And then...poof! All memory of his mesmerizing speech and over the top arrogant stadium set-up at the DNC was...gone. Gone like dried up Texas mud on the bottom of your boot--it's thick and sticky and you're sure it can't be beat, but really it flakes off in big chunks if you just wait long enough.
Obama and Biden looked a lot like big chunks of Texas mud this afternoon. And all because this morning, John McCain changed everything. Everything. This morning, he chose me to be his vice president. O.k., he didn't really choose me, per se, but wow! it could have been me. Or you. Or Ellie May.
I've been feeling awed and overwhelmed all day. I remember the first time I heard of Sarah Palin. It was back in April when she hit the Yahoo headlines, I think, for birthing her 5th baby while Governor of Alaska. Back then, I think I thought, "Oh, that's too bad for that baby. That baby needs his mama at home."
I still think that's so.
And that is where the awe comes in. I can't help but feel that what we're seeing happen here is the very act of laying down a life for a brother. Or a whole country of brothers.
Sarah Palin has 4 children at home, and one of them is a special needs baby. When she is elected with McCain, she will give up seeing her children as much as they'll want to see her; she will not be there to cuddle and bond with that baby like we think she should; she will not be able to say that she did her very best for her children.
Or didn't you hear her today? She promised to give her best, and nothing less, to the office for which she is running. Each of us has only one "best" to give, and she's ready to give hers--to us.
Sarah Palin is agreeing to give up that great privilege--this high calling from God--for another noble calling that she neither sought nor desired. Just as Deborah the Judge, under duress, accompanied Barak into battle, here our country is apparently at an intersection which requires such a bold move.
I'm not sure that it says a good thing about what the LORD thinks of the United States right now, but strangely, it swells my spirit with hope and comfort that He is still here and working in our midst.
God bless Sarah Palin, and God bless the United States!
(So what do you think? Tell me on the poll in my sidebar.)
29 comments:
We had similar discussions in our home today. It hurts me to think that that little baby will give up his sense of security for the cause.
My other concern is that by voting for McCain we are in essence voting for Palin to be our president should McCain not be able to finish the job. I just don't know how I can vote for Palin to be our Commander in Chief.
I continue to remind myself that the Lord places our govenment over us. I just wish I understood what He was thinking right now.
While having a full-time mother is my family's best choice for our girls, I can't definitively say what another wife and mother should do. She and her husband have discussed the matter to their satisfaction already, I assume.
GB: an EXCELLENT post and a terrific perspective. Thank you!
You know, after sleeping on this some more I posted a follow up this morning that made no sense at all, I'm convinced of that. It was rambling at best and incoherent at worst. If I could just steal this well written post! Because it is EXACTLY what Iwanted to say!
I've been trying to think how to put into words how I feel about Sarah Palin and you described my heart so well.
All day yesterday I kept thinking about Deborah the Judge. Walking around the house I talked incessantly to my husband about her, pausing to yell from another room, "And I'm 44!! I could be the VP!!"
There's a picture out there on the web somewhere of her wearing Trig (her baby) in a sling at the governor's office. While she won't be able to do "everything" I don't think she will totally "ditch" her children either. I think she will rely on others totally to cook, clean and do housekeeping, but those youngest children may grown up under her desk ala John-john Kennedy.
I voted in the poll. Great post!
Julie
I couldn't agree with this post more! I've had the same feelings for the last day....it just feels divinely inspired to me. And the sacrifice....wow.
Thank you for writing this post!! I'm so tickled that so many of us are embracing this woman and I feel that maybe, just maybe, we won't have the future I was fearing was around the corner for America.
I voted 'Praise the Lord!'
I'm not exactly sure what to think! All the things she stands for are great and wonderful, but I'm just not sure about a woman in such a high public office. Is that what God wants? I just don't know.....
Since I have a Downs sister, I had heard of her recently having a Downs baby and being very pro-life. That is quite impressive. I still am amazed at McCain's pick.
i am excited about Palin and the things she stands for: pro-life, financial reform and strong ethics in government. she has a tremendous leadership record and much more experience actually governing and leading than any of the other 3 men running!
I'm still a bit shocked by McCain's choice. Not sure what to think about it. Yes, Deborah comes to mind but I'm not sure that is quite the context here. So, I'm confused about what is right here. I whole heartedly agree with Palin's politics and her character. I'm just conflicted about the ramifications of this decision for her family. For instance, being pro-life is so important (and a litmus-test issue for me), but it seems a bit of a disconnected belief system to essentially give up raising the baby you fought so hard for.
Thanks so much for your perspective and giving us something to think about!
I know what you mean! I had goosebumps and tears in my eyes when I heard her speech and saw that she was the one McCain had picked! I was torn and confused and blessed and comforted and troubled. However, think of Esther chapter 4:" ...for such a time as this..."
And this is SUCH a time.
I'm super sleep deprived (again) or I'd say more.
I'll just let you say it:
God bless Sarah Palin, and God Bless the United States!
She will sacrifice, no doubt about that.
But I think she will still have her children with her as much as possible. I can hear her having a conversation with McCain...
"Yeah, ya know...I'll take it. But the little guy needs to where I go, okay?"
I keep hearing people say, "But Deborah wasn't considered a good thing."
Maybe not. Probably true. But should she have said No, or should she have fulfilled her role? I think if God calls, you go. (And I pray that she finds LOTS of ways to fit the family in.)
Well I looked at your poll and I have to say I'm not throwing my vote away by voting for Chuck Baldwin. I'm voting for a man who understands the Constitution and the limits of Civil Government.
Also in my mind you would need to prove there is no one else besides Palin in order to equate her with Deborah.
Are you sure there is no man for McCain to choose over her?
God bless
Perry
One other thing...
Does Titus 2 apply to Sarah Palin? If so what message are we sending to her and the nation by voting for her?
There are women in my extended family who "sacrificed" FOR THE GOSPEL and left their children to work in a mission overseas because the mission required two workers for one barely living wage. The children were raised by maids who didn't even speak their language and who prayed to foreign gods over them. But I don't hear anyone complaining much about that, even though many of these kids deserted the faith the minute they left home. Now we have a godly woman, willing to, with her husband's blessing, serve her country and give a highly visible example of the sanctity of life, while she and her husband and siblings work together to care for this precious baby...and it is sinful? Sorry, this mother of nine and grandmother of 13 can't agree. May God raise her up as a mighty voice, crying in the wilderness of our country, proclaiming God's faithfulness...YES she's a Titus 2 woman! She will continue to teach the younger women, not to mention those her own age, how to love their children rather than killing them. And I suspect she might just have a lot of other wonderful lessons to teach to those of us who haven't decided we already know all the answers.
*clapping* Nice to "hear" from you again, Granny! You were just the one to take this on. :)
Awesome post! Very thought provoking GB. I even want to go back and read the story of Deborah now, well not right now...lol. I did vote. I chose to throw my vote away, not for Ron Paul, because he's not on the ballot, but for Chuck Baldwin.
GB, I think you might appreciate what Carmen from Buried Treasure Books has to say about Sarah Palin. She titled her blog post "Wake Up and Smell the Manipulation". The link is http://buriedtreasurebooks.com/weblog/
Alison
Yes, every mother should be at home with her kids. But circumstances often prevent that. There might be other choices that McCain could have picked that would not require a mom leaving her kids in order to do her job. But who else has her exact background? Who is to say that her life story isn't exactly what is needed? And let's be honest here - VP's don't usually do that terribly much. They're pretty much a place holder, compared to the actual office of President. While McCain's age might cause concern that the VP will have to take over, McCain's mom is still going strong at 93, which makes that unlikely. I say congrats. McCain's VP pick makes this the first presidential election I've been able to vote for AND be excited about (I've only been able to vote for the past 2).
Maybe now we can actually stop hearing about JUST Obama, and now we can hear about McCain and Palin.
I'm sure it was a very difficult decision for her. I'm sure it's all an act of faith. You can hear it in her voice. She seems to have been chosen, not ambitious.
I'm a wee bit confused so maybe one of you ladies can help me, but I'm not seeing "teach them not to kill your babies" in the list below.
Titus 2:3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
So how does this passage make an endorsement of women in civil leadership positions?
As an aside Proverbs 31 does say "23 Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land. "
Thanks
So many of the same thoughts here, GB. And I love granny's wisdom above!
I hesitated to post your comment Perry C. because I think I hear the ugly in your response to Granny and I think it bodes poorly for public discourse before believers and non-believers alike.
Make your point with declarative statements if you will, please. And for the record, my very favorite line in the Titus 2 passage you quote is, "obedient to their own husbands." Maybe Mr. Palin told her to. ;)
I have to say I'm 'throwing away' my vote but on Chuck Baldwin and not Ron Paul.
Interesting discussion!
Call me old fashioned, but I still have a problem with a woman being in a position of leadership over men. Especially a position of this caliber. I think that Sarah Palin, by every appearance, is a great woman. However, I don't agree with her being the breadwinner while her husband homeschools their children(is that even true? I've read it a number of places). I think that's a serious role reversal that just isn't biblical. I think that the Titus 2 woman is one who uses her influence to train up and teach women while being a keeper of her home. That's virtually the opposite of what I see in a woman pursuing the position of VP of the United States.
On the flip side, it's a whole lot better than the alternative we've been given so I shall vote while praying that her family is not being sacrificed for us. Her direct responsibility is to God and her family before you or I.
Wow! I hadn't thought of this angle before. What a great perspective on the issue.
I was at the McCain rally in O'Fallon, MO when she said that she will giver her best and nothing less. What ran through my mind was the sacrifices she and her family will make in order to make a difference. Not all of us are called to such things but some of us are.
Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his brother. I am assuming this includes women and sisters, too?
Would we criticize a man sacrificing family time with his wife and children for the good of his country? No. Not all wives/mothers are called to do what she is doing.....not even 99.9% of women are called to do what she is doing.
We may be criticizing God, Himself, when we criticize her for following His calling on her life.
It seems that her husband is perfectly capable and very supportive of his wife. How often do we hear people criticizing the men in politics for making their families go without them for long periods of time?
While I applaud Palins agressiveness, and her ambition, I just can't get with it (realizing its not for me to get with). Your articulation of the whole thing was very eloquent, well written and appreciated for that matter. (I always like to hear other peoples perspectives...keeps me challenged which in turn causes me to go into Berean mode). However, I just don't see how what she is doing is biblical. She is willing to make the nation 1st priority over her family? Somehow I have to believe she can carryout her agenda without having to compromise her precious family. Let's face it the role of VP is highly involved. What if McCain (assuming he wins the election) given his condition, is unable to complete his term. I am not sure I would want a woman with such a young family in office, and this is why. I have to believe that Palin has convictions about family values. What if she decides America has to take the back seat because of the effects the Presidency has had on her family. Where does that leave the country? I just don't know ladies.
GB, this was so eloquently written! Bravo!
Wow, go grannie!!! I love what you said and we have new hope for what we believe is a God thing....since I've been blogging...I have come to realize how many lost good people are out there and searching for something....but denying the truth...wish I could do more...if they could only know ...anyway, keep up the good work....and not being ashamed to know Him....Christ Jesus....I guess that is politically incorrect....In Him...sherry....
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