Indulge me, if you will for a moment over my worldview…

I believe in a God who is loving, caring and the hand of Providence in all things.

He alone designs the course of men’s lives…

and knows what they need for the mission and tasks that they will be called to undertake.

Men, in turn, have a free will and choice in the matters that are before them…

how they respond determines the course of history…

of nations…

of free peoples.

Today, I am most grateful for this man.

He withstood tremendous adversity and failure…

in preparation for the greatest weight that has ever rested on a standing President in the history of our country.

His beginnings were most humble…

His relationship to his father estranged.

He was tenacious, creative, industrious, successful…

As a young trial lawyer he won unprecedented cases.

As our president, he took freedom to a whole new level for millions to come.

And while the effects of the Civil War still resonate with pain, tension and unresolved issues…

He honestly did the best he could.

And because he was faithful in both little and much…

the Union was preserved.

Today, on this your birthday, I want to thank you, Mr. President.

There are millions of us that owe you a portion of our freedom…

because you practiced leadership in the form of laying your life down.

So that others could live.

Thank you, Mr. Lincoln.

And Happy, Happy Birthday.

Love,