Thought for July 4, 2024

  •  1776: Declaration of Independence
  • 1803: Louisiana Purchase announced
  • 1831: First public performance of "My Country Tis of Thee"--Park Street Church Boston
  • 1855: "Leaves of Grass" published
  • 1862: Charles Dodgson [Lewis Carroll] tells the story of Alice and the Rabbit Hole for the first time. Told while on a rowing trip on the Isis River with the three daughters of the Dean of Christ Church College at Oxford, Alice, Lorina, and Edith Liddell.
  • 1939: Lou Gehrig's #4 is first MLB number retired
  • Born: Nathaniel Hawthorne, Giuseppe Garibaldi, Calvin Coolidge, Rube Goldberg, Neil Simon, Geraldo Rivera, Stephen Foster, Al Davis [Raiders], George Steinbrenner, 
  • Died: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, Marie Curie, Barry White
Thought:
As noted above, three presidents died on July 4, two of them died on the same July 4 in 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence--John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. At the time of their deaths, they were close friends and the letters they exchanged over the last 14 years of their lives are remarkable. 

Maybe you did not know that Matthew 5:9 played a significant role in their friendship--"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Adams and Jefferson had a common friend, Dr. Benjamin Rush, and he is responsible for restoring a broken relationship between these founding fathers. The two future presidents met in 1775 and became strong advocates for independence. However, they had different ideas about the role of the federal government--Adams for a strong central government and Jefferson wary of such power. Things got very bitter during the presidential campaign of 1800 when the two were seeking the presidency. Adams, the incumbent, didn't even stay in Washington for Jefferson's inauguration. 

Yesterday, I was thinking about sleep and dreams. Well, Dr. Rush had a dream on the night of October 16, 1809  and wrote about the dream to Adams--the dream was that Adams and Jefferson would renew their friendship and that Adams would write Jefferson a letter extending good wishes. In the dream, Jefferson would respond with affection and the friendship would be restored. 

Two years later [December 1811], Jefferson wrote to Rush recalling his warm friendship with Adams. Rush passed this along to Adams. On the following New Year's Day, Adams wrote to Jefferson wishing a happy New Year. Jefferson responded and a 14-year correspondence was birthed and a friendship restored. 

I write about this today because the Lord has put upon my heart to think about people who have broken relationships--with family, with former friends, with the Lord. How can I be like Dr. Rush and be a peacemaker? Lord, put into my mind during today or in my dreams tonight the names of those that I might help restore a broken relationship and convict me of broken relationships in my life that need restoration. Help me be a peacemaker.

Blessings and Happy Independence Day!
Larry

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