When you read this Warm Thoughts column and look at the calendar, it tells us that Abraham Lincoln's birthday is February 12th. In the one room country school where I went as a child, the pictures of George Washington and Abe Lincoln hung on the wall along with the ten commandments. In those years, the government recognized two President holidays in February. These two presidents became examples of compassion and courage in my life. George Washington was our first president and known as the father of our country. Abraham Lincoln was president during the Civil War. Very recently, I read an incident about Abraham Lincoln that happened in the Civil War. It really touched my heart during this heart month, and I felt compelled to share these thoughts on caring and compassion with you.

Abraham Lincoln, during the Civil War, frequently visited the hospitals and addressed cheering words to the wounded warriors. On one occasion, he found a young fellow whose legs had been amputated and who was evidently sinking rapidly. "Is there anything I can do for you?" asked Lincoln. "You might write a letter to my mother," was the fate reply. The President wrote at the youth's dictation, "My dearest mother, I have been shot bad and am bearing up. I tried to do my duty. They tell me I cannot recover. God bless you. And Father, kiss Mary and John for me." At the end were these words as post script, "written by Abraham Lincoln." The boy saw those added words and looked with astonishment at the visitor and asked, "Are you our President?" "Yes," was the quiet answer. "And now that you know that, is there anything else I can do for you?" Feebly, the lad said, "I guess you might hold my hand and see me through." So, sitting down at the bedside, the tall, gaunt man with a heart as tender as a woman's, held the soldier's hand through the live long night till it grew cold and rigid. It does not surprise me that Lincoln was also a man of prayer. At the time in the Civil War when the fate of the US hung in the balance and everyone was pan stricken, Lincoln closed the door and prayed. Later, he described that moment to his friend by saying, "I told God that I had done all that I could, and that now the result was in his hands, that if this country was to be saved, it was because he so willed. The burden fell off my shoulders, my intense anxiety was relieved, and in its place came a great trustfulness." What an example for us to pray for our country and its leaders.

Warm Thoughts: "The purpose of human life is to serve and to show compassion to others." Albert Schweitzer. "Two of the best kept secrets in the 20th century are: everyone suffers and suffering can be used for growing and becoming." John Degrain. God bless America, and God bless you!

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G Werner

Published in the Marion Record, February 12th, 1998.

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Till next time,

Trina