This coming week Americans - especially those of us who reside in Illinois - will remember the 200th birthday of one of our favorite sons, President Abraham Lincoln.
In this time of great change and turmoil, we in this country and especially in our home state will do well to recall Abe, his faith, his perseverance and his ideals. This Christian and honest man who said, "Whatever you do, do it well" has gone down in history as quite possibly the most important president this country has ever known.
We in Illinois are privileged to call him our own. His existence changed the country for the better and we owe so much to him.
Many great quotes are attributed to our 16th president and we know many of them well. For example, "I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go."
And in a testament to the times in which he lived, "As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master."
And yet another less well-known quote that touches the hearts of those of us who learned our first prayers from our parents. "I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life."
What, we wonder, do we really have in common with the always great, but sometimes melancholy man who died over 140 years ago? Actually, we are more alike than we realize. He worked hard, prayed well, adored his family, cherished his friends and loved his country.
Like so many of us, our 16th president was no stranger to hard times. He suffered from health problems, tackled job after job, loved a spouse who was sometimes difficult to live with, and was himself a doting but worried parent.
Unlike us, Lincoln was leading a country. He desired to save the Union and eliminate slavery. While other presidents have led this nation during times of war, Lincoln was leading a country in which North and South were fighting the bloodiest of battles right on the soil of their homeland.
During his time as our nation's leader 600,000 individuals died from wounds and disease in the War Between the States - or the Civil War. Countless others were maimed and injured. Men of all ages were perishing. Families were losing their young men at an alarming rate and Lincoln was no doubt sickened by that thought. After all, he knew the pain of losing a child - he lost two sons before he was assassinated and his wife Mary Todd Lincoln endured the loss of one more son after her husband died.
So this week, in remembering the man so many called "Abe" let's do our best to follow his positive example and give thanks to God for our continued freedom. Whatever we do - worship, work, love or celebrate - let's do it well.
And like Lincoln, let's spend some time remembering the prayers our parents taught us - praying in thanksgiving for whomever and whatever we cherish in a country that might be troubled, but remains great.