As my wife and I are contemplating a short little excursion to that most beautiful place, indeed the most beautiful land I know of, the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, I am re-reading Life and Campaigns of Lt. General T.J. Stonewall Jackson. I have wanted so much to write often of how much I have learned about the true Southern Confederacy and the goodness, justice and integrity of many of its people and leaders and the manliness of its men. It seems even now, this day there is constantly some false thing said about the South and its Cause, mainly from people, I would dare to say, have not read hardly a single thing, South or North, for that matter, from someone who actually was there during that most critical time. One thing that has been a constant in whoever I have read from that time, is that they believed that one day the truth would once again prevail, and that their actions would be vindicated when the truth was taught. Unfortunately that truth is still hidden even from people who would see it. Yet, I can say that for me the 'beacons have been lit'. Yet as I say that, as much as I have seen and learned from the honesty of those Southerners of how our constituted government is supposed to function, the truth about slavery, the truth about Lincoln, yet the most amazing thing is how gracious the Lord's presence was to those people. The Lord God Almighty moved amongst those people, and how they speak of Christ is more impressive than any other thing that can be learned. Here is a short piece of a letter Jackson wrote to his wife on May 11th, 1859.
Jackson writes, "Try to look up and be cheerful, and not desponding. Trust our kind heavenly Father, and by the eye of faith see that all things with you are right, and for your best interest... The clouds come, pass over us, and are followed by bright sunshine; so, in God's moral dealings with us, He permits us to have trouble awhile, but let us, even in the most trying dispensations of His providence, be cheered by the brightness which is a little ahead. Try to live near to Jesus, and secure that peace which flows like a river."
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
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3 comments:
Thank you, my darling, for posting these encouraging words from the General. I pray that we both will "live near to Jesus" all our days.
Yes indeed Matt, these are encouraging words that make clear where our only lasting hope is found! I recall the response of the disciples to Jesus question, "will you go also?" To which they respond, "to whom shall we go, thou hast the words of eternal life." I must cling to Him, come what may, according to God's good pleasure and appointed dispensations. He is good, all the time!
Wow, that is beautiful!
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