He was a godly man, a man of honor and character. At the age of sixteen, Washington had copied out by hand, 110 Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation. They were based on a set of rules composed by French Jesuits in 1595. Presumably they were copied out as part of an exercise of penmanship assigned by young Washington's schoolmaster. The first English translation of the French rules appeared in 1640, and are ascribed to Francis Hawkins the twelve-year-old son of a doctor.

Some of these rules on etiquette seem a little outdated but the rules that have a focus on others and not self are so needed in our day and age. These rules proclaim our respect for others and in turn give us the gift of self-respect and heightened self-esteem.

Here are a few of the rules:
#1 Every action done in company, ought to be with some sign of respect, to those that are present.

#22 Show not yourself glad at the misfortune of another though he were your enemy.

#39 In writing or speaking, give to every person his due title according to his degree & the custom of the place.

#49 Use no reproachful language against anyone neither curse nor revile.

#50 Be not hasty to believe flying reports to the disparagement of any.

#56 Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your reputation; for tis better to be alone than in bad company.

#58 Let your conversation be without malice or envy, for tis a sign of tractable and commendable nature: and in all causes of passion admit reason to govern.

#59 Never express anything unbecoming, not act against the rules moral before your inferiors.  

#64 Break not a jest where none take pleasure in mirth laugh not aloud, nor at all with occasion, deride no mans misfortune, though there seem to be some cause.

#65 Speak not injurious words neither in jest nor earnest scoff at none although they give occasion.

#82 Undertake not what you cannot perform but be careful to keep your promise.

#108 When you speak of God or His attributes, let it be seriously and with reverence. Honor and obey your natural parents although they be poor.

#109 Let your recreations be manful not sinful.

#110 Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience. 

As we celebrate President's Day give God thanks for men who realized they needed someone bigger than themselves. Men who humbled themselves before God and asked for His divine intervention in the affairs of man.  

I know most Americans remember George Washington and Abraham Lincoln but probably couldn't name all the presidents. My grandchildren brought conviction in my life about a year ago when some of them from 4 years old to 7 years old could recite the names of all the presidents. I thought to myself that I don't think I could have done that. So I made a decision to read biographies of some of our great presidents.

I am very thankful for our founding fathers and thought this would be a good day to share with you some thoughts along these lines.