Read Heschel on The Sabbath!

Dear Mr. President,

Today I will be returning from my "vacation." Four weeks ago I planned on coming to Rhode Island to play with my three younger children, have meaningful talks with my parents and return home to face the next school year.... rested. Instead as life would have it the plans changed. I was a caregiver to my mother who had open heart surgery. My children had fun with my brother and his family and I had meaningful talks with my parents but it looked a little different than we all had anticipated.

I will go home rested but my feet will have to hit the ground running. Saturday I will assist my nineteen year old in one of the age old traditions, taking your child to college. After Labor Day I will officially start my new job and begin another school year of home schooling with the three youngest. I look forward to teach another kindergartner to read!

It was stated in one of the news articles that you are going to Camp David to rest from your vacation. I can understand that. This was your first "official" vacation with your family and I'm sure with the death of Ted Kennedy in the middle of it there was mental arranging to do. You wanted, and rightly so needed, to share your condolences and then come back to your vacation with the work laid out for you; figuring out how to rest as President of the United States.

God gave us a gift, the Sabbath. Abraham Heschel has a book called "The Sabbath" that would do you well to read. It helps to form the perspective that is needed for the day of rest. Imagine the Creator resting. You also need to rest one day as well. I pray that during your administration you can cultivate this discipline that not only allows for rest but gives life.

It is humility that allows one to have a day of rest. It is the arrogant who assume they simply can not rest for fear that all of their best laid plans would unravel without them vigilant at the helm.

Rest, Mr. President, rest. Learn how to rest so that all of the world's issues, the Americans issues are placed in perspective. There is a proverb that is worth quoting here:
"....lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight." Prov. 3:4,5

Try to pass that proverb into legislation................heaven on earth!

Why don't you also give a call to Ms. Pelosi and ask her to abort her fund raising mission, tacky! One hundred thousand dollars will be doing what? There is today some child who is in desperate need of that money to pay for the much needed medical attention. Ms. Pelosi would do well to find that child, today.

Also, it is not looking good for the democrats to be using Ted Kennedy's death to raise support for the Health Care Reform, truly it is not. This is not the time. This is the time to come around his family with comfort, maybe in a couple of weeks but not now. Call Ms. Manners on that one and confirm my advice.

You do need your rest!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Burkholder

Win One For Ted?? Seriously?

Dear Mr. President,

I have much to learn about Ted Kennedy's dream "of quality health care for all Americans." I have not been following politics over the last forty years like maybe I should have. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is hoping that the health care for all Americans will be made a reality because of Ted Kennedy's leadership and inspiration. This is a noble sentiment.

You do understand that Americans would love affordable, accessible, quality health care. But the working American does not want the GOVERNMENT to be the provider of health Care because our concern is that the Federal Government is unequipped to provide QUALITY health care. You do understand this.

There are many Americans who could care less about the quality of the health care that the government would provide, who could care less if there is anything they have to do in return, who could care less. But the Americans who do care are the ones you are receiving your money from, the working Americans who are not comfortable with handouts. If they are receiving government funding they are anxious to get on their feet so that they don't have to receive government funding. This begs the question, so why are Americans not drooling all over the Health Care Reform?

In the Town Halls all over the nation they are telling you why. This quote really bothers me with all due respect to Ted Kennedy, ""In his honor (Ted Kennedy) and as a tribute to his commitment to his ideals, let us stop the shouting and name calling and have a civilized debate on health care reform which I hope, when legislation has been signed into law, will bear his name for his commitment to insuring the health of every American," Byrd said.

Byrd is suggesting a civilized debate on health care reform. Go for it, Mr. President, request Americans such as myself to be involved with the solution, see how civilized we are. Let's stop the shouting and name calling, Mr. Byrd says. So far the town hall sessions that I have viewed have been filled with concerned citizens, American citizens. Some are a little heated, some a little out of control, but Americans are talking and last time I checked this is a government run by the people, is it not? Is it that they are in disagreement that bothers the democrats and allows the democrats to put them in a box that is labeled, "Disagreeable, disgruntled, and uncivilized?"

This is America, Mr. President. We fought for freedom of speech. I believe your Administration should do some history lessons, dust off their history books, see from whence we have come. I think then you'll not be shaking your head in disbelief over the response of the American people. Instead you'll sit straight and tall, listen up and be careful as to how you proceed. A giant has been awakened, a giant.

It is not Ted Kennedy that should be the focal point of this bill. It is not the chant, "win one for Ted" that should be the point that changes people's mind. This is a mammoth bill not requiring a simplistic chant as one would do at a football game, for Pete's sake! This is increasing the Federal Government's roll in ways in which Americans don't believe the Government was intended to run. We are all for quality health care but let's allow the American people to bring it to fruition. Focus on the ways in which the government can encourage the nation to be a quality health care provider and a compassionate one.

When you look into the workings and goings on of any Veteran's Administration Hospitals do you come away impressed? If you do you are not with the majority.

Any of the quotes were taken from this site: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/TedKennedy/story?id=8420408

Have a good day.

Blessings,

Mrs. Burkholder

The Beast? No, I Don't Think So!

Dear Mr. President,

I was traveling on Route 114 in Rhode Island this morning and there were police cars surrounding picketers. The picketers were waving their placards adamantly. It was a struggle to stay on the road and see what they said. However the big lettering on the posters made it easy. They were all about the Health Care Reform, every one of them. One said, "Stop the Beast!"

You and I both know they were referring to you. My insides flinched. I might disagree with you but I would never call you a beast. You are a man who desired to run for president. You and your team successfully communicated with the younger generation via their mode of communication such as facebook, emails etc. winning their votes . You raised money like a mad man determined to raise as much capital needed for the hoped for business plan. You did it, you were successful. But beast? No, I don't think so.

Your wife validates you. Michele does not look like a woman who would stay married to a beast. And though her mother looks quiet you can tell she has steel for a backbone and if you mess with her daughter or her grandchildren.....you'll pay! So, Mr. President, beast I would not call you. I am sorry for these strong labels and I hope that you keep it all in perspective.

Americans are awakened. They, we, have been sleeping for too long. You are going to have to give us some time to get the sleepies out of our eyes and the morning grumps worked out. Being called a beast is what an early morning riser could be accused of, you just have to give us room.

I will always look back on your administration as the time when Rumpelstiltskin, a.k.a. the American woke up. You did it, you have engaged us. Now, it behooves you to listen, take notes, and reflect on how you should proceed. There are some great ideas in this land and it is time you harvest those great ideas.

Though I am a republican I will do my part to encourage my fellow republicans to not bash you just because they disagree. We are all in this together.

Here's a thought. Why not create a contest of sorts that has to do with the Health Care Reform.
Why not award the state that successfully pulls off a Health Care Program that follows a set of criteria established by your administration (and established with the help of "WISE" people.)
For example,the state that insures 100% of their indigents is awarded a monetary value to be determined. Actually why don't you create a series of contests with a variety of criterias?! Mr. President, you need to get creative. Step out of the politics paradigm and enter the REAL world.

Today, I lift up my prayers for the family that lost a great family member, Ted Kennedy. May you learn from his successes and his mistakes and may you continue to pour into your family with us much persistence as you used trying to become President. When all is said and done and life comes to a close as it has for Ted Kennedy the only thing that will matter to you is your relationship with your children and wife!
Think on these things!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Burkholder