John Block Reports from Washington

 Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the Renewable Fuels Association, Wal-Mart Stores, Monsanto, and John Deere. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of a healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you.

And now for today’s commentary—

Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ. We also know it is a time of presents, decorated Christmas trees, and Santa Claus. I also believe for most of us it is a time of reflection.

I think of growing up on our farm. I think of my mother and father and the sacrifices they made and the values they passed on to my sisters and me. When I was recently back in Illinois, I stood at their graveside, and memories came flooding back – baseball games, showing pigs at the 4-H show, pulling weeds in the bean field, gathering eggs from the hen house, milking cows (by hand). I think to myself – have we measured up to the ideals of our parents?

I think about my days at West Point and the Cadet Prayer. Those words have stayed with me all of these years. They provide guidance of how we should live our lives.

The Cadet Prayer

“May our religion be filled with gladness and may our worship of Thee be natural. Encourage us in our endeavors to live above the common level of life. Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half-truth when the whole can be won. Kindle our hearts in fellowship with those of a cheerful countenance, and soften our hearts with sympathy for those who sorrow and suffer. Help us to maintain the honor of the Corps in doing our duty to Thee and our Country. All of which we ask in the name of the great Friend and Master of all. Amen.”

Merry Christmas! I am John Block from Washington.