It used to be called Washington's Birthday, as we used to always celebrate it on George Washington's birthday - February 22nd. And our first president was born in the year 1732 - over 280 years ago. [reference: George Washington Biography - Facts, Birthday, Life Story - Biography.com]
But in 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved the federal holiday to the 3rd Monday of January between Washington's and Lincoln's Birthday - February 12th. Calling it Presidents' Day included our 16th president as well as ever other president. But let's fess up to the real reason. Those three day weekends, they can be sweet if you do get them off. [reference: Presidents’ Day - Holidays - HISTORY.com]
Back to George Washington ...
Most images of our first president depict an elder statesman, yet Washington was a young man during the start of the Revolutionary War. [For a timeline: Revolutionary War Timeline]
The book - 1776 - by David McCullough chronicles Washington's mistakes - his defeats and blunders in 1776. And because of that, during the nadir of the revolution, "The Glorious Cause of America" seemed doomed. Most conceded the war was over and the Americans had lost.
But Washington would not give up and would not quit. He knew that liberty was at stake. And at the end of the year, Washington went on the attack and won a great victory at Trenton on Christmas of 1776. The psychological effect of this victory was enormous and marked a turning point in the war. [reference: Summary of the Book 1776 by David McCullough]
The power of knee-Mail ...
And the clip below gives a glimpse into the power of prayer of George Washington - his many knee-Mails - which shaped the destiny of America.
These stories hearten me as they gives hope. Though times may seem dark for our country, the power of prayer can change the course of a downward spiral and pull it up to soar into the heavens.
Therefore confess your sins to each other
and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
So were the prayers of a righteous man, George Washington. And we are blessed by his prayers as we are into the third century after the Revolution. It is fitting that Washington's Birthday be remembered for great gift that he as well as many of the founders gave to us - those yet to be born
This anniversary of the original President's Day, may we follow the lead of our first president, as seen in the example of his knee-Mails here - George Washington in Prayer at Valley Forge
