For the next twenty minutes, President Bush talked with us about our son, Iraq, faith in God, convictions, his family and his feelings about nearing the end of his presidency. He asked each of our teenaged sons what they wanted to do in life and counseled them to set goals, stick to their convictions, and not worry about being the “cool” guy.
He said that he’d taken a large amount of heat during his tenure and was under considerable pressure to do what was politically expedient, but he was proud to say that he never sold his soul. Sometimes he laughed, and at other times he teared up. He said that what he’ll miss most after leaving office will be his role as Commander in Chief.
He thanked us for the opportunity to meet, because he felt a heavy responsibility knowing that our son died because of a decision he made. He was incredibly humble, full of warmth, and completely without pretense.
We couldn’t believe how long he talked to us, but he seemed to be in no hurry whatsoever. In the end he thanked us again for the visit and for the opportunity to get off his feet for a few minutes. He then said, “Let’s get some pictures.” The doors flew open, Secret Service and the White House photographer came in, and suddenly he was the President again. A few pictures, more thank yous, a few more hugs, and he was gone.
The remarkable thing about the whole event was that he didn’t have to see us at all. But he put everything on hold to meet privately with the family of a Private First Class who gave his life in the service of his country.
You often think of service in terms of sacrificing yourself for someone in a higher position, but how often do you remember that serving someone below you can be much more important? If you’re in a leadership capacity, take a good look at how you’re treating your people, and remember that your role involves serving the people you rely on every day.
Lord, cultivate within me a spirit of service for everyone regardless of their social or professional status.
“Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.” (Ephesians 6:7)