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Building Presidential Consensus
Twenty-four years ago I had written a few letters concerning some of the issues of the day to our new President at the time – Bill Clinton. I actually received a letter back from him. I guess he got tired of all of my letters. It was kind of him to actually acknowledge my concerns.
His first few months of office were very busy after being inaugurated as the 42nd President of the United States on January 20, 1993 three months prior to the time I wrote my letter to him.
On January 25, 1993 Bill Clinton announced that Hillary Clinton would lead the task force on National Health Care Reform. The President hoped to reform the National Health Care system so that all Americans had health insurance. It would ensure what he called “Universal Coverage” which would hopefully control health care costs which were continuing to rise out of control.
On February 5, 1993 President Bill Clinton signed the Family Medical Leave Act that requires companies to provide workers with up to 3 months of unpaid leave for family and medical emergencies.
Then on January 26, 1993, six people were killed and more than one thousand suffered from injuries after a bomb was placed under the World Trade Center in New York City. This explosion marked the beginning of threats against the United States by both domestic and foreign terrorists. Who could foretell the dark days ahead relating to terrorism?
April 19, 1993 the day my letter was postmarked – In Waco, Texas Federal Law officers under the orders of Attorney General – Janet Reno fought a 51 day stand-off with a religious cult led by David Koresh. The battles resulted in terrible fires that destroyed the cults compound and killed 75 people.
Our country faces issues today, just like we did during Bill Clinton’s presidency 24 years ago. Although there are many things I did not agree with President Bill Clinton on, I can agree that we need to have a consensus to work together as a country and a people. After all, we are all in it together and we need each other.
A Letter To My Daughter
“I know that one day soon you will have children and a family of your own. I keep praying for that and I know GOD does have a great plan for your future. I hope I have instilled in you a sense of what matters most in life. When I am gone from this earth I hope you will reflect upon the life we have lived together. I hope I will have left something you can hold onto that will last and that you can in some way transfer on to your own children. I hope that you will be able to smile when you think about the times we had together. Never forget that I love you my sweet, sweet daughter. I know I have made some mistakes in my life. I hope most of all that I have made a difference in your life. I know you have made a difference in mine. I love you forever my baby girl!”
This is a part of a letter I wrote a few years ago before my daughter was married; and now she is going to have a baby girl of her own to raise and care for. GOD is good and he does answer our prayers in his perfect timing and in his perfect way! And now, she has a chance to make a difference in the life of her own daughter.
Little Bulldog Graduation
Have you ever received one of those letters that someone sends out from time to time to everyone on their list to catch them up on their life? Sometimes they can be a bit over done and downright annoying, and then sometimes they really make you stop and think about your own life. Take a look at this fictional account of one of those types of letters here.
“Dear Family and Friends,
Our only daughter, Sarah Marie, graduated with her Associate in Science on May 6, 2006. Please indulge us, at least a little, as we are so proud of the young Christian woman Sarah has become, and of achieving the goal that she set before herself in the face of extreme adversity.
As most of you are aware, on the day of Sarah’s 16th birthday her Aunt Kim was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer which had spread at that time to her liver. She in fact was given only a few months to live. Kim prayed that GOD would give her strength, and eventually survived 5 1/2 long and hard-fought years on this earth. Sarah and Kim were very close as she was like the daughter that Kim never had.
It was during this time that Sarah would start her college career. Sarah was strong, determined, faithful, and never once lost sight of her goal. As life would have it, with Kim suffering through endless chemotherapy, radiation treatments, hair loss, and ongoing sickness, life dealt us yet another blow. Grandpa Buckley was unexpectedly rushed to the hospital and was diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm.
Grandpa spent approximately 3 1/2 months in hospital while being placed in and out of the intensive care unit all along the way. Sarah would try to come after her classes just to sit and spend time with her grandpa even though most of the time he could not respond since he was sedated and was on a ventilator with a hole cut into his neck. The LORD did finally welcome grandpa home on June 21, 2003.
Sarah and Grandpa Buckley had a very special bond that has left a huge hole in her heart, as well as the rest of the family. She knew that her grandpa would have wanted her to continue on with school. Sarah wanted to be employable once she graduated from high school, so she initially chose to pursue her esthetician license. She completed that goal on January 26, 2004 and is now a licensed esthetician in the state of North Carolina.
She was saddened with endless pain and suffering. She was confused yet undaunted at the young age of 20. Sarah continued to pursue her Associate degree, while working 30 plus hours per week. It was during the latter part of her fall semester and during the Christmas holiday that Aunt Kim would eventually fight her last battle with the cancer beast. Our family spent Christmas day in the hospital with Kim. It was her last Christmas with us. She struggled for every breath as they kept trying to suck the junk out of her lungs with that awful sucking machine they had. They called them breathing treatments. I couldn’t stand the sound of that thing, and then to look down at my sister with her bald head and barely any meat on her bones , and dark circles under her eyes and sunken cheeks was too much for all of us.
On December 27, 2005, Kim went home to be with the LORD. We know that Aunt Kim and Grandpa Buckley were up in heaven cheering loudly, just like we were, the day Sarah Marie walked on stage to receive her diploma on May 6, 2006. We don’t understand why GOD has chosen to let our family endure so much pain and grief, other than to make us realize it is not about us – you see IT IS ABOUT HIM!!!!
Perhaps we were meant to be a witness to all of you to live your life like it is your last day. We have come to realize through all of this that it doesn’t really matter what your bank account looks like, or the material items you have, or the social status you might have acquired along life’s journey here on earth. We need to teach our children and remind ourselves that GOD has a plan for each of our lives, and our final reward will be in heaven. It is there that we will give GOD all the glory!
You can see that Sarah has lived up to her nickname “little bulldog”. She never gave up and she never gave in. We hope that by sharing our story of our “little bulldog” that this will be an inspiration to anyone who may find themselves having to endure similar circumstances. May GOD bless you all……
Love and Hugs,
Carla and Jim”
My Letters From the Heart Pre Release
I just wanted to let you know that my new book, “My Letters From the Heart” is now available on Amazon as a Pre Release. My Letters From the Heart will be published next Friday on November 28th. It was a very emotional book for me to write. I hope you enjoy reading it and I hope it provides a source of encouragement to you in some way in your own life!
Click on the link below for more information.
Thanks for all of your support!
Have a great weekend!
MY LETTERS : FROM THE HEART
Just wrapping up my next book in time for the holidays entitled “My Letters: From the Heart“. This has been a very emotional book for me to write. My Letters: From the Heart is composed of a series of letters to friends, business associates, neighbors, coaches, teachers, and family members who have made an impact on my life. These are the letters that I am leaving behind for each one of them. In the book I reflect on what each person means to me and what I want to leave behind. I’ll be able to provide more of the details when I get a little closer to the publishing date. Thanks for all of your support!
Hope you have a great weekend! GOD bless!