Fireside Chat

Won't you sit down in my family room in the comfy rocking chair by the fire and have a chat?

I wrote this to my homeschool co-op group, but it so much of the same thoughts I would write in my blog, that just ignore any reference to "moms' or "homeschool" or "what we will be studying or just studied" and read it as from one reader to another.

I started a book
yesterday afternoon thats hard to put down. It is is bringing together
things in such a crystal clear light how the political parties, division of the parties, addition of States, States rights, and the individual presidency's and the platforms and belief systems of each of these
individual leaders set precedents for the difficult times in
the U.S. during the Civil War.

There is a book I would greatly recommend to all of you.
(and I've only read the first 85pages) Don't let your mind go into overdrive, but it's almost 800
pages. I technically don't have the time to read this, just like you,
but apart from your personal time in the Word. I am going to challenge
anyone to read this with me. and...I wouldn't wait. What I'm reading
is taking place now.

It's called "TEAM OF RIVALS. THE POLITICAL GENIUS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN"

I've had this to read for months on loan from a friend and finally had
completed other things I'd been reading and thought I'd start it.
Thinking it was too early to pre-read for Civil War, but needing to get
this book back to my friend.....I began. These first two chapters are
the making of the minds that would alter and forever change the
landscape of the country, but their ideals and beliefs are being formed
during the period we are studying now and in the next weeks up to the
Civil War.

For example, Salmon Chase (ran against Lincoln) was governor of Ohio and
became Lincolns secretary of the Treasury. He was a boy of 7 during
the War of 1812. These things we now study, helped mold and shape the
man he would become. Applying things I'm reading about the character of
these men, some from such tragic and difficult circumstances, some from
lives of ease, yet not without difficulty of their own, and how they
persevered. Some with faith, some without, some..I've don't know.
But...man it's rich in setting context and reason, meaning and well, I
suppose pre-text for whats to come.

Here are some of my favorite things so far I've read. One thing I've
gathered about all these men. They had a passion to learn. I mean it
wasn't that they wanted to be smart, they understood that learning was a
privilege, They also talked much about the influence of parents on the
children.

Chase said of his father,
"He was a good man" that governed "without a single angry word or
violent exclamation from his lips"

One day as a boy he was playing w/friends a game, his father stated he
needed some help in the fields, to where he didn't quit his game.
His father replied, "Won't you come and help your father?"
to which as a man Chase wrote,
"Only a look, all reluctance vanished and I went with a right good
will. He ruled by kind words and kind looks"

Oh, man. I know this was a book intending to research into the politics
of the day, but those words cut me to the quick. Even though this
wasn't intended to be a spiritual book, Proverbs 15:1 flashed before me
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger"

Over and over in the first 80 pages, I'm hearing things that should be
reflective in my parenting that are founded in the Gospel, even though I
know the author I'm quite sure, had no such intent.

Okay, rabbit trail, sorry. They seemed to have such character and
conscience that "appears" to be an lost art in our culture in many ways.
Conscience that they recorded in their diary's, journals and letters.
Now yes, they were sinners and mostly from what I've gathered, still in
that state, not redeemed. But as a believer, it's just impressing upon
me how much more, my Salvation should require my being set apart, not
removed from society, but my life should be Holy and set apart for
Christ alone. Our true character and conduct is so important to the
decisions we make and how that will affect generations to come---I'm
sure some of most of these men, had no idea who they would become. Some
aspired to lead and guide this country, some fell into it. But their
Character comes shining through so clearly. All of course under the
hand of God.

Seward, (who eventually became Governor of NY and later ran against
Lincoln for the Rep. nomination, lost and then became Lincoln's
secretary of State) during his senior year of college, incurred some
small debt, mostly to tailors. His father refused to pay the debts. He
left college his senior year to earn the money to pay the debt off.

He stated
"I could not submit to the shame of being credit impaired"

I totally laughed when I read that. Oh, to have that kind of conscience
permeating our society today instead of the "how can we avoid paying the
debts we owe" almost every advertisement out there is shouting that we
"deserve more". This man seemingly destined for the law and politics,
left college his senior year to pay off very small debts. Character.
Another interesting quip about Chase. He established a boys school in
D.C. that 1st students were John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay's sons.

Another reference to parenting: Lincoln said of his mother:
"All that I am or ever hope to be I get from my mother, God Bless
her." To all moms who view the homeschool education as the means to
the end.....of Lincolns mother it was said she:
"read the Bible to Abe--taught him to read and spell, taught him
sweetness & benevolence as well" Considering Lincoln had no more than 1
year formal education and to the end his kindness and benevolence were
two of the characteristics that most admired about him, even those that
weren't in his sphere politically. And of course, that she taught him
Scriptures.

Something I am also noticing that newspapers, like never before were a
huge factor/tool that fueled fierce defiance towards one direction or
another during the late 1820s through 1840s. The platforms were set for
media representation or mis-representation, however one wants to see it,
permanently. Where propaganda was reported in pamphlets and flyers
during the Revolutionary War period, in a limited, sometimes secret
sense, now it was full reports in papers that traveled easily between
major cities for everyone's view. Which coming off the Alien and
Sedition Acts of Adams, in just a short period of time, it was an almost
"anything goes" type of printing.

Anyway, if anyone is still reading this, which might only be 1 person
:), all this to say, I'm enjoying this immensely and quite possibly you
will too as I think it will help draw things together in a way that only
Primary Source Documents can do. It's very well written, so far, but it
is a LOT of information.

Anyway, let me know if you read this. I'd love to exchange some dialogue.
As always feel free to post any thoughts you may have.

Smiles!