Category Archives: Truth

Mothers: The Ultimate Influencers

Ah, March. Good days to celebrate. St. Patrick’s Day. Women’s Day. Anniversary of the organization of the Relief Society, the largest women’s organization in the world. Birthdays.

Plenty of reasons to celebrate the third month. I have to say in the last couple years, though, March has become a tough month for me. Especially last year.

I felt under attack by a really bad guy. A friend was under attack; I suspect due to the strength of my friend’s mother, whom the really bad guy was afraid. I turned to God to deliver me out of the heck I was experiencing. The matter eventually was resolved. It came after many prayers and tears–and most likely a certain mother stepping in. She made a few calls, and soon I was delivered.

A couple months later, I was suddenly sick. I hadn’t realized I had vomited, but the sound of a text message from my mom woke me up. The whole mother’s intuition thing is real, no doubt. Her text saved me.

The role of mothers is divine. They come to the rescue all the time. And all sorts of people know it. Both good guys and bad guys.

Nuclear families are being attacked; the attackers know strong mothers and fathers hold a great influence. The attackers a lot of times hide in groups that are anti-family. The anti-family groups’ standout strategy is to take out and take power away from parents.

Solid parents are so cool–even if they seem embarrassing at the time! I think how my mom brought lunch to me in second grade a few times after I forgot it, or stood up to the worker at the airport to let her help me repack my bags so we didn’t have to pay a fine. Or my parents paying and driving me to extracurricular activities, constantly helping with homework–which really ticks off the anti-family groups. And I’m just giving less than 1% of the things my folks have done for me! My parents are superheroes!

Look around this site of super heroes. The last post about Zipporah gives some insight on such a super woman from the Bible. Click here to read Exodus 4 :24-26 and be sure to read the side notes that clears up a confusing story where she has to step in for her husband so the family can be safe. (Moses is still super. They made a good team and definitely were both deliverers! And click here to read Brenda’s post about Moses’ mom–his first deliverer!)

The women whom didn’t biologically become mothers that are featured on this website, show that they’re the most intimidating when they too displayed mother bear protection. I’ve seen it in real life too! It’s awesome!

It’s well known mothers and maternal figures are key to raising up leaders. But man, this last year was tough, and when I saw these average moms kick butt to save me, I realized these women are actually extremely extraordinary! They can work behind the scenes quietly, and make a huge impact without making a public display.

I can’t get over it! Thank you to all moms out there who are doing their best. Seriously, how do you do it?

Featured photo from pixabay.com.

King David’s Biography, A Poem

Some think I’m too harsh on King David. It’s heartbreaking for sure when researching people that associated with him. His victims didn’t get that much justice during their lives. Here’s my biography about the man:

“King David’s Biography, A Poem”

King David gloried in his life and times
But tried to cover up his crimes.
He got caught in his lies
And his family cut ties.
He took too many wives
And destroyed many lives.

King David’s Biography, a Poem ©Sarah Patten, 2019

Sharing Both Bad and Good News

Christian cathedrals and churches have been destroyed this last week. Will these tragic events be investigated and discussed or will some try to conceal the information? I suppose it depends on certain media outlets…

In my professional experience in education, I notice that some can go to great lengths to conceal information.  Keeping bad news from children in many cases is a transgression. I’m not saying that you go to your kid and start spouting off sorrowful occurrences. I’m saying that you need to be honest and build on details as the child matures. This is actually something that protects them.

For example, I’m still shocked that when I was subbing six years ago, there was no trace of United States patriotism at the school on 9/11. However, I  must add, I have regained hope that adults will share. Three years ago, at another school, sixth-graders were introduced to  the sad events that occurred on 9/11. They were appalled but were strong. Gradually, they will gain more knowledge as they get older.

While life isn’t all candy and ice cream, there is hope. Hope is found though Jesus Christ. There are those who are trying to wipe away His name from the public as well. I believe that by installing Judeo-Christian values in our children, there is more freedom and safety.

One experience that comes to mind happened when I was a small child. I was watching The Ten Commandments with my family. I was terrified at the destroying angel part.

“Dad, what if that happens again?”

He said something like, “If we listen to the prophets, we’ll be okay. They’ll let us know what to do.”

It was a short response, but I was satisfied. I have never forgotten that counsel.

It’s bad to conceal bad news, but it is a deep sin to also conceal the good news–the good news being Jesus Christ.

OTMA’S LAST POETRY: TRUTH

From her diaries and letters concerning her, Olga was thought to have the best idea out of her family of their eventual fate. Toward the end of her life, she was aloof and very depressed. She spent a lot of time with her ill brother, Alexei,  and in her own thoughts. This last photograph of her with her brother on their last train ride speaks thousands of words:

Little brother, Alexei, and Olga on the train to what would end up being their final destination in 1918. This picture shows an aging and wise princess.

It brings up many questions. And Olga often asked many questions. I believe she naturally searched for truth.

Truth by O
What is truth?

Pilate’s timeless questions
Is well-worth to mention.

Often, truth is in front of us
Which we try to ignore,
Wash , and spill our guilt to the floor.

We can all spout off a list
Of who’s the one to blame
And then read our owns names with shame.

Every person in this house
Must ask themselves what is true
And decide what they’re going to do.

We are accountable
To search for the facts
And then our following acts.

Wherefore, we must all answer to—

What is truth?

Around 1914

Around 1914

 

Poem © Sarah Patten

The Princess, the King, and the Tyrant

It’s strange to start out with the moral at the beginning of the story, but that’s exactly what I’m going to tell you. No, Maximilien Robespierre will tell you:

Robespierre_crop

Maximilien Robespierre was a well-spoken leader who led with terror.

 

“Citizens, take warning; you are being fooled by false notions.”

Those words are taken from an address to justify the execution of Louis XVI.

Ludvig_XVI_av_Frankrike_porträtterad_av_AF_Callet

King Louis XVI of France wanted peace.

It also sums up what others would feel toward Robespierre as time went on. Basically, it leads to the question: What is truth?

Maximilien Robespierre had pushed for Louis XVI’s execution but wasn’t for Princess Elisabeth’s, the King’s sister.

44Elisabeth Viigee Le Brun-Madame_Elisabeth

Princess Elisabeth of France. The King’s youngest sibling.

Yet, she was executed May 10, 1794. And a couple months later, Robespierre would be executed.

The lives of the Princess, the King, and the Tyrant were connected way before the French Revolution.

Losses

An important place to start is the year of 1764. It was important to both the Robespierre and the Bourbon families.

In May, Maximilien Robespierre turned six, and the royal Bourbons welcomed a baby princess.

In July, Robespierre’s mother gave birth—to a stillborn son. She died soon after. Robespierre’s sister recalled in her memoirs this death changed him. He lost his childhood. In addition to that, his father left the family. The man who was supposed to be one of the most important  role models in a young boy’s life distanced himself from his children. I consider this to be Robespierre’s first major rejection.

The Bourbon children lost their parents to death within three years of Princess Elisabeth’s birth.

Successes

Despite losing parents young, Louis, Elisabeth, and Robespierre were all very intelligent and accomplished individuals. Just to mention some examples: Louis excelled in languages; Elisabeth in mathematics; Robespierre in rhetoric. All three wanted to be models of virtue. The Bourbon children took a religious approach while Robespierre leaned on secular philosophies.

Elisabeth carried a certain charm from her earliest days. Despite being a wild child, Elisabeth grew up to be lovely and known for her piety and wit. There were three proposed marriages, but in the end, she and her brother, now King, agreed that she would stay with the family.

Sometime early in Louis’ reign, he and his wife stopped by the school Robespierre attended. In fact, Robespierre was handpicked to give a speech in Latin at the special ceremony for the King and Queen. It turned out to be a dismal day. It was rainy, the monarchs were running late, and when they did arrive, they stayed in their carriage for the speech and ceremony. They left promptly after the ceremony. Robespierre had just been rejected by high society.

Life’s not fair! Right, Robespierre?

But Robespierre was a bright student and would eventually move up his way into politics after completing school. He started on a small scale during the king’s early reign. Louis and Marie-Antoinette had more of a positive image then.

To someone like Robespierre, it probably seemed as if the King had everything. Besides not agreeing with the King’s politics, I think there were other things that Robespierre  would find bothersome about the King. Louis XVI had obtained power through family deaths. He had a beautiful family, and he had a live sibling born in 1764. The King got a free pass while Robespierre slaved away to get to the top.

Annoying Sister

Elisabeth annoyed her sister-in-law at times. She could surprise her brother. But there was never any doubt that these individuals cared for one another, and that the King and Queen would be eternally grateful to Elisabeth for staying with the family to the very end.

Elisabeth felt she was following God’s plan for her. She was heaven sent in the eyes of Louis and his family.

She was certainly a type of nuisance for Robespierre. If only she had escaped like some of her other family members, he wouldn’t have been caught in a desperate situation.  He fought for her at her trial. But he lost. He just wanted her to be exiled, not guillotined.

People marveled at her poise during her trial and execution.

She had just turned thirty the week before she was executed in May 1794.

Fooled by False Notions

More and more people considered themselves “fooled by false notions.” The new government had stressed equality and virtue— so why were so many being punished and put to death?

Robespierre and his comrades became distrustful of one another. They too felt they had been fooled. They weren’t as loyal as they professed they would be. He had helped to reform this new society, and now he and former allies were betraying each other. This was  Robespierre’s third and final rejection.

Robespierre was executed in July 1794. Had his stillborn brother lived, he would have turned thirty a few weeks before—the same age as Elisabeth, who had met her death in her birthday month of May for being loyal to family. An eerie coincidence.

While I don’t accept that Robespierre is scapegoat of history, I do feel sorry for him. He had all these ambitions and felt that to fulfill them, he needed to take away life. In the end, the curse he set on so many rebounded on him.

 

Sources:

Maxwell-Scott Mary Moniac. Madame Elizabeth de France, 1764-1794.

Robespierre, Charlotte. Charlotte Robespierre’s Memoirs: Part 1.By   http://revolution-fr.livejournal.com/2370.html  accessed August 16, 2016.

Ten Brink, Jan. Robespierre and the Red Terror. 1899.

Trail and Execution (French): de Beauchesne, Alicide-Hyacint

Images:
Princess Elisabeth of France by Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun (Public domain in U.S.) 1782

Portrait of Louis XVI by Antoine-Francois Callet. 1788 (Public Domain in U.S.)

Portrait of Maximilien Robespierre. 1790 (Public Domain in U.S.)