Rahab: a woman of faith over fear and uncertainty

The story of Rahab is one of my favorites in the Bible. Rahab was a clever and wise woman who devised an escape plan for her and her family. As the stories of the Israelites traveled to Jericho and whispered among its citizens, she heard about the amazing things the Israelite God could do. She decided that she would put her faith in this God she didn’t know in an amazing act of faith. Her decision would mean her death if she was find out but she still took the risk. Although she was a prostitute and an idolater and would see her city and her people destroyed, her act of faith would be rewarded as God gave her a new life among his people and a place in the ancestry of his Son. What was her story? Why would she take such a risk? What does her story tell us about fear and God?

Jericho may be one of the world’s oldest cities as its ancient ruins can be found approximately 17 miles northeast of Jerusalem. The walled city was the gateway to Canaan, the final obstacle for the Israelites to overcome to claim their promised land. Rahab’s home was inside the thick surrounding walls. She would entertain the visitors to the city as well as many of the locals. This is how she heard the strong and marvelous stories of the God of the Israelites including the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:15-28) and the victory against Sihon and Og (Numbers 21:21-36). When the spies that Joshua sent into Jericho made their way to Rahab’s house, she hid them on the roof under stalks of flax which were out drying. When the king asked Rahab about the two men, she claimed not to know who they were or where they were from. She tells the king they left at dusk and men were sent out in pursuit. When it was safe, Rahab tells the men a warning and asks them for their assurances that she and her family would be spared (Joshua 2:12-13). They agreed and tells her to hang a scarlet cord out her window and her family would be spared. Rahab watched from her window the gathering army, their strange walking around the city, the final thunderous cry, and the crumbling of city’s walls (Joshua 6:12-20).  Rahab and her family were spared and joined the Israelites into the promised land.

The significance of the red cord cannot be overlooked. Scarlet has become synonymous with salvation and redemption. In similar fashion of the lamb’s blood on the doorframes of the Israelites, the red cord spared Rahab and her family from the coming siege (One for Israel, 2018). While the Messiah was promised to the Israelites, the scarlet cord in Rahab’s story is a connection that the promised Messiah was coming for the Gentiles as well. The scarlet cord is a fore of how redemption will come to faithful Gentiles (Jews for Jesus, 2001). Rahab’s faith was rewarded with the honor of being the great grandmother of King David and an ancestor in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5) and one of only two women mentioned in the Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11. Rahab’s redemption is also an example of how God’s grace no boundaries. Anyone who comes to him with faith will be saved. It would seem strange that God would choose to save Rahab, a prostitute, however; God saw her heart, not her profession. God often chooses many people of various backgrounds, especially those who are on the lowest rung of the societal ladder. No one is beyond his influence or his grace. The scarlet cord saved Rahab and her family just as the blood of Jesus saves those who believe in him. Rahab’s story is just another example of God’s willingness to use the less than perfect, the outcasts, anyone who society may see as unsuitable to accomplish his holy purposes

Fear and feelings of failure will often keep us from moving forward in our faith. While she was afraid, as she heard the stories of God, she rose above her situation with faith and trust. Her faith gave her the courage to risk her life. She knew it was certain death if the king of Jericho found out she lied. It would also certain death if she turned the spies in. She would have been destroyed along with the city. In the face of certain death, Rahab placed her faith and trust in the Israelite God who had accomplished the unbelievable. She was resourceful and willing to help others at great cost to herself. Despite her profession, she is remembered for her faith. Rahab is an example of how not to let feat affect your faith in God’s ability to deliver. One of my favorite quotes from Tessa Afshar’s Pearl in the Sand is “It’s time to leave fear behind or you’ll be robbed of your destiny. You don’t need confidence in yourselves or in your own power. Be strong in the Lord. When disaster seems close, don’t be discouraged. God will never leave you.” Acting on faith is like the saying, which has many forms but generally says, that courage is being afraid and going forward anyway. That’s what Rahab did. She put her faith over her fear. If we can find the strength to put our faith over our fear, what wonders could God do in our lives?

In conclusion, Rahab was a woman of great faith in a God she didn’t know. She heard the stories and believed that the Israelite God was more powerful than the idol gods her city worshipped. Her story is another example of who God doesn’t wait for us to be spotless or matured faith. He takes the ordinary, the willing and accomplishes the extraordinary both in their lives and the lives around them. There is a saying that goes around that says roughly that God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called. Rahab didn’t set out to be important or honored or rewarded. She simply wanted to survive. God saw her heart and saw a woman of great faith. He honored her in many ways.  Her story matters as our stories matter today. Rahab’s simple decision to help the spies made a huge difference. What simple decision in our lives could make the difference?

                                                                  References

 

Jews for Jesus (October 1, 2001). The Scarlet Cord of Redemption. Jews for Jesus. www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/newsletter/newsletter-oct-2001/the-scarlet-cord-of-redemption. Retrieved December 19, 2020.

 

One for Israel (June 10, 2018). The Secrets Of Rahab’s Rope. One for Israel. www.oneforisrael.org/israel/jericho-rahab-and-the-rope-of-hope/. Retrieved December 19, 2020.

 

For Further Reading

 

Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar, a fictional account of Rahab’s life including the events of Jericho and her life after marrying Salmon and becoming an ancestor of Jesus.

 

Jesus (Yeshua) is a Worm…and a Snake too Among Other Things by Kendall T. Shoulders, an analysis of often overlooked metaphors and symbols which point to the coming Messiah in the Bible.

 

both books are available in paperback and eBook

 

 

The Santa Trial: a great Christmas love story with all the sweetness, heartwarming goodness of the season

The Santa Trial: A Christmas Short by Tess Thompson is a tale of wonder and romance against the backdrop of Christmas. The story opens as Morgan Scott, a young girl, makes a video letter to Santa asking for his help. She wants her dad to meet someone and she has a list of requirements. Cut to Rena Burke who is not happy about missing work for jury duty. As she lists and prioritizes bills to pay with what income she has left, she notices that her “pretend boyfriend” Ryan is also on the jury. The man she has admired from afar is now sitting next to her. Ryan Scott is also not happy about being on jury duty, especially days from Christmas. His To-Do list gets longer by the minute. Soon Rena catches Ryan’s eye and maybe jury duty isn’t so bad after all. The case at hand is John Smith, a man who believes himself to be Santa Claus and makes it his mission to help the kids whose parents cannot afford to be Santa themselves. Is Mr. Smith THE Santa Claus? Is Rena the Christmas gift Morgan has asked for?

The Santa Trial is the Hallmark holiday romance movie on the page. It was short (very short, only 80 pages), sweet, heartwarming as any Christmas movie. It had a very Miracle on 34^th Street feel which is awesome because it is one of my favorite Christmas movies. Some might call it cheesy as most Christmas romance movies are, but it was enjoyable to sit back and read for a couple hours and read a story filled with love, hope and the miracles of Christmas. I laughed. I smiled. I sighed. I closed the book feeling all warm and fuzzy. I loved the interactions between the characters and what is the holiday without a little magic? If you enjoy holiday romance stories, you will enjoy The Santa Trial.

 

The Santa Trial is available in paperback and eBook

Preparing Your Daughter for Womanhood: a great resource for moms, dads, and guardians

Parents usually worry about everything when it comes to their children. From basic care to discipline, parents are always worrying about doing the right thing. However, nothing scares parents more than “The Talk.” A thousand question swirling around their head. When do I open the conversation? How do I start? How much information to I tell them? How much information too much too soon? Preparing Your Daughter for Womanhood: A Guide for Moms by Robin Jones Gunn is a mentoring book which gets down to the heart level of the mother-daughter relationship as they move into the next stage of their lives: adolescence. Drawing from her own experience with her daughter, Rachel, as well as stories from other mothers and daughters, Ms. Jones Gunn provides inspiration for each mother to tailor this journey to each unique mother-daughter relationship. As she states, “You aren’t just having ‘the talk.’ You’re starting the conversation.” It is the moment to celebrate our daughters as they blossom into the women God created them to be.

I have been a fan of Robin Jones Gunn’s books since I was a teenager. I grew up many with many of her books including the Christy Miller series as well as the Sierra Jensen series. With two daughters myself, 8 and 2 years old, I knew that I wanted to have a different conversation than I had with my mom. So, I began preparing around my oldest daughter’s birthday. Researching the topic and trying to figure out the questions swirling in my head. When I heard that Ms. Jones Gunn was writing a book for moms on this very topic, I eagerly awaited it’s arrival. The book itself isn’t very long about 180 pages and a quick read but it is filled with ideas and inspiration to guide me and my daughters on this journey. It is not a strict how to, do A, B, C, it is a guide to help you tailor this journey to your daughter’s personality and interests. I highly recommend Preparing Your Daughter for Womanhood.

 

Preparing Your Daughter for Womanhood is available in paperback

Last Train to Istanbul: a story of family, survival and war

 Last Train to Istanbul by Ayse Kulin is a story of love and survival in a time of great uncertainty. The story opens in 1941 as World War II is raging in Europe and Turkey is between a rock and a hard place. Trying to avoid a repeat of the aftermath of The Great World, Turkey is reluctant to choose a side, despite pressures from Britain, Russia, and Germany. As war and politics rages on, a young girl falls in love. As the daughter of a prominent family, Selva could have any man who wanted and yet she only had eyes for the handsome, Rafael Alfandari, the Jewish son of an esteemed family. In defiance of both their families, they marry and flee to France. But soon the Nazis invade and occupy France and they find themselves in danger. A few brave Turkish diplomats develop a plan to get the Turkish Jews, including Selva and Rafael, out of France and back into Turkey. The train they must take crosses the war-torn continent and behind enemy lines. Will they make the train? Will they make it to safety?

Last Train to Istanbul opens more of the world in World War II. Most books focus on occupied France and Germany. Many people don’t realize that other countries were involved or desperately trying to stay out of the war. Last Train to Istanbul opened my eyes to the war than is normally talked about. The story was dramatic with daring escapes, family drama and the amazing human spirit to survive against unbelievable odds. This is my second book from Ms. Kulin. A few years ago, I read Love in Exile, which I also recommend, Last Train to Istanbul weaves a beautiful tapestry of the country and her people. I enjoyed every character with their different views on life, politics, and the importance of family regardless of the past. I always find it encouraging when people will go above and beyond for complete strangers and this is a story of those individuals. I recommend Last Train to Istanbul.

 

Last Train to Istanbul is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Great Passage: a beautiful story of words, language and our lives

The Great Passage by Shion Miura is a beautiful story of words, language, and their meanings in our lives. Kohei Araki is an editor of dictionaries or a prominent Japanese publishing house. Along with his mentor, Professor Matsumoto, Araki dreams of creating an inclusive dictionary of the Japanese language. He hires Mitsuya Majime, a studious young man who is focused on accuracy and perfection. Joining the small crew, Majime is now tasked with a career-defining goal: the complete The Great Passage, the comprehensive 2,900-page dictionary of the Japanese language. Meanwhile, in his personal life, Majime discovers friendships, romance and a great dedication to the words that connect us all. Will Majime be able to hurdle the obstacles in his way to achieve the goal? Will The Great Passage ever be published?

The Great Passage is both a hard read and a beautiful lyrical flow of language. The story and interaction between the characters was my favorite part. As the suave, self-assured Nishioka becomes a reluctant friend of Majime’s, and is surprised at the quiet, awkward Majime succeeds where he fails. The sweet and simple romance between Majime and his wife. The characters are what made me stay with the story. However, it is a difficult read as the technical information of the work that goes into making a dictionary slowed down the story. I do recommend The Great Passage as it is a beautiful story and a glimpse of life in Japan and her people.

 

The Great Passage is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

 

Ten Women: stories of life and finding common bonds

Ten Women by Marcela Serrano is the stories of nine women and their psychiatrist. They come from very different backgrounds, very different lifestyles in Chile. Ranging from a teenager who is confronting her sexual identity to an old woman confronting the loneliness of old age and despite the differences in ages and their backgrounds, these women representing the variety of the cultural and social groups in Chile. On the surface, it would seem they would have nothing in common. However, a common thread brings them together: their psychiatrist. As each woman shares their stories, they discover they may have more in common then they originally thought. Through these new commonalities, they form bonds and friendships in which transforms their lives in ways they never imagined.

Ten Woman would be read as a collection of short stories; unfortunately for me, the connection between the women seemed to be lost. While many of their stories had commonalties, it got to the point that it was repetitious I enjoyed each woman’s story on its own, but the cohesiveness is murkier. I would still recommend it as Ten Woman brings stories of a part of the world many of us never think about and possibly think we would not have anything in common. However, each of these stories could be find here in the United States or anywhere in the world. If you choose to read Ten Women, I recommend reading it as a collection of short stories rather than a cohesive plot.

 

Ten Woman is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

A River in Darkness: one man's escape from North Korea

A River in Darkness by Masaji Iskikawa is his harrowing story of life and escape from North Korea, one of the most brutal regimes. Half-Korean, half-Japanese, Mr. Ishikawa grew up in a between worlds. He wasn’t fully accepted in Japan, the country of his birth and he was mocked and placed in the lowest social caste, what Mr. Ishikawa called “Hostiles,” in North Korea as his family moved there in 1960 when he was 13. His father, a South Korean native, was lured to the new Communist country with the promises of a better life, better work opportunities and education for his children; however, reality proved far worse than he could have imagined. Mr. Ishikawa recounts his early life in Japan, the move to North Korea and the 36 years he spent there until he couldn’t take it anymore. He knew he had to get out. Either he died in country or he died trying to escape, he would make a run for it.

A River in Darkness is not only a shocking real-life story of life inside North Korea and a testament to the desperate measures people will take to survive and even try to escape, it is a wake up call to the path many countries are heading. I know there are many people who should say that socialism in America would be different, but I have read too many accounts of people who lived and escaped communist countries to see that the results always end in human suffering. And as I read Mr. Ishikawa’s story, I couldn’t help but see the same empty promises being made now. I highly recommend A River Darkness as a warning to those who think that socialism is the answer. It is a heartbreaking story and a must read.

 

A River in Darkness is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The House by the River: a family saga set in the country of Greece

The House by the River by Lena Manta is a family saga story set in the beautiful country of Greece. Living in a small village by a river at the foot of Mount Olympus, Gerasimos and Theodora have five daughters: Melissanthi, Julia, Aspasia, Polyxeni, and Magdanlini. When tragedy strikes, Theodora is left to raise her daughters alone. As they grow into beautiful young women, Theodora knows she can’t keep her daughters at home forever. They are too curious, too free-spirited with too much wanderlust to stay in their tiny village. But before each girl leaves, she lets them know they are always welcomed to come home to the house by the river. Theodora must endure the twenty-year silence from her daughters as they live their lives. They marry, travel the world, courted various romances, fame and their own tragedy. Will their own tragedy bring them back together to the house by the river?

The House by the River is a long, in-depth family story. Separated into sections, detailing each daughters’ successes, failures, and tragedy. The stories started out strong. I enjoyed Theodora’s story as well as Melissanthi’s and Julia’s. Unfortunately, the other daughters’ stories were tedious and very unrealistic. However, the best part of the book is when the daughters, one by one, return to the house and in various ways find forgiveness and healing from their waywardness. Overall, I enjoyed the story. The imagery of the various towns and villages in Greece are stunning. However, it is hard to recommend because it is just so long and tedious to the point of repetitiveness

 

The House by the River is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

On this day in history: Frederick Douglass publishes the first issue of The North Star

Today in history Frederick Douglass begins to publish his newspaper, The North Star. Douglass is an important part of American history as he was a social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman at a time when the commonly held belief stated he couldn’t, shouldn’t be able to. He was the living rebuttal to the argument of many slaveowners that slaves lacked the intellectual capacity to be a functioning citizen. He would escape slavery in Maryland and would become a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York. Who was Frederick Douglass? What was his newspaper, The North Star? And what legacy does he leave us today?

Frederick Douglass was born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey circa February 1818. The exact date of his birth is unknown. He chose February 14 as his birthdate as his mother called him “Little Valentine.” At age 6, he was given to the Auld Family and by age 8, Lucretia Auld sent him to her brother-in-law, Hugh Auld, in Baltimore. It was there that he began his education when Hugh’s wife, Sophia, began to teach him the alphabet, Fredrick would continue his education by teaching himself. In 1837, he met and fell in love with Anna Murray, a free black woman. After gaining his freedom, they would marry on September 15, 1838. They would be married for 44 years until her death in 1882. Douglass would write three autobiographies, the most famous, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass an American Slave (1845), would be a bestseller and influential in the abolition movement. He would also be an active supporter of women’s suffrage. On February 20, 1895, he attended a meeting of the National Council of Women in Washington, D.C. He would die from a massive heart attack after returning home. He was 77.

Douglass was inspired to start his newspaper in 1846 after subscribing to The Liberator, published by William Lloyd Garrison. He began to publish his newspaper, The North Star, on December 3, 1847. The antislavery newspaper would run until June 1851 when it merged with Gerrit Smith’s Liberty Party Paper. The title is a reference to the directions given to runaway slaves in order to reach the Northern states and Canada: “Follow the North Star.” The North Star’s slogan was “Right is of no Sex. Truth is of no Color. God is the Father of us all, and we are brethren.” Eventually, The North Star would have more than 4,000 readers in the US, Europe, and the Caribbean. The newspaper focused on current events concerning abolitionist issues with editorials, letters from readers, news articles, poetry, and book reviews. He would write with great passion especially about the discrepancy in America’s Christian beliefs and the prejudice and discrimination he witnessed. Sadly, very few copies of The North Star survive as many of Douglass’ papers were destroyed in a fire in June 1872.

The legacy of The North Star and Douglass himself is that it gave readers an outlet and amplified the growing political power of the African American press (Georgini, 2019). His use of words to fight for freedom and rights for African Americans as well as women’s suffrage left an unmistakable mark on America. His autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass an American Slave, is still required reading for many high school and college students. He is an example of how people can shape their future (Staff, 2013). Douglass would encourage African Americans to rise above their beginnings and achieve freedom. He once stated that he “would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong” and reportedly reconciled with his former slaveowner, Thomas Auld, in 1877, when Auld was near death. Although Douglass was able to reconcile with his former owner, reconciling with slavery itself would prove harder. He once said, “Slavery is indeed gone, but its long, black shadow yet falls broad and large over the face of the whole country,” during an 1881 speech at Storer College in West Virginia (Blackmore, 2018). Douglass would devote the rest of his life to civil rights and equality.

In conclusion, Frederick Douglass and his newspaper, The North Star, were influential in the abolition movement. He is an example of human perseverance. To rise above his origins to achieve what he wanted. He worked hard, faced difficult opponents, and fought everything he had. He believed knowledge is the path to freedom. True freedom. He was correct. When knowledge is given and obtained, the possibilities are endless. The North Star would be an example of how words could be used to influence and forge change. Against all odds and critics, Douglass forged ahead to create his newspaper, to be a mouthpiece for freedom and equality.

 

References

 

Blackmore, Erin (December 4, 2018). Frederick Douglass’s Emotional Meeting With the Man Who Enslaved Him. History. www.history.com/news/frederick-douglass-meeting-former-master. Retrieved November 30, 2020.

 

Georgini, Sara (February 14, 2019). ‘The North Star’ Amplified Black Voices. How a 2019 Reboot of Frederick Douglass’ Paper Hopes to Do the Same. Smithsonian Magazine. www.smithsonianmag.com/history/frederick-douglass-north-star-amplified-black-voices-reboot-newspaper-hoping-do-same-180971500/. Retrieved November 30, 2020.

 

Staff Writer (August 12, 2013). Legacy and Significance of Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass Heritage. www.frederick-douglass-heritage.org/legacy-significance/. Retrieved November 30, 2020.

 

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica (November 11, 2016). The North Star. Encyclopaedia Britannica. www.britannica.com/topic/The-North-Star-American-newspaper. Retrieved November 30, 2020.

Still Waters: an Scandinavian murder mystery

Still Waters by Viveca Sten is the first book in the Sandhamn Murders series. On an island in the Stockholm Archipelago in Sweden, a man has been discovered dead on the shore. Inspector Thomas Andresson, a member of the violent crime unit, has been called to the scene. The investigation would set off a series of events which will rock the tiny island community. Nora Linde, Thomas’s childhood friend, is vacationing on the island with her husband and two sons.  She can’t believe a murder could have happened on the quiet island but when two more bodies are discovered, she believes they could be connected. Are they connected? How? Can Thomas and his team discover the truth before another body is discovered?

Still Waters is an intense murder mystery with twists, turns and tiny clues that the ending is unexpected. The events behind the deaths was not what I expected but still mind blowing as the clues are recapped and connected at the end. I enjoyed all the characters especially Thomas and Nora. I look forward to reading other books in this series. I also discovered that the books had been turned into a tv show which is available on Amazon Prime streaming service. I may check it out soon. A murder mystery set on a beautiful island, Still Waters is an intense story and I recommend it.

Miriam: a lesson in our motives behind our criticisms

This month’s study is on Miriam. Moses’ older sister, we first meet her as a young girl who watches over her baby brother and leads Pharaoh’s daughter to Jochebed. As an adult, she is known as a prophetess, and an able leader. She leads the women in a song and dance of worship after the parting of the Red Sea and their escape from Pharaoh’s army. However, she is also a jealous person who openly criticized Moses’ leadership. What is her story? What were her motives to criticize Moses? Were they honorable or selfish in nature? What does her story tell us about God’s forgiveness?

Her name means bitterness. Miriam’s character is one of fortitude and wisdom, a leader of God’s people at a critical moment, she led a celebration. The first mention of dancing in Scripture is linked to Miriam and her leading the women in celebration. Dancing was a form of worship and linked to joy and happiness. Miriam danced and sang a song of celebration, “Sing to the Lord, for his is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea” (Exodus 15:21) and even spoke God’s words to his people. She played an instrumental role in the deliverance of God’s people. However, she thought she and Aaron, their brother, deserved an equal share in his authority, an equal share in how the people are led. She spoke against Moses’ authority. She was stuck with leprosy for her pride and insubordination. She was banned to the outskirts of the camp for seven days for her sin. She was even denied entry to the Promise Land.

Why was Miriam punished with leprosy and banishment for seven days? Her motives behind her criticisms. Criticisms and confrontations can be well-placed. Jesus tells us in Luke 17:3, “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.” However, sometimes our criticisms and confrontations are not for correction, but for our own selfish motives. What was Miriam’s motive? Jealousy. She was jealousy of her baby brother who had an honored position with the Lord and was chosen as leader of the Israelites. Moses also married Zipporah, a Cushite woman, which meant that Miriam was not the most important or influential woman in Moses’ life. Before we criticize, we need to consider our motives. Are we criticizing to correct or to wound? Sometimes criticism, under the guise of constructive criticism, hides a destructive jealousy. The motives behind our criticisms are often more important to deal with than the criticism itself. Jesus speaks to our motives in Matthew 7:3-5 and calls us to be discerning in our criticisms, to be focused on correcting rather negative.

Miriam’s story is just another example of God’s forgiveness. He is willing to forgive sin. He wants to forgive us of our sins. When we repent, God is faithful and will forgive us. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our ins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Even though Miriam was punished for her sin, she is not remembered for her sin. Micah 6:4 mentions her as being sent by God along with Moses and Aaron to lead the people from Egypt. Many people may think they haven’t been forgiven because they still suffer from sin’s results. However, repentance from sin does not keep the consequences from happening. Just as Miriam was forgiven for her sin, she still faced the consequences of her actions. Just as David was forgiven for his sin, he had to suffer the consequences (2 Samuel 12:13-14). We are forgiven, but we must face the earthly consequences of our actions.

In conclusion, Miriam’s story is one of greatness and one of sin. She is remembered as a prophetess and a leader. She danced in celebration and worship. She is also a lesson in examining our motives when we criticize or confront others. Are we doing so to correct or to wound? Are we concerned or are we jealous? Her story is also an example of God’s promise to forgive when we repent our sins. The Bible is filled with examples of God’s promise to forgive. One of my favorite verses is Psalm 103:12, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our consequences from us.”

Researching my Native heritage for Native American Heritage Day

Today is Native American Heritage Day. Most Americans will boast about a family story which involves an ancestor who was Native American. Most of those stories are proved to be false as they dig into their family history. Growing up I heard a story from both sides of my family tree. My maternal side had a story of a Canadian Indian princess from my grandfather’s paternal side. That story has been proven false through records research as well as genetic testing. However, the story on my paternal side has proven to be correct. My research has revealed that Emilie Marie (nee Bottineau) LaPointe, my 4^th great grandmother, was Cree Indian, born around 1797/1799 around Red River, Manitoba, Canada. Further research has revealed that her mother, Marie Techomegood, my 5^th great grandmother, was Assiniboine Indian born about 1780 around Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I decided to look deeper into the Cree and Assiniboine tribes.

Cree Indians are one of the largest groups of the First Nations in North America. Majority of Cree in Canada live in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. The name “Cree” is derived from the Algonkian language, Kiristino, which the Ojibwa used for tribes around Hudson Bay. Historically, the Cree were hunter-gatherers who were strongly associated with the fur trade in North America. Lodges were the basic unit consisting of 8-12 people. Bands were a group of lodges who moved and hunted together. Bands usually had strong ties with neighboring bands through intermarriage and would gather for hunts and socialization. Their number would expand rapidly in the 17^th and 18^th centuries as they profited from the fur trade (Encyclopedia Britannica). Given the traditional acceptance of the Cree for intermarriages, many bands are ultimately of mixed heritages. Those with mixed heritages in Canada is known as Metis, which is French for mixed ancestry. Canada’s Indian and Northern Affairs broadly define Metis as those with First Nations and European ancestry. Today, “early 21st-century population estimates indicated some 90,000 individuals of Cree descent” (Encyclopedia Britannica). It’s exciting to know that I am one of those 90,000 individuals.

Assiniboine Indians are also known as “stone Sioux” or Hohe Nakota who inhabited the Northern Great Plains of North America. They grew into one of the largest and powerful with a horse and warrior culture. At their height, their territory ranged from North Saskatchewan River to the Missouri River. Well known throughout the late 18^th and early 19^th century, Assiniboine tribes were members of the Iron Confederacy along with the Cree. From 1692 to the late 19^th century, the Iron Confederacy were important intermediaries in the Great Plains trading networks with the Hudson Bay Company. The most commonly furs traded were beaver and bison. In return, they would obtain guns, ammo, metal items such as tomahawks and pots, wool items, such as blankets, coasts and leggings, glass beads and other goods. “Their new wealth as traders, successful horsemen, respected warriors and as providers of fresh meat to the numerous trading posts reached a peak from the 1780s to the early 1800s” (Getty, 2020). This period covers the roughly the lifetime of Marie Techomegood and the childhood of Emilie Marie. Sadly, as with many Native tribes, the Assiniboine suffered greatly through wars and epidemics like smallpox.

The traditional lifestyles and culture of the Cree and Assiniboine were semi-nomadic as they would follow and hunt the bison during the warmer months and settled for the winter months. Women had primary responsibilities within the bands. They gathered and cultivated plants for food and medicines. They cared for the young and the elderly. They made the clothing and instruments. They processed and cured the meat and skins, reserving the meat for winter.  Every part of the animals would be used. Hides, tendons, and horns were used for clothing, bedding, tools, and cords. If they could use it, they would. The men were excellent horsemen who hunted, traded, and battled on horseback using bows and arrows. Girls and women were encouraged to learn to ride. Hunt and fight. While the main fighting was left up to the boys and men, women and girls were often called upon for defense of the home as well as offense in battle. Men and women took part in storytelling, artwork, music, and medicine. The Cree and Assiniboine believed that the Sun god and Thunder god were the most important manifestations of the Great Spirit. Bands would participate in an annual Sun Dance.

It was a lot of fun researching my great grandmothers. My 4^th great grandmother, Emilie, died around 1850. Her mother, Marie Techomegood, died around 1815. While reading about the historical events of their lifetimes, I would imagine what it was like for them to experience their events, to hear about them. What were their thoughts? Feelings? Reactions? While I may never know the answers, I feel a connection to them and our shared heritage. My thought is that Techomegood was my 5^th great grandmother’s given name and she possibly took the name, Marie, when she married. I’ve also discovered that Techomegood possibly translates to “Clear Sky Woman.” After discovering Emilie Marie and Marie Techomegood’s native heritage, it was fun and eye-opening researching their possible tribes, its history and culture. I look forward to furthering my research and reading more about the Cree and Assiniboine, to learn more about the people and their stories.

 

References

 

Encyclopedia Britannica. www.britannica.com/topic/Cree. Retrieved November 25, 2020.

 

Getty, Ian A.L. (August 4, 2020) Assiniboine. The Canadian Encyclopedia www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/assiniboine. Retrieved November 25, 2020. 

Lost Stars: a Star Wars story that every fan should read

A Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far, Far Away…. Lost Stars by Claudia Gray is a youth novel as a part of the Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens series. Eight years after the fall of the Old Republic, the Galactic Empire reigns over the known galaxy and any resistance is easily silenced. Thane Kyrell and Ciena Ree grew up on the Outer Rim planet of Jelucan. Thane, from a aristocratic family, and Ciena, a rural villager. The two were worlds apart and yet fate made them unlikely friends. They would find ways to be together, to practice flying and to study as their dream was to attend the Imperial Academy. The two become inseparable, knowing each other so well that they often finish each other’s thoughts. But when Thane sours on the dream after he sees firsthand the horrifying tactics the Empire uses to maintain order; the two friends are on the opposite sides of the war. Thane puts them at odds when he joins the Rebellion and Ciena now must decide between her duty, her oath and her loyalty to the Empire and the man she has loved since childhood.

Lost Stars was given to me by my cousin when he learned that I had read Ms. Gray’s other Star Wars titles. I enjoyed Lost Stars much more than I did her other titles. Lost Stars takes the reader on a journey through the original trilogy through the eyes of the nameless characters fighting in the background. It was exciting, thrilling and opened the Star Wars trilogy in ways that I’ll see the movies in a new light. I loved the characters of Thane and Ciena. Ms. Gray has written two characters who felt like real people with strengths, flaws, love, conflicts, and moral dilemmas. They could easily be us as we face difficult decisions and must decide between conflicting loyalties. The blooming romance between the two was equally beautiful and while Ms. Gray kept much to the imagination, she wrote the romance better than most romance novels I’ve read. I am slowly working my way through the numerous Star Wars novels; Lost Stars is by far my favorites so far. It is a story I will revisit again. If you are a fan of Star Wars, I highly recommend Lost Stars!

 

Lost Stars is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

Alexander Hamilton: the biography that started it all

 Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow has been on the reading lists of many since Lin-Manuel Miranda read the book and was inspired to write his award-winning musical, Hamilton (2015). I have long been a fan of history and musicals. When I finally was able to see the musical in July, I knew I had to read the biography. Alexander Hamilton came from nothing as the illegitimate self-taught orphan from the Caribbean. He overcame the abandonment of his father, the death of his mother and a devastating hurricane to start a new life in the Americas. He would arrive at the height of the Revolutionary War and he would quickly join in the fight for freedom. Alexander Hamilton was a controversial figure in his day as well as today. Chernow details how the political and economic power of America today is the handiwork of Hamilton and his unrelenting fight to champion ideas that we take for granted today.

As a line in the musical says, “His enemies destroyed his rep America forgot him.” He had very public feuds with the Titans of the day: Jefferson, Adams, Madison, and Monroe. He had the first sex scandal of American history as his affair with Maria Reynolds became public. I learned about Alexander Hamilton in college as my history professor used his story of the American dream. To rise above your origins to become a success. While he was largely be forgotten in our history lessons, now thanks to Ron Chernow and Lin-Manuel Miranda, he will no longer be forgotten. It is a large book at 700+ pages and it took me several months to read. However, it will be so worth it. Alexander Hamilton is worthy to be among the heroes of our country’s history as much as Washington, Jefferson and others are celebrated. While he was a hero, he was also deeply flawed. While we can celebrate his contributions, we should also understand the man and human he was. His mistakes, his failures to stand are all lessons to us as much as his successes. I highly recommend Alexander Hamilton. 

 “You've seen the show, you've sung the songs, now read the full story of America's most misunderstood founding father.”

 

Alexander Hamilton is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

Over the Moon: an adventure story with life lessons

Over the Moon is an American Chinese computer animated film, directed by Gary Keane, co-directed John Kahrs. Screenplay by the late Audrey Wells along with Alice Wu and Jennifer Yee McDevitt. Starring the voice talents of Cathy Ang, Phillippa Soo, Ken Jeong, John Cho, Margaret Cho and Sandra Oh. First shown at the Montclair Film Festival on October 17, 2020, it was released on Netflix and select theaters on October 23, 2020. My eight-year-old daughter is a big fan of Phillippa Soo and was excited to watch Over the Moon. When we watched it together, I found it was a fun adventure story with a touching life lesson.

The film opens with a young girl named Fei Fei (voiced by Cathy Ang) with her parents. Her mother tells her the legend of Chang’e, the moon goddess, who took a potion for immortality and ascending to the moon without her lover, Houyi. Now she sits on the moon, waiting for her love. As her family prepares for the annual Moon Festival, Fei Fei’s mother falls ill and passes away. Four years later, Fei Fei and her father prepare for the annual Moon festival, but something is different this year. Mrs. Zhong (voiced by Sandra Oh) and her eight-year-old son, Chin (voiced by Robert G. Chiu) arrives, and everything seems to fall apart. Fei Fei decides to build a rocket to the moon to prove the moon goddess’s existence. Once she arrives of the moon, Chang’e (voiced by Phillippa Soo) is not who Fei Fei was expecting. She tells Fei Fei that she was supposed to deliver a gift for Chang'e and offers proof of her existence as a prize. Fei Fei finds herself in a race against time to find the gift, get her proof and go home.

The movie was sweet and fun. There are many aspects I enjoyed about the film. I will highlight my top three. First, the story is wonderful. While it has the common themes of parental death, grief and moving on. It is still a moving story about a young girl who learns that moving on doesn’t mean she stops loving her mother, stops missing her or worse, forgets her mother. Over the Moon offers a story that shows children that it is okay to cry and grieve after a loss of a loved one. As well as it is okay to move on. Second, the music is fun and enjoyable. The score was composed by Steven Price and the original songs were written by Christopher Curtis, Marjorie Duffield, and Helen Park. Phillippa Soo shines with her beautiful voice as well as shows off her hip hop skills. Third, I loved the insights into more of Chinese culture. My daughter and I immediately googled mooncakes, which are made during the Moon Festival, as we have never heard of them before and they look so delicious.

Unfortunately, there was one aspect of the movie I did not care for. The character of Gobi, voiced by the talented Ken Jeong, was a character that seemed out of place. Gobi, a pangolin, was a former royal advisor to Chang’e who exiled him a thousand years ago. Gobi came into the story to bring Fei Fei to a revelation that will change her attitude and view on her life. Normally, that would be fine and expected, however, Gobi was too much like Olaf for me to fully enjoy his part in the story. His manic speech style felt familiar to Olaf’s. The rambling, nonsense speech with a gem of entitlement in the middle was too much like Olaf. It is not the fact that Fei Fei had animal companions as many. Many fairy tales and legends have animal counterparts. Gobi would have been great if he just didn’t feel like an Olaf copy.

In conclusion, I enjoyed Over the Moon. It was fun and enjoyable. It had funny moments. It had sad moments. It had moments led to talks with my daughter about loss and grief. It had amazing animation with a great story featuring a Chinese legend and a look into more aspects of Chinese culture. The music was great and fun to listen to. While I did not enjoy the Gobi character, the other characters were fun. Overall, I recommend Over the Moon for all. Not just families, but for anyone who would enjoy a story about a young girl who learns a great life lesson. 

Remembering Ofra Haza on what would have been her 63rd birthday

Ofra Haza was an international Israeli singer whose voice dazzled audiences for decades. Her music would be known as World pop, ethnic electronics synthpop as well as a mixture of traditional and commercial styles of her Yemeni heritage. She became known as the Madonna of the East. I was first introduced to her in the 1998 film The Prince of Egypt as the singing voice for Jochebed, Moses’ mother. I was reintroduced to her recently as I did a study on Jochebed and discovered her other music. Sadly, she died in 2000. Today would have been her 63^rd birthday. I would like to introduce everyone to Ofra Haza. She may be done but she left behind such a beautiful success story and amazing music for us to remember her.

Born Bat-Sheva Ofra Haza on November 19, 1957 in Hatikva, Tel Aviv, Israel. She was the youngest of nine children to Yefet and Shoshana Haza, Mizrahi Jewish parents who had immigrated from Yemen. At the age of 12, Ofra joined a local theater troupe, and manager Bezalel Aloni noticed her singing talent and featured her in many of his productions. Aloni would become her mentor and manager as her singing career progressed. At 19, she would be Israel’s foremost popstar. After her first album, Al Ahavot Shelanu (About Our Loves) was released in 1980, it produced a string of radio hits. She would be named Female Vocalist of the Year by Kol Israel Radio for four years straight, 1980-1983. In 1983, she released Shirey Moledet, her renditions of Israeli folk songs which went platinum and produced two volumes in 1985 and 1987. She was so popular that she was asked by Michael Jackson to do a joint international concert tour in 1990, which she turned down (Shahar). In 1997, she married Doron Ashkenazi.

Her career would include many collaborations and performances. She would provide vocals for Sarah Brightman’s Harem (2003) on the song, “Mysterious Days.” She did duets with Paul Anka, Cliff Richards, and Iggy Pop (Shahar). She sang on various movie soundtracks including Colors (1998), Dick Tracy (1990), Queen Margot (1994) and The Prince of Egypt (1998). The animators for The Prince of Egypt were so moved by her beauty that they used her image for Jochebed. She would also sing “Deliver Us” in each language the movie was translated in, 18 in all. Ofra would also do a series of covers from Carol King and James Taylor’s “You’ve Got a Friend,” to Madonna’s “Open Your Heart.” One of my favorite covers by Ofra is Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.” She did two versions. One was upbeat and sounds similar to Zeppelin’s version and a second version which is slow and very haunting (which is my favorite of the two versions).

Ofra Haza died on February 23, 2000 at the age of 42 from AIDS related pneumonia. Her death was controversial in Israel despite her HIV positive status was generally known. Many people would blame her husband, Doron, for giving her HIV. However, she got HIV from a blood transfusion in a Turkish hospital following treatment from a miscarriage (Paphides, 2010). When her death ws announced, Israeli radio played her music nonstop while then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak praised her as a cultural emissary and an Israeli success story. He would say that she “emerged from the Hatikavh slums to reach the peak of Israeli culture. She has left a mark on us all” A park in the Hatikva Quarter was renamed in her honor. Her death from AIDS related causes added another layer of mourning for her fans and the people of Israel as “She was a beautiful crystal ball that suddenly shattered without anyone knowing it was cracked” (Shalev, 2020).

In conclusion, Ofra Haza was a rare beauty and talent who left an undeniable mark in Israel and on me. She is a success story that one can rise above their beginnings and leave their mark on the world they leave behind. It saddens me that I didn’t know her and her music during her lifetime. However, I love that I can enjoy the music she left behind. One of my favorite songs is Yershalayim Shel Zahav (“Jerusalem in Gold”) which she sang at the officially ceremony marking Israel’s 50^th anniversary. I have posted the link to her performance above. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

                                                                    References

Paphides, Peter (December 9, 2010). Ofra Haza: Madonna of the dark soul. The Guardian. www.theguardian.com/music/2010/dec/09/ofra-haza-madonna-of-the-dark-soul. Retrieved November 18, 2020.

Shahar, Nathan (no date). Ofra Haza. My Jewish Learning. www.myjewishlearning.com/article/ofra-haza/. Retrieved November 18, 2020.

Shalev, Ben (February 27, 2020). Looking Back at Ofra Haza's Transformation, 20 Years After the Death of Israel's Iconic Singer. Haaretz. www.haaretz.com/life/.premium.MAGAZINE-20-years-to-iconic-singer-s-death-looking-back-at-ofra-haza-s-transformation-1.8590931. Retrieved November 18, 2020.

Take Me Home: a fun weekend read

Take Me Home by JH Croix is the first book in the Last Frontier Lodge series. After a walking in on a robbery at her apartment in Seattle, Marley Adams returns home to Diamond Creek, Alaska. Hoping to move past the experience, she settles into a routine when handsome Gage Hamilton inherits the local ski lodge and begins fixing it up. The connection between Marley and Gage is instantaneous and soon the two are inseparable. Everyone around them is ecstatic that they have found each other. Nothing would spoil it. However, soon the events back in Seattle seems to follow her home, Gage takes charge to help her figure out who is after her and what they are after. Can they figure out who is threatening her? Is it connected to her apartment robbery?

Take Me Home is a cute, sweet romance. A nice book for a weekend read. I enjoyed Marley and Gage as their relationship developed. The sex scenes bordered on a tad bit too detailed but not too graphic. My only complaint is the author’s constant descriptions and sentence structure. In the opening chapter, Marley’s auburn hair was mentioned at least a dozen time. Ok, we get it, her hair is auburn. Ms. Croix’s sentence structures seemed a bit amateurish as she mentions details more than once on a single sentence. It would be easy to figure out a dozen other ways to say the same information without the repetition. However, I did enjoy the story. I enjoyed all the supporting characters and would enjoy reading their stories as well. For a fun story, I recommend Take Me Home.

 

                               Take Me Home is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

On this day in history: the Articles of Confederation were approved (1777)

On this day in history, the Articles of Confederation were approved in 1777 by the Second Continental Congress and sent to each colony for ratification. It was an agreement among the colonies and served as the new nations first constitution. The guiding principle was to preserve the independence and sovereignty of each state with a weak central government. The idea was that it is was a league of friendship. It was officially ratified on March 1, 1781 as the Revolutionary War was coming to a close with victory coming at Yorktown in October. When Shay’s Rebellion occurred in August 1786-June 1787, the weaknesses of the Articles were apparent, and the Constitutional Convention convened on May 25, 1787 to address its issues.

The Articles of Confederation established a firm league among the colonies now known as free and independent states. It was an international agreement to set up the central institutions to conduct vital domestic and foreign affairs. On June 12, 1776, a committee of 13 was chosen to draft a constitution for the new nation they wanted to create. The Articles of Confederation were presented to the Continental Congress on July 12, 1776. Long debates ensued on state sovereignty and the powers given to Congress. Questions on how to establish a judiciary, western land claims and voting procedures and general questions on how to conduct day to day business. Eventually a consensus was achieved by allowing each state to retain its sovereignty, the power of western land claims was given to the states, and established a unicameral legislature with limited powers. The final draft would be approved on November 15, 1777.

The Articles consist of a preamble, 13 articles, a conclusion, and a signatory section. Each individual article set rules for current and future operations of the central government. Here is a summarized version of each article:

1.  Establishes the country’s new name as the United State of America.

2. Asserts the sovereignty of each state.

3. Declares the purpose of the Confederation as a “firm league of friendship” for the common defense, security of liberties and mutual and general well-being.

4. Establishes equal treatment and freedom of movement for free residents of each state as well as extradition powers for fugitives to be returned to the state of their crimes.

5. Allocates one vote per state in the Congress of the Confederation and each state was entitled to a delegation of 2-7 members who were appointed by their state’s legislatures for service of no more than 3 of 6 years.

6. The power to declare war is allocated to the Congress as well as the power to conduct foreign political or commercial relationships. While each state is required to keep ready a well-trained, disciplined, and equipped militia.

7. State legislatures are assigned military ranks of Colonel and below.

8. Government expenditures will be paid with funds raised by the state legislatures.

9. Details the specific powers and functions of the Congress including war powers, foreign powers, appointed judges to the courts, appointed a president to serve no longer than 1 year per a 3-year Congressional term.

10. When the Congress is in recess, nine states are needed to form a committee to execute any of the congressional powers.

11. No new states shall be admitted without the consent of nine states.

12. Confederations will honor all bills of credit incurred, monies borrowed, and debts contracted by Congress before the Articles’ existence.

13. The Articles can be altered only by Congressional approach and ratification of the state legislatures.

 After the Articles were ratified by the states on March 1, 1781, it wasn’t long until its weaknesses were exposed. After the war, a debt crisis rose among the citizens in Massachusetts and the state’s increased efforts to collect taxes on both individuals and their trades. With no relief in sight, war veteran and farmer Daniel Shays led 4,000 men to protest the economic and civil rights injustices. On August 29, 1787, Shay led an armed march on the federal Springfield Armory to seize the weaponry and overthrown the government. It was unsuccessful but other skirmishes would follow until the rebellion was stopped by the Massachusetts State militia and a privately funded local militia. At the time of the rebellion, it weakness of the Articles were apparent, and it was widely debated among the Federalists and the Antifederalists about revisions to the Articles. It has been widely taught that Shays’ Rebellion was the catalyst for the Constitutional Convention and the creation of the Constitution we know today; however, many scholars still debate whether the rebellion really had an influence on the creation of the Constitution and its ratification.

In conclusion, the Articles of Confederation was our nation’s first attempt at a constitution. While it has its weaknesses and was thrown out in favor for the current Constitution, the Articles was a start for a community who know what they wanted to avoid in a government and the liberty they wanted to protect. From identifying the powers of Congress and the country’s leaders, the Articles of Confederation served as the starting point for a new nation. Its greatest achievement was to bring the 13 colonies together to form one nation. Whether Shays’ Rebellion was the catalyst to throw out the Articles, or just the final straw, it influenced the creation of the new US Constitution. Today, we remember the Articles of Confederation. 

First Instinct: a powerful and dramatic story of love and friendship

First Instinct is the first book in the Northstar series by Suzie O’Connell. It is the story of Nick Hammond and his best friend, Beth Carlyle. Nick and Beth had been best friends since childhood as their families have neighboring ranches. Nick saves Beth from an attack from Beth’s boyfriend, Trey. The two become entangled in a series of harassments and accusations as Nick tries to help Beth heal from her attack as well as shield her from further guilt and shame. When Trey accused Nick of assault, Beth must come to a difficult decision, does she tell the truth behind Nick’s attack on Trey? Can she find the strength and courage to speak up despite the ramifications from the community? Or will she be intimidated into silence?

I thoroughly enjoyed First Instinct as a sweet story of protective friendship between Nick and Beth as well as the drama of Beth’s attack and the aftermath. Nick is the quintessential knight in shining armor as he comes to Beth’s defense time and time again. However, Beth is not the typical damsel in distress as she learns to fight back and decides enough’s enough. I look forward to reading more books in this series. I recommend First Instinct.

 

First Instinct is available in paperback and eBook 

Beautifully Broken Pieces: a fun and entertaining romance set in Oregon

 

Beautifully Broken Pieces by Catherine Cowles is the first book in the Sutter Lake series. It is the story of Taylor Lawson as she escapes to the remote town of Sutter Lake, Oregon as she grieves the death of her mother. She rents a cabin from the Cole family and soon gains the attention of Walker Cole, the local deputy sheriff. As the attraction between the two is evident from the beginning, their perspective griefs keep them at arm’s length. Walker worries about her safety as there is a rash of missing young girls from the area and Taylor is determined to show that she is fine. But is she fine? Will the abductor come after her? Can Walker keep her safe? When will they finally give in to the growing attraction between them?

Beautifully Broken Pieces is a sweet and enticing story about grief and moving on with one’s life. Some of the language the author uses was very cringey and awkward. I’m not a big fan of slang and some of it used in the story, I feel, didn’t fit the characters. However, I enjoyed the story as I loved the character of Walker and I learned to love Taylor by the end of the story. The revelation of who was abducting these girls and why was shocking and from left field. I look forward to more books in this series. I recommend Beautifully Broken Pieces.

 

Beautifully Broken Pieces is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Remembering Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton on the 166th anniversary of her death

Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton has come back into the spotlight due to the popularity of Hamilton (2015). She was more than just the widow of Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804). She a philanthropist in her own right. She was the co-founder and deputy director of Graham Windham, a private orphanage in New York City. She helped Dolley Madison and Louisa Adams raise money for the Washington Monument, She was also a strong defender of her husband’s work and legacy. Today is the 166^th anniversary of her death. I wanted to look deeper into the woman, the Founding Mother, who was more than just the wife of a Founding Father.

Elizabeth, Eliza to her family, was born on August 9, 1757, the second daughter of Continental Army General Philip Schuyler, and Catherine Van Rensselaer Schuyler, the daughter of one of the richest and most politically influential families in the state of New York. She was raised in the Reformed Dutch Church of Albany which instilled in her a strong and unwavering faith she would have throughout her life. On December 14, 1780, she married Alexander Hamilton. Her first child, Philip, was born on January 22, 1782. She and Hamilton would have a total of 8 children with the last child, another son named Philip, born June 1, 1802. In addition to their own children, Eliza and Hamilton often took in orphan. Frances “Fanny” Antill, was the two-year-old daughter of Colonel Edward Antill, a family friend, was taken in by the Hamilton when her mother died and stay with them when her father died, until her older sister was married and able to take over her care. Eliza would be more than just a wife and mother. She would also aid her husband in his political career, serving as an intermediary and helping him write out his papers when he was too weak and too tired to hold a pen. Many of his surviving writings have portions in were written in her hand. Even after the very public revelation of her husband’s affair, Eliza would reconcile with Hamilton and she would two more children. When Hamilton died on July 12, 1804, she and their children were by his side.

Eliza would dedicate the rest of her life to various endeavors. She was determined to preserve her husband’s work and memory. Eliza was determined to make sure Americans remembered and acknowledged Alexander’s contributions to America and his achievements from a humble birth to the pantheon of American heroes. She has a steady stream of visitors whom she would interview for their memories and recollections of her husband. In June 1848, she petitioned Congress to buy and publish Hamilton’s works. In August 1848, it would be granted, and the works would be added to the Library of Congress. Her son, John C. Hamilton would go on to publish History of the Republic of the United States America, as Traced in the Writings of Alexander Hamilton and his Contemporaries (1861). History of the Republic would set the bar for future biographies of Alexander Hamilton. She was a committed abolitionist who delighted in entertaining slaves children and referred to the slaveholding states as the African States. Unfortunately, there are no records which detail her abolitionist; however, after reading Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton, I have a feeling she did most of her work in privately conservations rather than public activism.

In 1798. Eliza accepted the invitation of her friend, Isabella Graham, and joined the Society for the Relief of Poor Widows with Small Children. New York in 1806 was a harsh place even with the best of circumstances with poverty, hunger and diseases being rampant. As life expectancy was short, countless children would lose one or both parents. And with no child protective services or a public child welfare program, many children would be placed in the care of family or a church family. Sadly, many children would end up indentured or placed in almshouses. To answer this need, Eliza, along with several other woman including her friend, Joanna Bethune, founded the Orphan Asylum Society. She would service as its first director in 1821 and held that position for 27 years until she left New York in 1848. She would raise funds, collected the needed goods, and oversaw the care and education of at least 765 children. She had a particular interest in one child, Henry McKavitt (Long, 2016). She personally paid for his schooling and arranged for a military commission at West Point. When he died in the Mexican American War, he left his entire estate to the orphanage. The orphanage is now known as the Graham Windham which operates as a family and youth development agency. It currently serves approximately 5,000 children and families every year. The services they provide include family counseling and treatment, after school academic support and health services.

In conclusion, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton is a hero in her own right. Without her determination to preserve his papers, biographers like Ron Chernow would have had very little information to research. And Lin Manuel Miranda’s musical would have never been. As Alexander Hamilton deserves to be among American heroes like Washington and Jefferson, America owes her a great debt as it was her efforts to see that he was remembered. When she died at the age of 97, she held firm to her belief that she would see her beloved Hamilton again. She was buried next to him in the Trinity Churchyard.

 

 

References

 

Long, Kat (February 25, 2016). Why Elizabeth Hamilton Is Deserving of a Musical of Her Own. Smithsonian Magazine. www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-elizabeth-hamilton-deserving-musical-her-own-180958214/. Retrieved November 7, 2020.

 

 

For Further Reading

 

Chernow, Ron (2004). Alexander Hamilton. Penguin Books. Available in hardcover, paperback and eBook

 

Graham Windham www.graham-windham.org.