Since September 11 our world has changed dramatically, as have the lives and roles of the President and First Lady. Objective observers, and even those who were previously critical of George W. Bush have been amazed by the stability and strength he has shown in time of deep crisis. The obvious and primary answer to where this strength and character come from is his deep and enduring faith in God, and in his Savior, Jesus Christ. Another important contributor to his stability is his having been raised with unconditional love in a stable family, where he was nurtured by two loving parents, encouraged to do his best, and to be comfortable with who he was.
But, it is also hugely significant that he is a partner in a loving, secure marriage, and that he has a wife who is at his side giving love, comfort and support to him every day. Their deep relationship, so clearly observable in watching George and Laura Bush together, provides an invaluable anchor in helping him to carry out the enormous task with which God has entrusted him, and its importance cannot be overestimated.
When the September 11 attack occurred, Laura was in Washington, and the President was in Florida, and both of their concerns were first for each other rather than for themselves. His first phone call was to Laura. When asked later if she were afraid for herself, Laura said, “I didn't have a lot of thoughts of fear or personal worries about my own safety, but I worried about my husband." She then paused and said, "I know he had people to protect his safety, but you can't help, when you're married to the president, not to worry about his safety."
When they finally saw each other the afternoon of September 11, Laura has said that they just hugged and comforted each other. The President later shared his understanding that Laura “could have been killed” in the attack. Knowing that on that day, they might have lost each other surely has resulted in a deepening and intensifying of their already close relationship.
Since the attack, Laura has continued to be what has been called the “emotional bulwark” for her husband. She has shared with others that he is doing very well, sleeping well, exercising, socializing with friends. They spend every evening together, reading, watching ballgames, talking about their girls, playing with the dogs. She has recently said, “We have a very sustaining relationship. It’s always been that way, and we’re lucky to have that relationship.” The President has also recently said of Laura, “My wife is a rock.”
When they first met he admitted that for him it was “love at first sight,” (In A Charge to Keep he wrote that Laura “is gorgeous, good-humored, quick to laugh, down-to-earth, and very smart” and said he recognized those attributes right away). Shortly after the Inauguration he stated, “I am glad that Americans are getting a chance to find out something I’ve known for 23 years – Laura is a beautiful person, inside and out.” (And, interestingly, in an interview with Larry King on October 2nd, Laura expressed a similar sentiment, saying that she was glad that America was finally getting a chance to see her husband “as he really is”). The President also has said of their relationship, “Laura brings me great comfort. It’s very helpful to know that in this wonderful job, that I am not alone.” These are the words of two people who provide for each other the kind of strong, loving relationship that is exceedingly rare in a world of broken marriages.
When I suggested in the first article that their marriage…….their deep emotional, spiritual and physical oneness……should be held up as a role model for our children, there were those who scoffed. But I believe that the country, and even the world, has now seen that George and Laura Bush, not only as individuals but as a couple, are indeed positive examples, not only for our children, but for other couples to emulate. Their marriage is centered in their faith in God, in tremendous mutual respect and pride in each other, in adoring love, and light hearted affection (easy to see by the twinkle in the President’s eye when he told a crowd that he was going to follow Laura to the ranch to “spend some quality time” with her, and by the reassuring wink he gave her in the middle of his speech to Congress on September 20th …… and who can forget that little ‘love pat’ the new President gave his wife at the Author’s Conference??).
It is a marriage that is clearly thriving after 24 years of both good and bad times, tranquility and turbulence. They have made a commitment to each other in marriage that has unfortunately become a rarity in today’s culture; a true covenant marriage. Marital fidelity can never be assumed, and when it exists, it cannot be taken for granted. It is clear in watching these two that they are the best of friends, sometimes playful with each other, sometimes supporting each other in time of need; two people who are equals but are fulfilling different God-given roles, both complimentary and compatible.
Our President has asked that we reevaluate our culture in light of what occurred on September 11; to pay more attention to our neighbors, our children, and our marriages. The family has been disintegrating in American culture, and President Bush has asked us to use this time of tragedy to reevaluate and reinforce the foundation of the family unit- marriage. He and Laura are providing a beautiful, shining example of what God intended marriage to be; stabilizing and intimate, both comfortable and passionate, filled with affection, humor, friendship, devotion and love that only improve with time, and it is fitting that we celebrate again what God has given us in these two wonderful people!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, PRESIDENT AND MRS. BUSH!!!!
Happy Anniversary, President and Mrs. Bush. You are an inspiration to us all!
You mentioned Their deep relationship, so clearly observable in watching George and Laura Bush together. Almost everytime I see them together they usually hand in hand and I think they look so natural and in love. It just gives my heart a thrill each and every time I see them together.
I won't make any comparisons but I sure am thinking!
And not to leave out W, (of course) I totally agree that the men and boys in this country have a true role model of a man loving his wife as Christ loved the church for all the world to see. He is showing that marriage can be fun and loving while still being "masculine". I don't think that anyone has any doubts as to how this man feels about his wife, and no one has anything but admiration for him and his ability to show his true feelings.
It makes me feel a lot better that my 19-year-old brother is coming of age in a land where an honest and moral man is our leader. Happy anniversary George and Laura, and may God bless your marriage for many years to come!
just as i'm not into a kennedy cult, i'm not into a w cult.
This is what I have been waiting all weekend to see. I have been so wanting to see something of a tribute to the two of them.
People laugh at me for having a picture of the "kiss" on my bulletin board, but I am not taking it down.
It is awesome to be able to see such love between the president and the first lady.
May God continue to bless them!
G-d bless President and Mrs. Bush. May they each live 120 years.
Happy Anniversary President and Mrs. Bush! May you have many more happy years together.
