Inauguration Day

To be honest, I don't like hearing our Presidents using foul language or bashing the opposition or anyone who says anything against them, but  I'm old enough to remember another President who's mouth was even worse than Donald J. Trump's.  He bashed and dissed everyone from Joseph Stalin to Martin Luther King. If I'm not mistaken, he even said some nastiness about Winston Churchill, although I could be wrong about that.






In fact, it was reported more than once that when a reporter asked the President when he thought of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., it wasn't pretty. Aghast, the reporter shot back that Rev. King had won the Nobel Peace Prize.  "I didn't give it to him," was the response.







That President was Harry S. Truman, Democrat. His nickname was "Give 'em hell, Harry."  The man was notorious for speaking his mind, regardless of the consequences.  Republicans hated it and had no time for him.  Democrats loved it and applauded him for it. I've read that when his wife, Bess, was entertaining a guest and Harry walked into the room, he announced that it was time to put manure on the roses.  In the late 1940's or early 1950's, even the word "manure" in public was shocking.  How far we've fallen!  Mrs. Truman calmly told her shocked guest that she couldn't begin to tell her how long it took her to get her husband to use that word!

I vaguely remember seeing President Truman inaugurated.  His first term began in April of 1945, due to the death of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and I was too young to remember that one, if he even had an inauguration. He may have just been sworn into office because the country was mourning Roosevelt's death.  His inauguration on January 20, 1949, is the one I saw.  Since his first years in the White House Oval Office began in a mid term, it meant that technically, 1949, was his first term.  In fact, he could have run again in 1952, but chose not to. That was a very long time ago. In those days, televisions were extremely rare.  I doubt there were five TV's in our entire town.  One of those television owners happened to live across the street from Grandma and was her best friend. So, at the tender age of five, I saw my first inauguration.



The second one I saw was Dwight David Eisenhower.  By January 20, 1953, the school had a television and we were able to watch history in the making. When he left office, he was quoted as saying the title of EX-President was the best title. He told press to not call him Mr. President, but General.



 Today, history begins again.  A new chapter has begun.  Only God knows what His plans are, but I firmly believe Donald Trump was God's choice. Isiah 55:8 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD.  He also said in the next verse, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways." It's often been said that God uses flawed people to bring about His perfect will.  Even people with foul mouths and harsh rhetoric.  If Harry Truman did nothing else right, he made it possible for Israel to exist as a nation for the first time since 70 AD.  God used him for His purpose.

As I watch another historic event, I am grateful for the privilege of being an American.  I'm grateful that God has given us another chance to get it right. Every former President has made major mistakes, but God brought us through. Psalm 118:8 says, "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in men." Words America needs to hear.

Supposedly, Donald John Trump will use II Chronicles 7:14 is his speech. "If My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land." It was God's response to Solomon's prayer as he began to lead Israel. Franklin Graham has led the nation in prayer in 2016, stating that there was much confession of sin.  I pray for President Trump as I have for former Presidents, but most of all, I pray for America.  I pray we have been sincere in our repentance and will turn from our wicked ways.