To All You Mothers Out There:
Have a very Happy and Blessed Mothers Day!
Thank your God for all your many blessings, especially for the freedoms you have.Thank Thomas and Martha Jefferson and our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution and our Bill of Rights.
Freedom of Religion is one of our precious gifts.
In honor of our Founding Fathers and especially their mothers, with Mothers Day coming up this weekend, I chose to tell you about one of them. Thomas Jefferson’s Mother.
Thomas Jefferson was serving in Congress in August of 1775. At their break he was happy to return to his home at Monticello. His happiness soon turned to grief. A month after he arrived home, his second child, one year old Jane Randolph Jefferson, died. Jane had been born April 3, 1774, only 3 ½ months after the Boston Tea Party had taken place.
The Founding Fathers were industrious and positive thinking men. They lived not only fruitful lives, but lives full of activity, wisdom, leadership, and friendship.
Benjamin Franklin, who took part in most of the life changing events of his time, lived to be 84. He died in 1790.
George Washington, the indispensible man, our nation wouldn’t exist without his accomplishments, died at the age of 67. He died in December of 1799, just before the new century was rung in.
Patrick Henry also died in 1799. He was known as America’s noble patriot and the first national hero. He was only 63 when he left his family of 17 children.
It’s absolutely a fact that the Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson, in Philadelphia. Jefferson was a member of the committee assigned by the Continental Congress to create such a document if one should be needed. The committee was made up of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman. They chose Jefferson to write the draft for their review and approval. He did. At the Graff House. The committee approved it with only minor changes.
This week’s commemoration of Good Friday and then Easter Sunday is an important milestone in the Christian Religion. It was honored by our Founding Fathers. Thomas Jefferson said that the “Wee Little Book” he created is “proof positive that I am a real Christian . . . .”
Benjamin Franklin’s “Project for Moral Perfection” had him working on his character to imitate the humility of Jesus. George Washington paid for his own seat or booth at the Christian Church in Alexandria which was close to Mount Vernon.
How did it ever happen that the Declaration of Independence was written and approved? Why did it even come up? Originally it was the result of several Virginians.
The Second Continental Congress was called on May 10, 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Patrick Henry was elected by the people of Virginia to represent them at their own State convention. It wasn’t even a State yet! But that’s why Patrick Henry stayed home rather than attend the continuation of the Second Continental Congress like Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin.
Sometimes the ones in the right must stand up to the Bullies in the wrong!
One of the virtues our Founding Fathers are known for, is Kindness. Thomas Jefferson was known to receive visitors to the President’s Mansion without prior announcement or request. He was always polite and gracious to his visitors.
George Washington likewise entertained drop-in guests at Mount Vernon and served them delicious meals and cheerful reunions.
Benjamin Franklin was always very diplomatic. He treated everyone like an equal.
Kindness can have its rewards. I’m reminded of a client I had in my 37 years of Estate Planning. This one divorced man was very quiet but polite in all situations. His name was Ray. On one visit he told me of a kind and respectful young cashier he had met at the local Safeway grocery store where he shopped weekly. He was divorced and wanted some specific bequests made in his small trust. He didn’t own much in the way of assets.
That America began as a Christian nation is just based on history. Those who haven’t studied the Founding Fathers’ intent, or our foundational documents argue that this isn’t so. But once you have read about the lives of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and even Benjamin Franklin, you can’t help but come away with an admiration of their belief and Faith in Jesus Christ.
C. S. Lewis, a Christian Writer (The Chronicles of Narnia) of his day (1898-1963) had an interesting way of explaining things. Another writer said of him: “The mere Christianity of C. S. Lewis is not a philosophy or even a theology that may be considered, argued, and put away on a shelf (kind of like our debate about being a Christian nation).
Benjamin Franklin and John Adams were commissioned to travel to New York to meet with the British at the request of Lord William Howe, a British General. As the two traveled to the scheduled meeting to try to resolve the problems that had caused the Revolutionary War, they had to spend a night at an Inn.
The two had to share a room as there was no other space available to the travelers. As they prepared to retire, John Adams began to close the window to the room, Franklin asked him not to and explained his reasoning.