A Tribute to President George W. Bush

Dear Mr. President,

When I think back over the last eight years, a few things stand out to me quite strongly.  While I do not agree with everything you did or how you did it, I believe those things pale in comparison to the leadership, courage, and steadfast faith that you showed all Americans while you were in office.  I respect you and honor you as our 43^rd president and want to say thank you.

Thank you for keeping us safe.  My son was born into a safer world while you were president.  Our enemies knew that you were not someone that would passively step aside while they terrorized our nation.  They knew that America would not come to the table for a cup of tea and negotiations with ruthless people who murdered over 3,000 of our loved ones on September 11^th.  You kept us safe for nearly 8 years and, together with the national security team with whom you surrounded yourself, thwarted many potentially deadly attacks.

Thank you for protecting the unborn.  From the Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004 to the Supreme Court justices who you appointed and were confirmed, you showed a respect for life and held to that conviction despite opposition.  Justices Roberts and Alito want to uphold the Constitution, not legislate their feelings, change law with the ebb and flow of public opinion, or cower due to people’s perception.  Thank you for selecting two strongly pro-life judges who believe that Roe v. Wade was a mistake.

Thank you for protecting our freedom by leading the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan, rather than on our own soil.  Although this has been such a source of heated passion on both sides, I, as you do, believe that freedom is something that all human beings should experience, and that no one deserves to be tortured and raped because of the whims of a ruthless monster like Saddam Hussein.  I firmly believe that history will show you to be a true leader and hero.  Humanity deserves to be protected.

Thank you most of all, Mr. President, for your witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.   You demonstrated to the world valuable Scriptural principles amidst some of the fiercest persecution . . . persecution that, I believe, had much to do with the very fact that you profess to love Jesus.  You showed us all how to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:43-45), stand firm in the faith (Matthew 10:22 and 1 Corinthians 15:58), and to not be ashamed of the Lord your God (Luke 9:26).  “Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man” (Luke 6:22). The name that is above all names is also the name that people love to hate and blaspheme.  You stood up for Jesus and you did it without apology.  Many times throughout your presidency, I thought of this verse:  “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 15:18).  I know you will be blessed because of what you faced.

I will spend much of my prayer time over the next 4 to 8 years lifting up our nation to God and asking for his protection over her.  I refuse to live in fear over what may happen, although it is a struggle many days when I see the news.  Thank you for all you did.  Your service to this nation is appreciated by many more than you may know.