"He Is" by Hillary Roy

I have to admit, I’ve never been a fan of “George W. Bush.” Never have been, and probably never will be. Unless, of course, we’re discussing his better half. Forget the fact that the former president “is” a Republican and, forget the fact that I “am” a Democrat. Forget the fact that I disagree with most, if not all, of the policies and laws he put in place when he was in office because well like momma used to say, “Why cry over spilled milk?” And thank God, I’m smart enough not to, because I know, how to separate, “the man” from “the mission.” Or should I say, at least when it comes to his wife. Laura Bush, has never piqued my interest not even when she and then first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton had words over the role of women staying at home baking cookies. I could have cared less. But what I was intrigued by was her thoughtful account of her life as a young, high school student who had made a very, careless mistake. It was a tragedy that would haunt her for years and cause her to denounce her faith in God. This was far different than the image we would see on the TV screen of her and Georgy Porgy. You know the one that portrayed her as the doting wife, mother, philanthropist, daughter, and yes, first lady. Yet, as I read part of the excerpts from her new memoir “Spoken from the Heart”….I got the sense that this 17-year-old girl could have taken an entirely different path the night that she and a few of her friends went for a joy ride. It was a night that would change their lives forever. No one could foresee what would happen next, when young Laura took her eyes off of the steering wheel for what most have seemed like only a minute. A minute, which would cause her body to summersault in mid-air then fall onto her back. She was the lucky one, as the other driver, a high school football star, was now, a fatality. Where…was God? Where was God in all this she kept asking herself? It’s a question that many of us have asked ourselves when difficulties come, when death or grief consumes us, when financial stress or job losses occur, or health issues linger, or divorce or relationships end. Where is God in all this? And when… will… he finally show up? But it’s not about the question, it’s about the answer, and the answer is….he’s always there and he was there with that young, frightened girl the moment they pulled her out of that car. And he was there, the night that you consumed all of those pills trying to take your life. And he was there, when the eviction notice hit your door. He was there, in the court room as you said to your husband or your wife “I no longer do”….and he was holding your hand when they lowered the casket of your loved one. He was there, in the delivery room the moment of your birth, and he was there applauding “you” when you chose to believe in him. And he’ll always be there, no matter what circumstance or reason, in dew season, he always, will be!