By Catherine Ulrich Brakefield
In
our nation’s crucial times, God produced the leaders we needed to guide us
through life’s battles. Whether it be good versus evil, truth versus a lie, or
dependency versus liberty.
Out
of the birth pangs of the Revolutionary War, God-fearing men bodily marched
forward, displaying wisdom, perseverance, and faith unparalleled in history,
leading our country to greatness. Unashamedly adhering to their forefathers’
teachings and continuing to seek God’s guidance through prayer, fasting, and
petitions.
The very foundation of our existence was shaken to its core the day of that surprise attack upon Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This blatant and terrible attack threw the pride of America, our young men, and women, into war with Japan and Germany, as I write in Waltz with Destiny.
This
was a time for testing the grit and stamina of our youth, but also our leaders.
At the time, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was president and bound to a
wheelchair. What would be his next move? From whom would he seek guidance?
Through the grueling years that followed, the perseverance of every American’s
faith was tested.
Here is an excerpt from Franklin D. Roosevelt, in his prayer on D-Day during his radio address on June 6, 1944.
“Almighty
God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a
struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to
set free a suffering humanity. Lead them straight and true; give strength to
their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.
“They
will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is
strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed,
but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the
righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph...
“Some
will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic
servants, into Thy kingdom.
“And
for us at home - fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of
brave men overseas- whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them - help us,
Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of
great sacrifice.”
When victory loomed upon the horizon, our leaders gave credit where credit was due - to our Divine Creator. When General Dwight D. Eisenhower became the 34th President of the United States. He did not hesitate to show his humble regard for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He knew firsthand that God had been with them in the cockpits, the foxholes, and on those bloody battlefields. Dwight D. Eisenhower said this in a statement upon signing the bill to include “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag on June 14, 1954.
“From this day forward, the millions of our school children will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural schoolhouse, the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty. To anyone who truly loves America, nothing could be more inspiring than to contemplate this rededication of our youth, on each school morning, to our country’s true meaning. Over the globe, mankind has been cruelly torn by violence and brutality and, by the millions, deadened in mind and soul by a materialistic philosophy of life. In this somber setting, this law and its effects today have profound meaning. In this way, we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way, we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource, in peace or in war.”
One
bedrock group of our community, the American Legion, on February 20, 1955, said
these remarks at the “Back-to-God program”.
“Without
God, there could be no American form of Government, nor an American way of
life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first - the most basic - expression
of Americanism. Thus, the Founding Fathers saw it, and thus, with God’s help,
it will continue to be.”
Schools
in the 1940s and 1950s taught the patriotic strengths of our nation, reciting
the National Anthem and singing songs like “My Country Tis of Thee, Sweet Land
of Liberty” before each school day.
Families
ate together, prayed together, and went to church together. Children were taught
not to talk back to their elders, to obey their parents, and learned the Ten
Commandments.
So, what happened? Could it be that we have forgotten what caused
our ancestors to become victorious? Check out next month’s blog for the answer.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in
the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you
may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10,11 NKJV)
Waltz with Destiny: Esther (McConnell) Meir finds herself in a story-book romance that swirls into a rendezvous with destiny when Eric Erhardt is swept up into Hitler's diabolical war. Eric wages his battle for survival as a rifleman in the 34th Infantry Division traveling up the boot of Italy—.
"…of Waltz with Destiny… I was reading Capt. Kimble’s words about D-Day… the music I had going started playing “God Bless the USA.” Goose bumps popped up all down my arms and legs, and I’m sitting here with tears in my eyes. The message of the Destiny series is even more applicable to today than when it first released…" Debra B.
Catherine is the award-winning author of Wilted Dandelions, Swept into Destiny, Destiny’s Whirlwind, Destiny of Heart, Waltz with Destiny and Love's Final Sunrise. She has two pictorial history books, The Lapeer Area and Eastern Lapeer, and short stories for Guideposts Books, CrossRiver Media Group, Revell Books, Bethany House Publishers. Catherine and her husband of fifty-two years live on a ranch in Michigan and have two adult children, five grandchildren, four Arabian horses, three dogs, four cats, chickens, and bunnies. See CatherineUlrichBrakefield.com.
https://washingtonstand.com/commentary/the-best-gift-20-presidents-speak-on-the-bible-and-christianity
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