Jeremiah 29:7

I was recently reminded of a lovely tradition shared by outgoing American Presidents. When an incoming President enters the Oval Office for the first time in his official capacity, he will often find a note left by his predecessor. Here are some snippets:

“I wish you well. I wish your family well. Your success is now our country’s success. I am rooting hard for you.”

“You will have an Almighty God to comfort you, a family who loves you, and a country that is pulling for you, including me.”

“…all of us, regardless of party, should hope for expanded prosperity and security during your tenure.”

We are all aware of the divisions in our nation, played out for the world to watch. But in the end, we are called to pray for our leadership. I would say they need it now more than ever.

2600 years ago, the Hebrews were in captivity. Their leader was NOT someone they had elected. He was an invading despot who had stolen them away to Babylon. Their inclination was, understandably, to hold their breath, bide their time, just survive until liberation day.

That was the situation when the prophet Jeremiah penned HIS letter. In Jeremiah 29 he instructs them:

• Build houses. Plant gardens and eat what grows.
• Marry and have children.
• Thrive!
• Make yourselves at home there and work for the country’s welfare.

And the kicker Pray for the peace of Babylon. If things go well for Babylon, things will go well for you.

As if God anticipated their push-back, He goes on (verse 8, the Message version): Yes. Believe it or not, this is the message from the God-of-the-Angel-Armies.

It sounds like He is saying, “You heard that right. I didn’t stutter.”

So on this Inauguration Day, I’d like to encourage you to follow the example of our own leaders as well as the prophet. No more praying for just our favorite. The man – or woman – in the Oval Office, and all the leaders in the Capitol, deserve and need our prayers. And pray for our governor, mayor, city council. And our first responders who keep us safe, and our teachers who are charged with educating the next generation of leaders.

Pray for:

• Wisdom. Being a leader demands it.
• Honor and honesty
• Favor – at home and among the nations
• Success. If our leadership succeeds, we succeed.
• Strength tempered with humility. Because strength without humility can just make a leader a bully. Humility without strength can make a leader seem weak.

Pray these things for the First 100 Days, and beyond. Pray them over our President, members of Congress, the Supreme Court justices, our governor, mayors, down to the most local level. And pray them over each other as we seek peace.

Patricia Ruth Knoke: A Tribute

Pat Knoke was one of the most intelligent people I have ever known. Now, she would disagree because she never thought of herself as smart since she didn’t finish school. But she was sharp, quick-witted, wise, and even cunning.

She was an avid game player – clever at cards, Scrabble, dominoes, or anything else you invited her to play. And how she ever solved those cryptograms, I’ll never know! She was logical, tenacious, and crafty, yet always gracious in winning or loss. On team games, she often suggested the winning play, then would turn around and give all the credit to her teammates. But she didn’t mind losing, so long as you played fair.

Perhaps that is what made her the perfect match for Ron Knoke. He’s a strong personality who typically needs to be in charge. She honored him in a way her generation understood so well. She met his every need, even providing what he didn’t know he needed. Many have remarked through the years on her ability to suggest an idea, let him think it over, then congratulate him on the idea once he had agreed to it. “Oh, that’s a good idea, Ronnie” she would say in a matter-of-fact tone. It was a skill that many executives wish they had, the skill of leading from behind.

Throughout it all, there was plenty of humor. She was so funny, and the joke always seemed to come out of nowhere. Whether it was her and Grandpa playing jokes on each other in front of the butcher, or quick jabs among us at the house, we all laughed a lot. My favorite always came on the wedding anniversary we shared. They would call me and Mark to wish us a happy anniversary, and she was quick to point out that he and I are just rookies. And I would always ask, “So, are you going to keep him?” to which she would reply that she was still keeping her options open.

She did not need to be first, or the best, or in the spotlight. She was happy to be beside the man she loved, with the family that was devoted to her. She was happy to let you do the talking, would give her wise opinion when asked, and was fiercely loyal to her family, her friends, her church.

When Grandpa and Mom made the hard decision to move her to Brookridge so she could get the care she needed, he took it especially hard. They had never been apart more than a few days since 1950. When I called to check on him, he told me he thought she would be all right there. “Honey, I know they’ll take good care of her. She is the sweetest, kindest person I know, and everyone who meets her can’t help but love her.”

He has never been more right.

A promo shot from a beauty pageant.

One of my favorite photos of the happy couple.

At my wedding, which was also their 44th anniversary.