The Enforcer
Today one could not help but be impressed by the eulogies given by family and friends of Barbara Pierce Bush. She was admired by everyone who met her for different reasons. Some because of her ability to be a great ambassador for her literacy program she adopted during her husband’s presidency. Others who knew her on a more personal level, admired her for her tenacity and her sense of humor. She was not what you would call politically correct as she spoke her mind about any subject in which she was engaged. She idolized her husband of 73 years, and they both worked on keeping their love fresh and new, she by verbalizing the admiration of her husband, and he by writing love letters since before they were married until her death. She stayed interested and involved, in both his political career, and his personal interest.
She was the mother of six children, one of whom, her daughter Pauline, died at the age of four of leukemia. In her early marriage and because of her husband’s business and political careers they moved 13 times. That alone is enough to give Barbara Bush quite a bit of admiration. She was also very involved in her children’s lives and her grandchildren. She once made the comment, ” you can criticize me all day long, but if you criticize my husband I will come after you.” When it came to her family she had the tenacity of a Pitbull. Barbara love dogs and she raised English Springer Spaniels. She also wrote a book about Millie, her Springer Spaniel, and her puppies, so you can also admire her for being an author.
In her son’s eulogy today he mentioned mother’s plastic pearls, which means she was not haughty, (although I’m sure she owned numerous strings of real pearls) but a practical humble woman who had more dignity in her little finger than the crowds of women who marched on the city streets with body parts on their heads protesting they don’t know what, or why. As her son said, “we knew the rules and if we broke them mother would enforce them.” She taught her children respect, dignity, love of family, friends, and country. She also raised her children in fear and admonition of the Lord. She was lucky enough to raise her children without the scrutiny of mass media, always having a camera shoved in your face. Michelle Dugger, (of 19 kids and counting,) was recently accused of child abuse because she shook her finger at her 10-year-old daughter who was misbehaving. Being caught on camera they described her action as that of a child abuser. I didn’t know until today that I lived with child abuse, not only was a finger shook at me and my siblings we also got spankings, groundings, and if we were out after the streetlights came on we were punished for that also.
Barbara Pierce Bush, was laid to rest today at the George H Bush presidential library in College Station, Texas next to her daughter Pauline. She’s one of the most dignified, and admired first ladies this country has ever encountered, and will be sorely missed. My prayers are with her family in their time of sorrow, and in admiration of their celebration of a life well lived.
As parents it would do us good to take a page out of Barbara Bush’s life story, and be an enforcer in our children’s lives. Teach them the moral ethics, respect, and love of fellow-man without apologizing. Lay down rules and have enough backbone to enforce them so your children can be insured of the good life in the future.
We as authors could also take a page out of Barbara Bush’s life and carry on her efforts in support of the literacy program in this country. After all what our careers if there are no literate people to read our works. What page would you like to have someone take out of your life? Do you volunteer somewhere? Are you a philanthropist? What do you do for others? Is that something you need to work on? How about love of family, friends, and country? That is something we can all be proud of!
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Proverbs 31: 10-31