Tuesday, January 20, 2009

prayers of my father

Today is an historic day in our country. I have sought to put my political standings and feelings aside. I want to be present in this moment. No, I did not vote for our newly inaugurated president. However, I love my country and respect the office of the presidency. And, President Obama, I will continue to support you, my president, with my prayers. I pray for your protection. I pray for you to have wisdom and strength.

I see your daughters and feel a kinship with them. I remember, as a little girl, touring parsonages for the first time. I remember being introduced to church congregations where everyone already knew my name. I know what it’s like, on a much much much smaller scale, to feel all eyes on you. To feel people’s expectations. Sasha and Malia, I pray you will be allowed to be little girls. That people will extend to you grace. And that you will be gracious with people. I pray that you will remember what you were feeling today as you watched your daddy become your president. But always remember, that he is your daddy.

While watching today’s inauguration I was struck by something. I knew today could happen.

And I want to thank my parents. I want to thank them for raising me in such a way that left me never doubting that a day like today could happen. I never have felt my gender would hinder me in accomplishing goals. I was taught that achieving aspirations would take hard work on my part. But my being a female would not be a hindrance.

I say this because today I really stopped to realize that I have long known that, in my lifetime, I would see the first black president. I will see the first female president. I have never doubted it.

Because this is America.

I am an American.

I am often overwhelmed by the thought of that at times. I am an American.

And...

Because I am a Child of God.

Thank You, God. Thank You for the privilege.

I can never know what it’s like to have been born somewhere else. I can wonder what it would be like to be raised in another country. And whenever I do I come back with a feeling of awe. In the same way I try to understand the vastness of the universe. But I will never grasp how far it reaches. How high the sky? Just as I will never, in this earthly life, fully grasp how God always was, is, and will be.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for being an example that taught me to see others as children of God, before all else. Thank you for teaching me that our worth comes in being His. And through Him we can do all things.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is beautifully stated. (Congratulations, you made the pregnant lady tear up once again today :)

Sarah W. said...

Very nice. Thank you.