Lessons In Valuing Family, Character And Remembering Barbara Bush (VIDEO)

I’m typing through the tears, today, as make this post. It’s been a while since I posted here. I’ve been busy with family, work, and swirling in a cloud of confusion, and lack of direction, as I struggle to find a clear direction for American Family Alliance. I’ve been researching, reading, and going down a million different rabbit holes trying to find just one clear message with which to jump off in a clear, defined direction. Well, that’s probably not going to ever happen. The one direction thing, I mean, but I did hear this speech, by Barbara Bush, as media remembers her life and contribution to the culture. It’s pretty darned close to perfect.

While, politically, I was never a fan of the Bush’s, I always thought Barbara Bush was a model of class and distinction. After listening to her speech to the Wellesley College graduation class of 1990, I gained a much higher level of respect for her. And this video made me cry. A lot.

Watch the entire video because even though the money quotes start at about 8 minutes, the context in which she delivers them is priceless.

Family. It’s really all about family and, most recently, I find my heart breaking as I witness the most egregious departure from those values.

I live in Missouri, and am fairly involved in the political vernacular, and right now I think it has hit rock bottom, as it relates to the outlook for our societal future.  Our present governor committed the highest atrocities against family and marriage just months before he was elected to office. The political right, is so enamored with the concept of having a Republican in that office, that they have turned a blind eye to his actions, and continue to blindly support his immortality, and lack of character, with the mindset that his moral compass has nothing to do with his ability to govern. … Really?!

“Decisions are not irrevocable. Choices do come back.” as Mrs. Bush states. And our own personal behavior affects more than just ourselves.

The connection to the idea that how we conduct ourselves, our relationships, how we treat people and the importance of how we present our own personal character to the world, is completely lost on these people. There are a lot of them. It makes me sad.

It’s sad because we have moved so far away from the importance of, cherishing family, marriage, pride in our own personal conduct. Standards are vacant from the culture.

That is, maybe, why this speech by Barbara Bush hit home in such a personal way. Women of her generation just seemed to live with a deep understanding and appreciation of just how important family and relationships, and their place in the culture, strengthen us all. They were/are the seat of our own personal power, the power that lifted us all to go forth and contribute to our own futures, families, and maybe even contribute in shaping and supporting the culture, something bigger than ourselves.

“Cherish your human connections, your relationships with family and friends. …. You are a human being first. And those human connections with spouses, with children, with friends are the most important investment you will ever make. At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, winning one more verdict, closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a child, a friend or a parent.”

This pretty much sums it all up for me. The way I see it now, we live in a society that is too focused on things, selfies and “me-time.” We’ve forgotten how important family dinners are, honoring thy mother and father, and our responsibilities to others. I hope that someday, the rest of our society comes back to this philosophy, so eloquently stated by Mrs. Bush.

… “Fathers and mothers, if you have children, they must come first. You must read to your children, and you must hug your children, and you must love your children. Your success as a family, our success as a society depends not on what happens in the White House, but on what happens inside your house.”

And it’s also appropriate for me to mention that today is my daughter’s birthday. She is my youngest child, who is also graduating, in a few weeks, from college. While I have no idea who will be giving the graduation speech at your ceremony, I’ll bet it won’t be as good as this. So, because you are more important to me than anything, I wish you a happy birthday and tell you I love you with all my heart.

If you have someone in your life you need to connect with, share this post, and tell them you love them, too. Don’t forget to drop your email at the top right of this page for more posts like this.

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